A Duke's Scandalous Temptation by Char Marie Adles

Chapter One
     
     
    London , 1806
     
    “Must I go, Brother? You know how much I detest these sorts of gatherings. Why must there be a ball every night,” I asked with a roll of my eyes. I would have been rather happy to be back home on our country estate in York, this time of year when the earth was still warming from the bitter chill of yet another harsh winter.
                  “Because it is your first season and if a Miss has more than one season she will most definitely be put on the shelf. You must find yourself a husband as all young ladies do,” he informed. He looked around with a keen eye and then glanced back to me. “You could be the toast of the town if you would stop hiding behind the old maids and dance, you are quite the pretty thing. Much like Mama, if she was here she would indeed be proud. You have her darker coloring in skin and hair, but you have eyes that are such an usual color. Pale violet eyes.”
                  I blew a strand of hair from my face and watched him flinch.
                  “Ladies do not blow hair from their faces, either.”
                  I grinned at that. “You would know better than I Brother, for you have spent these past few years in London alone, leaving me at the family estate. I have been alone there since Papa died when I was twelve. No excuses,” I said tapping him with my fan on his arm. “Let us get this over with, I prefer not to be in this blasted contraption longer then I have too.”
                  “Darcee! Watch your tongue,” he gasped in disbelief.
                  “You dear brother have a tongue worst then I, do not forget you were a captain in His Majesties Royal Navy for a number of years, before you came into Father’s title,” I smiled slyly, “Father never forgot, or forgave his only son and heir for being so stupid.” I sighed lightly, “And look at here you drive us! Into a hole in the ground with all your gambling, all you have left to sell off is me! I am glad father left the estate to me as my dowry or we would have nowhere to turn too.”
                  With a final victorious grin I swept myself inside, with him following close behind, his face flushed with embarrassment.
                  “Just remember to be polite and smile. Don’t waste Mother’s Italian beauty you were gifted with, it is your best tool.”
                  I nodded coolly and glided into the large, crowded ballroom with a silken grace that had then me three months to learn. Slowly, but no to slow, as if balancing a book on my head. As I entered from the main door the crown grow rather silent as I passed. It must be the deep red silk dress that left my shoulders, bare that did it, I decided. With my hair upswept at the top and the bottom twisted into one long curl that fell over me left shoulder, the outfit was perfect. I glanced around as I moved into the room and noticed that most of the colors in the room were muted, and pastel in color even the dresses of the ladies.
                  Oops, but too late to turn back. I was half Italian Royalty and there were rather bold with their colors, Mama had always loved bright colors.
    Suddenly my brother was at my side and fitted my hand in the crook of his elbow, escorting me to the other side of the room. As we settled in for a drink the whispering began and soon the dancing had started.
                  “It was quite a shock to find that you had ordered new dress last week,” my brother said with a slight smile.
                  “Dear Brother I never did look good in washed out colors of pale pink and yellow,” I said with a small laugh.
                  “Who has the most enchanting laugh in the room?” asked a deep voice from behind my brother and I in the doorway to a side entrance to the house.
                  My brother whirled around