Mesmerising the Duke (Regency Romance) (Regency Lords Book 1) by Regina Darcy Page B

knowing smile.
    “Give it a rest Monty, I get enough of a grilling from the chaps at the club.” Nathaniel removed an imaginary speck of dust from his sleeve. “Besides, I just saved you from what looked to be a very unpleasant exchange. Not to mention, I am only in this godforsaken countryside hole to lend you a hand.”
    “That you are indeed.”
    “Is he here?”
    “Yes, he is currently occupied in the gaming room.”
    “Let’s get to the matter at hand.”
    Douglas turned around and started walking back to the main room when he stopped dead in his tracks. Despite her mask, the cascade of flaming hair from the beauty in the far room, beckoned him like a beacon. He looked in bemusement as the dainty little lady stomped her foot.
    “Quite a beauty, old chap,” the Viscount whispered amused, “I wonder what has her so riled up?”
    The beauty in question looked furious to say the least. Douglas watched intrigued as the man she was conversing with turned around and walked away. He could only assume this was her lover and he was witnessing an awkward end to their assignation. The woman was exceedingly young to be involved in such matters of the flesh. But based on the outwardly passion she exhibited, he could only imagine she was a hellion between the sheets. He smiled knowingly to himself as he watched her fan her heaving bosom. 
    “Monty, we do not have time for this,” Nathaniel warned in an exasperated voice, “we need to focus on this charade you dragged me to, not on some slip of a girl.”
    “Not to worry Hughes, I will be with you shortly. Save a space for me at the whist table,” he replied with a distracted smile. Before the Viscount could reply, the Duke started making his way through the crowd; the woman and her ethereal beauty his sole focus.
     

CHAPTER 2
     
    Miss Georgette Anne Danford had never been so angry in her life. Naturally, she had a tiff, just like any well-bred young lady her age, but a full-on angry rage was a rare occurrence. Today would prove very different.
    She was in a gambling den. Never mind how beautiful the ballroom or respectable-looking everything was, this was a gambling den. If it had been in London it would be a club, but stuck in the country side, Lady Archer had gentrified the establishment.
    She had no moral qualms about gambling or any of the other vices of the ton, however she did mind being forced to experience it up close. Well-bred young women just didn’t attend this kind of social function.
    What had Stephen been thinking dragging her here? During the month of love no less. Uncomfortable, she adjusted her mask. Thank the Lord this was a masquerade ball. She could only hope no-one recognised her.  She took a deep breath to calm herself. Stephen was her guardian, however annoying that was. But so far she was more likely to be taking care of him than the other way around. Cursed convention held it that no woman could be left unsupervised or without guardianship, least she be widowed and even then only the wealthiest of widows enjoyed the kind of freedom Georgette longed for. Society had created a cage to house the “fairer sex” and she was only now understanding the full implications of her lack of freedom. Frustrated, she tried to discreetly pull up the bodice of her dress. Stephen had insisted that she wear the gaudy gown, best suited for a courtesan. His reasoning was that she would stand out less if she fitted in with the crowd. Unbidden, her thoughts went to the events that had led to their presence at Lady Archer’s.
    Their mother had passed away in child bed, trying to give birth to their stillborn younger brother. For half their lives, they had only had one parent, John Danford. Their father had been a General in the Navy. Due to the nature of his profession, he was rarely home. But on the times that he was, he showered his children with his attention and affection. He had died during the Anglo-Maratha War. His son and daughter were left to fend for