Page 13 of The Duke In My Bed (The Heirs’ Club of Scoundrels #1)

Louisa doubted that, but let the matter drop and said, “Why do you want to see the duke? I thought everything was settled yesterday.”

“Not by me. I want to make sure he does right by me—us. I mean you and Gwen, of course, mostly. Besides, I will not have him treating me so shabbily as to turn me away from his door without so much as a glimpse of him.”

“But he said he’d take care of everything,” Louisa reminded her.

“Ha! He is a man, and I’m sure there are things he hasn’t thought about.

He must know that we will need a coach immediately to take us to the shops.

He should have had one delivered and had it waiting here for when you arrived.

It’s much too far to walk to the shops, and without a maid to carry our packages.

I don’t even want to consider how we could manage.

Servants! We must have servants to do things for us.

Hiring a coach as we must do today is simply too much trouble.

So go get your bonnet and your sisters, and we will be on our way.

He will deal with me like it or not, even if he is a duke. ”

If His Grace didn’t want to see them, he would not.

Mrs. Colthrust may not know that but Louisa did.

It was obvious that Mrs. Colthrust had never met the Duke of Drakestone.

He was no ordinary man. Everything about him spoke of power, privilege, and wealth.

He was a pleasing man to look at, for sure, but in the short time she’d spent with him yesterday, Louisa gathered that the duke took orders from no one.

Louisa left the room with Mrs. Colthrust still muttering about His Grace. If only the laws allowed Louisa to be responsible for her sisters so she didn’t have to deal with Mrs. Colthrust or the duke, she would be a very happy lady.

Half an hour later, Mrs. Colthrust, Louisa, and her sisters were seated in the Duke of Drakestone’s drawing room.

Lillian and Gwen flanked their chaperone on one settee, and Louisa was between Sybil and Bonnie on the other.

All the girls were quiet as mice, taking in the elaborate grandeur of their surroundings.

The furniture was upholstered in expensive, well-textured fabrics, and the tops to all the tables had a glimmering beeswax gleam.

Vaulted ceilings were trimmed in moldings and fretwork that were edged in gilt.

Each wall was adorned with paintings, sconces, and baroque framed mirrors.

Louisa had never seen so much luxury displayed in one place.

“Mrs. Colthrust, Miss Prim,” the duke said as he strode through the doorway.

All the females jumped to their feet and curtsied.

His Grace stopped and hesitated for a moment as he looked at Louisa’s sisters standing like little soldiers behind her.

Clearly he was taken aback by the girls’ presence, and Louisa wondered if he might throw them all out of his house without a backward glance.

But as she stared at him, she detected a chink in his steady armor.

She realized he was trying hard to remember the girls’ names.

She was pleased that he wanted to, but was convinced he wouldn’t even get two of them correct.

She wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t even know what her first name was.

But just as the smile spread fully across her face and she was feeling quite pleased with herself for figuring out his dilemma, he bowed to her sisters and said, “Miss Gwen, Miss Lillian, Miss Sybil, and Miss Bonnie. All of you are looking lovely today.”

Louisa was impressed that he’d somehow managed to get all her sisters’ names correct.

Her heart started beating a little faster as she looked at the handsome duke.

His black, fine wool coat stretched perfectly over his broad shoulders and back.

His pale red waistcoat with its leather-coated buttons fit seamlessly over his flat stomach, enhancing his slim hips and his long, powerful-looking legs.

Her gaze stopped at his casually tied neckcloth.

She didn’t know why, but suddenly she had the strong desire to reach up, untie the cloth, and slowly unwind it.

His gaze met Louisa’s, and he said, “This is an unexpected visit.”

Louisa’s cheeks heated and she prayed the duke had no idea what she’d been thinking.

Mrs. Colthrust stepped forward, not giving Louisa time to respond, and said, “How can it be unexpected when I was just here not more than an hour ago, trying to see you?”

“Exactly.” He gave the chaperone an indulgent smile. “I thought Mr. Tidmore made it clear I was busy today and couldn’t see you, but that I was making the arrangements you needed.”

“Thank you for that, Your Grace, but being a gentleman, you can’t possibly know what a woman would need to be properly prepared for a Season in London.”

“True, however, I knew my mother would be very knowledgeable, so I enlisted her help.”

Mrs. Colthrust’s demeanor changed in an instant. She smiled pleasantly. “Your mother, Her Grace?” Mrs. Colthrust said softly, obviously surprised and happy about the information. “Oh, my.”

“Yes. She is out right now, seeing that accounts are being set up in your name so that all your needs will be met. I’ll see that a list is delivered later today.”

“That’s so very kind of her to help me—I mean us.

Yes, yes, I’m sure Her Grace knows the best shops in all of London.

We’ll be in excellent hands with her help.

Thank you, Your Grace, but—” Mrs. Colthrust rubbed her gloved hands together nervously.

“—there is also the matter of servants? Miss Prim and her five sisters have been making do with only a cook and a governess ever since they arrived.”

“Four, Mrs. Colthrust,” Louisa interjected under her breath. “I have four sisters.”

“Yes, of course, dear, I’m sure that’s what I said. We’ll get them all maids, won’t we, Your Grace? You see, though I’m ashamed to admit it, my sister’s husband saw fit to take every servant but the cook with them.”

Louisa looked at the duke and said, “One maid will be sufficient for us. We are used to helping each other.”

The duke gave her a slow, easy appraisal with his questioning gaze. She felt her skin being peppered with little goose bumps that sent delicious sensations through her body.

“However many you wish, Miss Prim,” he said.

“The cook will need a scullery maid as well,” Mrs. Colthrust added. “And I must insist we have our own coach-and-four.”

“It’s been ordered and will be delivered to Lord Wayebury’s address later this afternoon, along with a driver and a groom,” he said. “A housekeeper is being interviewed in the kitchen right now. Perhaps you would like to go meet her, Mrs. Colthrust, and give your opinion as to her qualifications?”

Mrs. Colthrust seemed to grow two inches as her shoulders went back and her chin lifted triumphantly. Her voice softened again as she said, “Why, yes, Your Grace, yes. I’d like that very much.”

“Good. Come with me.” The duke went to the door and called, “Mr. Tidmore, come here.”

An older, rotund gentleman with thinning gray hair appeared in the doorway. Louisa couldn’t hear what the duke said to the butler, but Mrs. Colthrust followed him out of the room as if she were walking behind the Prince himself.

His Grace strode back to where Louisa stood in front of her sisters and said, “Are you smiling at me, Miss Prim?”

She didn’t realize she was until he’d asked, but readily admitted, “Yes, I believe I am.”

“To what do I owe the honor?”

“I’m not sure it’s an honor, but I think Mrs. Colthrust almost got the best of you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“No, you don’t.”

A tempting roguish grin lifted the corners of his mouth, and Louisa’s breathing became shallow and fast. Her heart thudded loudly in her ears.

When he looked at her like that, for some ridiculous reason it thrilled her.

She was aware her sisters were standing not far behind her, so she stepped a little closer to him and, lowering her voice, asked, “Are you saying I’m fibbing? ”

“That’s putting it a little nicer than I was actually thinking, but, yes.”

“I did say Mrs. Colthrust almost got the best of you.”

“Still a prevarication,” he said.

“If so, not by much,” she argued.

The duke laughed softly. “I’m glad you came back with your chaperone.”

“Really?” She smiled some more. “Me and all five of my sisters.”

Again, he grinned. “It takes a while to get the names and the number right. But, when I woke this morning, I had wondered if you were really as lovely as I remember you being yesterday. And you are.”

His compliment made Louisa feel shy. She lowered her lashes over her eyes. “Now you are prevaricating, Your Grace.”

“If so, not by much.”

“What are you talking about?” Bonnie asked from behind Louisa.

The duke looked at Bonnie and said, “I was just asking Miss Prim if she thought—”

A loud clatter sounded behind Louisa, startling her. She turned to see Sybil standing by a table, wide-eyed with fear, clasping her hands together under her chin.

“What happened?” Louisa asked.

“I didn’t mean to drop it,” Sybil said. “I promise I didn’t mean to.”

Louisa’s heart jumped to her throat and she rushed over to where Sybil stood. Louisa looked on the floor for whatever her sister had dropped but didn’t see anything.

“Sybil, what did you touch?” she asked.

“Did it break?” Sybil asked, her bottom lip trembling as big tears quickly welled up in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to, Sister,” she said again, flinging her arms around Louisa’s waist. Sybil buried her face against Louisa’s chest and started crying loudly.

The duke frowned as he walked up to them. “What’s wrong with her?” he asked. “Why is she crying?”

“She’s frightened.”

“What about?”

“She didn’t keep her hands to herself and she broke something but I’m not sure what.”

He looked around the floor. “No. Look, it’s not broken.” He reached down and picked up a brass handle that looked to be about a foot long. “See, there’s no need to be crying like that.”