Page 30 of The Duke In My Bed (The Heirs’ Club of Scoundrels #1)

“Just what I would expect from happy girls.” He smiled again, this time cunningly. “And how is Saint?”

“The same.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“I hope you haven’t missed him too much.”

“I haven’t missed him at all.”

Louisa lifted her chin, and her eyes narrowed a little. “I don’t believe you.”

“It’s true.” The duke smiled for a third time. “How could I miss him when I know he is getting all that attention from your sisters?”

“They are happy to have him. Thank you again for giving him to them.”

“No more thank-yous needed. Is Miss Gwen enjoying herself tonight?”

“I think she was a little nervous when we first arrived, but once she started meeting people and saw how eager they were to meet her, she relaxed and found her charm.”

“And what of you? Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Of course.”

“Then why don’t you look like you are?”

He could raise the fine hairs on the back of her neck faster than anyone. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m having a wonderful time. And if I don’t show it right now, it’s only because I am talking to you and not some other gentleman who is not only nicer but more handsome, too.”

He seemed to be weighing the sincerity of her words. “You look as if you’re wondering if I’m going to kiss you again.”

“I do not, Your Grace,” she said indignantly.

“Am I interrupting anything?”

At the sound of the voice behind her, Louisa turned to see that a tall, regal woman with light brown hair piled high on her head had joined them.

Her dark golden gown was lovely, though it was lacking trim, lace, or beads of any kind.

After having spent the better part of three weeks looking at fabrics in Mrs. Rivoire’s boutique, Louisa knew the dowager duchess’s gown had real gold thread woven in it and needed no other adornment.

And while her gown and headpiece were plain, her jewelry was expensive and exquisite.

The scooped neck of her gown was covered by a spiderweb of intricately woven emeralds and diamonds set in delicate gold filigree.

The same pattern was in earrings that dropped almost to the tops of her shoulders.

When Louisa’s gaze met the woman’s, she thought she could have been looking into the duke’s eyes. Her face was much like her son’s, unreadable.

Louisa wasn’t sure she’d even listened to the introductions so intent was she on the woman herself. The duchess appeared to be a little older than Mrs. Colthrust, perhaps only a few years past the age of fifty.

“Miss Prim,” Her Grace said, “I’ve heard about you for over two years now. I’m glad to finally meet you.”

Louisa cast her eyes around to the duke, thinking she could just imagine what the two must have said about her.

“Oh, no need to look at my son,” she said with a rather sly smile, and cut her own gaze over to him. “He has never mentioned you to me.”

“Really?” Louisa said, finding that statement hard to believe.

“Shocking, I know,” she answered. “But he likes to think he’s keeping me in the dark concerning his private life, but with the ton and their gossip mills, and the many wagers throughout the city—really, now, how could he?”

“I do try, though, Your Grace,” the duke said to his mother.

“As it should be. A mother has no right to know all her son’s affairs, does she?”

“Not as far as I’m concerned,” he answered.

Louisa liked the easy way in which the duke and his mother talked to each other. Though their tone sounded formal, it was clear from the way they looked at each other that they were very much at ease and enjoying their banter.

Her Grace smiled at the duke before giving her attention back to Louisa.

“I’ve heard your name countless times at dinner parties, card parties, picnics in the park, and private conversations.

Wherever there are people, they are always talking about my son, and usually it’s about his vow to your brother. ”

“I’m sorry my brother put him in that position, Your Grace.”

“I’m not,” she answered. “I’ve loved every moment of it, though I’m not sure he would say the same, am I right?”

“You are,” the duke said, not looking at all uncomfortable that he was the topic of the conversation.

“Why would you love gossip about your son?” Louisa had to ask.

“Well, it’s certainly better to be talked about than not even thought about,” she said, and then laughed softly.

“You know, Your Grace,” the duke said, “I do seem to remember that we spoke once of Miss Prim.”

A wrinkle formed on the duchess’s brow. “When was that?”

“Shortly after the accident, you asked me what I planned to do about Miss Prim.”

The light of surprise danced in her eyes. “Oh, you are right. I did ask once, but that was a long time ago. Forgive me, Miss Prim, my memory’s not as good as it used to be.”

Louisa didn’t believe for a moment that the lady had a poor memory.

She seem exceptionally sharp to Louisa. “What did he answer?” The words tumbled from Louisa’s mouth before she could pull them back.

She immediately added, “I’m sorry, Your Grace.

Forgive me, I shouldn’t be asking about a private conversation between you and your son. ”

The duchess shrugged. “I can’t give away his secrets. I don’t know any, but I believe his answer to me was something on the order of ‘I have no time set that I will.’”

“That doesn’t surprise me.”

“It didn’t surprise me either,” the duchess said. “He never does what is expected of him, no matter how rewarding it might be.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“And now it’s obvious that his tardiness in approaching you didn’t upset you either,” the duchess said.

“Not in the least,” Louisa answered with a smile, appreciating their candid conversation.

“However, Your Grace,” the duke said, looking over to his mother again, “you should know that I did tell Miss Prim a few weeks ago that I wanted to marry her.”

The duchess’s eyes widened as she regarded Louisa.

“Well, that is news I hadn’t heard. Though there have been many doubters in London that my son would live up to his promise, I knew he would eventually get around to doing the right thing.

” Giving her attention to the duke she said, “I’m sure your father is now settling comfortably into his grave. ”

“Not quite yet,” he responded. “She declined my offer.”

The duchess’s expression changed to one of admiration. “You rejected my son? That has to be a first for him.”

“I’ll not deny or admit that, but I believe Miss Prim’s exact words to me were, ‘I wouldn’t marry you if you were tipped in gold and trussed up with a thousand strings of rubies.’ Is that an accurate account of what you said, Miss Prim?”

Louisa felt her cheeks heating and hoped the candles had burned low enough that no one could see her heightened color. She cleared her throat. “You might have missed the count of the rubies by a strand or two, but that’s fairly accurate, Your Grace.”

“Hmm,” the duchess said. “She must have heard about your devilish ways.”

“That probably says it a bit nicer than she would have.”

His mother laughed a deep, hearty laugh, and Louisa was heartened to know the woman hadn’t taken offense at Louisa’s disparaging comments about her son.

Louisa wanted to get off the conversation about marriage, so she said, “Thank you for assisting Mrs. Colthrust with getting accounts set up for us at the shops in Town. That was a lovely thing for you to do, and it helped immensely.”

“If there is one thing I’ve learned since becoming a duchess, it’s which shops offer the best fabrics.

Your gown is lovely, by the way, Miss Prim.

Now, if you will excuse me, I promised His Grace—” She paused and looked over at the duke—“that I would find one of the patronesses of Almack’s and introduce you and your sister to her.

I’ll find you and your sister later in the evening and take care of that. ”

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Louisa said.

As soon as the duchess said her good-byes and walked away, Louisa turned to the duke.

His face had twisted into a scowl, and he was staring at the dance floor.

The dance was a fast quadrille, but Louisa caught sight of Gwen and a dashing young man who definitely knew his way around a dance floor.

They were laughing and looked perfectly matched.

“Why do you have such a grimace?” Louisa asked. “Do you think I said something to offend your mother?”

“No. Look whom Miss Gwen is dancing with. Did you or Mrs. Colthrust give her permission to dance with him?”

Louisa studied the man. She knew they had been introduced, but she didn’t remember his name. “I’m sure one of us must have. She wouldn’t be dancing with him otherwise.”

“He is the last person you should want her with.”

“We met so many people, I’m afraid I don’t remember anything about him. Who is he, and why shouldn’t Gwen be dancing with him?”

“He is Mr. Stanly Standish, and she shouldn’t be dancing with him, because he’s too much like I was a few years ago.”

Louisa looked at the duke. “You mean he’s—?”

“Yes, Miss Prim. He’s a scoundrel of the highest order, too.”