How to Seduce a Duke by Kathryn Caskie

into the back garden—”
    “Oh, dear me.” Lady Upperton snatched a lace handkerchief from her frothy sleeve of rose lace. “’Twas all three of you?”
    “Please do not fret. No one saw my sisters. And no one saw me... well, except the duke. But it was dark, and I was completely marbleized with powder and a smear or two of paste.”
    “Heavens... is Lotharian aware of any of this?”
    “Am I aware of what?” Lord Lotharian and his cohorts, Gallantine and Lilywhite, were suddenly standing in a tight ring around them.
    Lady Upperton became instantly agitated. “Haven’t got a tick of the minute hand to discuss this now, Lotharian . You must know, however, that our Mary has set her cap at Viscount Wetherly , and I would wager every jewel I own that he is very interested in such a match.”
    Lotharian scratched his chin. “ Wetherly . Why do I know that name?”
    Lilywhite raised a finger. “Perhaps because Wellington mentioned the lad in every dispatch from Toulouse . Or because the Prince Regent recently bestowed on him a viscountcy in recognition of his bravery and valor. Why, Wetherly led the Sixth Division in the heroic attack above Toulouse , you know. No small feat. He’s a true hero.”
    “His father was the late Duke of Blackstone,” Gallantine added. “His brother holds the title now. You certainly have heard of him—the Black Duke.”
    “Ah yes, the Black Duke. Have indeed.” Lotharian chuckled, and the other two gentlemen joined him, as if the three were sharing a private joke of some sort. “Now he is a man to consider, Miss Royle .”
    “Blackstone?” Mary stared at Lord Lotharian in disbelief. “How can you suggest such a thing. W-why, he is... horrid. ”
    “No, no. You’ve got it jumbled.” Lotharian waved her comment away like a foul odor. “Blackstone is naught but a spirited young fellow. I admit, he even reminds me of myself in my youth.”
    “Oh you do flatter yourself, Lotharian .” Lady Upperton bent and peered around the towering lord. “But that is neither here nor there. The Black Duke holds some sort of a grudge against our Mary—”
    “I slapped him,” Mary said matter-of-factly. “Quite hard too.”
    Lady Upperton cringed. “I am almost afraid to ask, but I must. Did this occur in the Underwoods ’ garden?”
    “It did. But I swear to you, he deserved it thoroughly. He was about to... to touch me,” Mary bent at her knees and whispered into Lady Upperton’s ear, “most inappropriately.”
    “Oh, dear.” Lady Upperton dabbed her brow with her handkerchief, taking off a bit of her facial powder in the process. “ Lotharian , Lord Wetherly is Miss Royle’s choice, not his older brother. The viscount comes from an old family and has earned honor and distinction... despite his mother. Do you agree?”
    “His mother?” Mary looked to each of the four for an answer, but it was as if her question fell on indifferent ears.
    “ Wetherly sounds like a perfectly suitable gentleman. I shall have my man investigate him further.” Lotharian smiled down at Mary. “Miss Royle , I shall have your answer within the week.”
    “I fear we haven’t that long.” Lady Upperton hastened her next words. “My concern is that Blackstone will not support the match. Already this evening, he has taken great strides to shame our Mary. I fear he may do irreparable damage to the potential match unless he is persuaded to stop.”
    “I can certainly distract the duke this eve. Then we shall meet again in the morn to discuss a broader strategy for keeping our two young lovers together.” Lotharian raised his quizzing glass to his eye.
    “What do you mean to do?” Mary’s head was beginning to throb.
    She had already set off on the worst possible footing with the duke. The Old Rakes were only going to make things worse, of that she was sure.
    “Ah, what have we here?” Lotharian , who stood a full head above most others in the grand drawing room, became suddenly alert.