The Duke's Undoing (Three Rogues and Their Ladies) Read Online Free Page A
Author: G.G. Vandagriff
Tags: Regency Romance
you know.”
Elise blinked quickly, hoping the women did not detect her tears. “Let us change our topic of conversation. How does Queen Elizabeth feel about her Chinese surroundings, Aunt? I believe the red silk walls to be a little much for a room this size. Gold would be nicer, I think.”
“Just what I told her,” Sukey said emphatically. For a little dab of a woman, she was emphatic more often than one might suppose.
*
When Elise had gone an entire week without hearing from the viscount, she determined, at last, to take the air. She would take her maid and venture out, wearing a veil of course, to Green Park—not the fashionable Hyde Park. Aunt Clarice declared she looked like a widow, but Elise didn’t want assaults by either well-wishers or gossips. The creatures had been busy enough this week—resulting in several items in the society pages that noted Elise’s absence from the viscount’s company and the presence of Violet on his arm.
In order to place things in some sort of proportion, she took with her the letter that Joshua’s commanding officer had written to her upon the death of her first fiancé two years ago. Once seated in the park, a distance from the hoofbeats, cries of itinerate tinkers, and clatter of carriage wheels, she took the letter out of her reticule and read.
My dear Miss Edwards:
This is the most difficult task I have ever faced. I am writing to tell you that your fiancé and my best friend in the world was killed two days ago in the miserable heat of battle. I only wish I were there to cushion this terrible blow by sharing our memories of this outstanding soldier.
He spoke of you to me every night in the tent we shared. He was my adjutant, and I am convinced that a finer man never breathed. You were his “Sunshine” still. He told me of your secret tree house that he built in the forest between your homes and of all the games you played there. We laughed together about so many instances of your unconventional behavior that I feel I know you. In a way it comforts me to know that somewhere under this night sky we are both grieving the loss of Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Beynon. I can only hope that it is of some comfort to you.
With sincere regret,
General P. Northcott
CHAPTER THREE
IN WHICH THE DUKE IS INTRIGUED
The Duke of Ruisdell heard all the gossip about Somerset’s poor Elise Edwards, as everyone was calling the woman he had met during his visit to the soup canteen. He had found her entrancing when he thought he was past being entranced. But apparently her strategy with Chessingden was not working, for the trial month had only a week left and, according to all reports, the viscount seemed transfixed by Elise’s closest friend, Violet Archer. George was at a loss to understand it and continually aired his feelings on the subject. The duke agreed that Miss Archer possessed a decidedly unfashionable plumpness. To his mind, however, she showed excellent sense and a great deal of talent. He had heard her sing once at a musicale. Her voice had an intimacy and a range not often heard in drawing rooms. She did not wear pink or ruffles and dressed in rich colors. Her face was charming and full of genuine sweetness but nothing out of the way where true beauty was concerned.
What he really could not comprehend was his own interest in the affair. A tiny part of him longed to lay eyes on Miss Elise Edwards and take up George’s challenge. During a walk in Green Park (the duke was shunning Hyde Park until he could walk without a cane), the marquis said, “Was at Gaskill’s house party with the three of them. Archer woman and Chessingden did Romeo and Juliet. Thought it could only be good acting. I mean, Violet Archer! You saw her!” He appeared to ruminate. George’s brain obliged him to mull the evidence of his eyes and ears a good while before it pronounced an opinion. “Maybe wasn’t acting. Lovesick idiots. Disgraced poor Miss Edwards bang in front of ton .” He
Elise blinked quickly, hoping the women did not detect her tears. “Let us change our topic of conversation. How does Queen Elizabeth feel about her Chinese surroundings, Aunt? I believe the red silk walls to be a little much for a room this size. Gold would be nicer, I think.”
“Just what I told her,” Sukey said emphatically. For a little dab of a woman, she was emphatic more often than one might suppose.
*
When Elise had gone an entire week without hearing from the viscount, she determined, at last, to take the air. She would take her maid and venture out, wearing a veil of course, to Green Park—not the fashionable Hyde Park. Aunt Clarice declared she looked like a widow, but Elise didn’t want assaults by either well-wishers or gossips. The creatures had been busy enough this week—resulting in several items in the society pages that noted Elise’s absence from the viscount’s company and the presence of Violet on his arm.
In order to place things in some sort of proportion, she took with her the letter that Joshua’s commanding officer had written to her upon the death of her first fiancé two years ago. Once seated in the park, a distance from the hoofbeats, cries of itinerate tinkers, and clatter of carriage wheels, she took the letter out of her reticule and read.
My dear Miss Edwards:
This is the most difficult task I have ever faced. I am writing to tell you that your fiancé and my best friend in the world was killed two days ago in the miserable heat of battle. I only wish I were there to cushion this terrible blow by sharing our memories of this outstanding soldier.
He spoke of you to me every night in the tent we shared. He was my adjutant, and I am convinced that a finer man never breathed. You were his “Sunshine” still. He told me of your secret tree house that he built in the forest between your homes and of all the games you played there. We laughed together about so many instances of your unconventional behavior that I feel I know you. In a way it comforts me to know that somewhere under this night sky we are both grieving the loss of Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Beynon. I can only hope that it is of some comfort to you.
With sincere regret,
General P. Northcott
CHAPTER THREE
IN WHICH THE DUKE IS INTRIGUED
The Duke of Ruisdell heard all the gossip about Somerset’s poor Elise Edwards, as everyone was calling the woman he had met during his visit to the soup canteen. He had found her entrancing when he thought he was past being entranced. But apparently her strategy with Chessingden was not working, for the trial month had only a week left and, according to all reports, the viscount seemed transfixed by Elise’s closest friend, Violet Archer. George was at a loss to understand it and continually aired his feelings on the subject. The duke agreed that Miss Archer possessed a decidedly unfashionable plumpness. To his mind, however, she showed excellent sense and a great deal of talent. He had heard her sing once at a musicale. Her voice had an intimacy and a range not often heard in drawing rooms. She did not wear pink or ruffles and dressed in rich colors. Her face was charming and full of genuine sweetness but nothing out of the way where true beauty was concerned.
What he really could not comprehend was his own interest in the affair. A tiny part of him longed to lay eyes on Miss Elise Edwards and take up George’s challenge. During a walk in Green Park (the duke was shunning Hyde Park until he could walk without a cane), the marquis said, “Was at Gaskill’s house party with the three of them. Archer woman and Chessingden did Romeo and Juliet. Thought it could only be good acting. I mean, Violet Archer! You saw her!” He appeared to ruminate. George’s brain obliged him to mull the evidence of his eyes and ears a good while before it pronounced an opinion. “Maybe wasn’t acting. Lovesick idiots. Disgraced poor Miss Edwards bang in front of ton .” He
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