Disciplining the Duchess Read Online Free Page A

too…bloated from dinner to…dance yet…” she finished weakly, eyeing Lord Monmouth’s rotund belly straining above his breeches.
    “I am sorry to hear it,” Lord Monmouth grunted, his expression hardening. “I pray you feel better soon. Good evening to you.” Without further ado, he stalked past her brother and disappeared into the adjoining salon to join the other gentlemen at cards.
    “Harmony!” Her brother vibrated with frustration. “Lord Monmouth is a widower. A rich widower, you twit. What of finding a match?”
    “You cannot think I’d wish to marry that ancient gentleman?”
    “What do your wishes have to do with anything?” Stephen pulled her up, wrenching her arm in the process. “I had to play nice with the man for nearly an hour, regaling him with tales of how sweet and misunderstood you are only to get him to come over here. And you—” He pinched her elbow painfully. “You tell him you are too bloated to dance with him? I am sure he’s even now sharing that entertaining tidbit with his card partners, and they are all having a great laugh at your expense.”
    “Let go of me.” If they pulled at each other any harder, they would draw attention to themselves. “Release me,” she hissed. “You are hurting me.”
    “It’s what you deserve. And if you are feeling so bloated , you can very well retire to your room for the evening. It embarrasses me, the way you skulk about. You won’t be happy until we’re both utter laughingstocks.”
    He grasped her arm and forced her forward so she had no choice but to trip across the room under his simmering control. They were nearly to the door when a sudden hush descended on the company. The Duke of Courtland stepped right in front of them, his face a polite but rigid mask. He nodded to her brother and then waited for Harmony to acknowledge him—which she did with a shocked stare. He bowed slightly.
    “Madam, I am sorry to have not made your acquaintance before now.”
    *** *** ***
     
    Court wondered what had come over him.
    Well, any polite guest owed it to the hostess to participate at least marginally in the entertainments. Or become one, if circumstances called for it. He wasn’t about to let Barrett drag off his sister before the whole group. The unfortunate young miss gawked at him. An offer of her hand would have been the appropriate way to proceed, but her brother still had her by the arm. Court glared at him so fiercely he released her and took a step back.
    “Your Grace, I am d—deeply honored to introduce my sister, Miss Harmony Barrett.”
    Court nearly lost his composure over her name. Harmony? “Chaos” would have been more fitting. “Miss Barrett,” he said, taking her now-proffered hand and raising it to his lips. “The honor is mine. Would you care to dance the next set?” He looked back at the massing couples, all of whom were staring at them. “It begins shortly.”
    Her pale blue eyes widened as her fingertips fluttered in his grasp. “Dance it…with you?”
    He looked around. “Who else?”
    She closed and opened her mouth again. “I— I—”
    If she refused him it would be hilarious. It would be talked about in drawing rooms and ballrooms for years. He held her gaze, willing her to do as she wished, to refuse him if she wanted to. Blue, so very blue. Her eyes were a pale, clear blue and her features so delicately pretty.
    “If you wish, Your Grace,” she finally managed, nodding her head and bobbing an awkward curtsy. He held her hand tighter and led her to the center of the room as her gaping brother looked on.
    The set began just as they arrived, as if the other dancers had been waiting for them. Miss Barrett grimaced, flubbing very badly the first pair of turns. “I’m afraid I don’t dance well,” she said.
    “You dance wonderfully.” He gave her a nudge through the next step so she didn’t turn the wrong way. She shot him a harried look that rather amused him. He caught a glimpse of his mother