The Wild Duchess/The Willful Duchess (The Duchess Club Book 1) Read Online Free
Author: Renee Bernard
rogue. God, I’d love to rattle him!” The duke shook his head as he laughed. “This idea appeals more and more as every second ticks by. I retract my statement that I have no hidden agenda. Apparently I am wicked enough to see several advantages to this game and causing my nephew to run in circles is at the top of the roster.”
“You’ve only just met me, Your Grace. Surely you have a dozen women to choose from to take on such a role—and likely better actresses among them!”
“I don’t want an actress and there is no one in my acquaintance I really trust. They would accept for all the wrong reasons, willfully misunderstand my aims or betray our scheme at the first chance to forward their own causes.” He shook his head then smiled at her. “The fact that you are reasoning this out and making me argue my plan gives me immense hope.”
“Is this not a terribly risky proposition to make?”
“Yes, but you have failed miserably to look mortified so far and the way your eyes are sparkling, I have the feeling I’m in no danger of scandal.”
“I did fail to gasp, didn’t I?”
“It is another aspect of your charm, Miss Blackwell.”
“Your Grace, exactly what is it that you’re proposing?”
“I’m proposing nothing excessive or improper. I shall simply make a show of pursuing your company in the days and weeks ahead under the watchful eyes of your chaperones and with all the rules of polite courtship intact. Then whenever I can, I shall sing your praises. All innocent acts in and of themselves, but the gossips should round it all out nicely, don’t you think?”
“Never underestimate the power of gossip.” Scarlett fanned her face with her fingers. “What I mean to say is, I think you’re underestimating the power of gossip, Your Grace.”
“Not at all. We’d be harnessing it. And what do I care? It’s a chance to make a splash, the thrill of a young woman on my arm again and the dark joy of twisting my nephew into apoplectic fits as he envisions a baby boy bouncing on your knee. Perhaps he’ll mend his ways?”
“You make it sound so altruistic!” she exclaimed.
“Would a philanthropic goal like that would appeal to you?”
Scarlett nodded. “It doesn’t lessen it.”
“What do you say, Miss Blackwell? Shall we amend both of our futures in one bold move?”
“This isn’t a trick?”
“What makes you ask?”
“This feels treacherously easy. Father always says that if something sounds too fantastic for words, you’ll have words aplenty when it comes apart to make you a fool.”
“You are no fool, Miss Blackwell. And if it starts to come apart, we shall stage a very public dismissal of my unwanted attentions and you’ll have an even jauntier feather for your cap after setting a duke down.”
Scarlett pressed her palm against her heart. “Breaking someone’s heart is not cause for celebration, Your Grace.”
“You’re not really going to break it, are you, Miss Blackwell?”
“N-no, I just…” Scarlett sighed. “Sorry. As I have no feathers in my cap, jaunty or otherwise, I don’t think I have a good feel for such things.”
He stood and held out his hand. “Gentlemen make contracts with a handshake, our honor our bond and our word the collateral of the soul.”
“Oh, my!” Scarlett stood as well. “You’re sure of this?”
“I give you my word. If you enter into this agreement, Miss Blackwell, then I shall be the duke at your feet in abject worship and all of London will be eager to please you as a result. Well, please you or topple you from the pedestal, depending on their dispositions. It will be a Season of choices…to give you a lifetime of choices. What say you?”
She took a deep breath. It was such a huge leap and she had never contemplated anything without Starr’s presence at her side. But something in her rebelled, and the longing to step out on her own sprang up with a fierce weight all its own. It’s a bit of innocent theatre
“You’ve only just met me, Your Grace. Surely you have a dozen women to choose from to take on such a role—and likely better actresses among them!”
“I don’t want an actress and there is no one in my acquaintance I really trust. They would accept for all the wrong reasons, willfully misunderstand my aims or betray our scheme at the first chance to forward their own causes.” He shook his head then smiled at her. “The fact that you are reasoning this out and making me argue my plan gives me immense hope.”
“Is this not a terribly risky proposition to make?”
“Yes, but you have failed miserably to look mortified so far and the way your eyes are sparkling, I have the feeling I’m in no danger of scandal.”
“I did fail to gasp, didn’t I?”
“It is another aspect of your charm, Miss Blackwell.”
“Your Grace, exactly what is it that you’re proposing?”
“I’m proposing nothing excessive or improper. I shall simply make a show of pursuing your company in the days and weeks ahead under the watchful eyes of your chaperones and with all the rules of polite courtship intact. Then whenever I can, I shall sing your praises. All innocent acts in and of themselves, but the gossips should round it all out nicely, don’t you think?”
“Never underestimate the power of gossip.” Scarlett fanned her face with her fingers. “What I mean to say is, I think you’re underestimating the power of gossip, Your Grace.”
“Not at all. We’d be harnessing it. And what do I care? It’s a chance to make a splash, the thrill of a young woman on my arm again and the dark joy of twisting my nephew into apoplectic fits as he envisions a baby boy bouncing on your knee. Perhaps he’ll mend his ways?”
“You make it sound so altruistic!” she exclaimed.
“Would a philanthropic goal like that would appeal to you?”
Scarlett nodded. “It doesn’t lessen it.”
“What do you say, Miss Blackwell? Shall we amend both of our futures in one bold move?”
“This isn’t a trick?”
“What makes you ask?”
“This feels treacherously easy. Father always says that if something sounds too fantastic for words, you’ll have words aplenty when it comes apart to make you a fool.”
“You are no fool, Miss Blackwell. And if it starts to come apart, we shall stage a very public dismissal of my unwanted attentions and you’ll have an even jauntier feather for your cap after setting a duke down.”
Scarlett pressed her palm against her heart. “Breaking someone’s heart is not cause for celebration, Your Grace.”
“You’re not really going to break it, are you, Miss Blackwell?”
“N-no, I just…” Scarlett sighed. “Sorry. As I have no feathers in my cap, jaunty or otherwise, I don’t think I have a good feel for such things.”
He stood and held out his hand. “Gentlemen make contracts with a handshake, our honor our bond and our word the collateral of the soul.”
“Oh, my!” Scarlett stood as well. “You’re sure of this?”
“I give you my word. If you enter into this agreement, Miss Blackwell, then I shall be the duke at your feet in abject worship and all of London will be eager to please you as a result. Well, please you or topple you from the pedestal, depending on their dispositions. It will be a Season of choices…to give you a lifetime of choices. What say you?”
She took a deep breath. It was such a huge leap and she had never contemplated anything without Starr’s presence at her side. But something in her rebelled, and the longing to step out on her own sprang up with a fierce weight all its own. It’s a bit of innocent theatre
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