The Decadent Duke by Virginia Henley Page B

Cavendish cried happily.
    â€œWhat a lovely surprise.” Georgianna Dorothy Cavendish went by her middle name to distinguish her from her mother.
    â€œA surprise, at any rate,” Caro Ponsonby said acidly.
    The girls all took dancing lessons together in preparation for the balls they would attend after their debuts. The Duchess of Devonshire’s eldest daughter was no beauty, but she made up for it with a sweet, gentle personality.
    Their cousin Caro, who had lived at Devonshire House since she was a child, was the antithesis of sweet. She was thin as a rail, with a jealous nature and a waspish tongue.
    â€œMother says I may make my debut a year early, so we will be coming out together! Isn’t it exciting, Georgy?”
    â€œWell, it’s exciting that we’ll be invited everywhere, but I don’t look forward to being put on the marriage market.”
    â€œI don’t think you have much to fear,” Caro sneered. She was only fifteen and pea green with jealousy that she would have to wait another year or two before she was presented to the queen.
    â€œPay no attention to Caro. I think you are absolutely bewitching, Georgy. Are there any interesting gentlemen visiting downstairs tonight?” Dorothy asked avidly.
    â€œMother and I came with the Prince of Wales and Charles Fox.”
    Caro wrinkled her nose. “They are both so fat and florid, I’m amazed you can tell them apart.”
    â€œCharles is older than Prinny,” Georgina said dryly.
    â€œI find His Royal Highness to be both handsome and warmhearted, and he absolutely adores Mother,” Dorothy declared. “Who else did you see downstairs ?”
    â€œI was quickly whisked upstairs by a footman, so the only one I had a chance to see was Francis Russell.”
    â€œThe Duke of Bedford?” Dorothy asked breathlessly. “I’ve only seen him from afar, but he’s reputedly the most eligible bachelor in England.”
    â€œI think you secretly worship him from afar,” Harriet teased.
    Her sister blushed pink. “No I don’t, silly. But I do look forward to being introduced to him . . . as well as all the other eligible bachelors, of course.”
    â€œI’ve met his brother,” Georgina confided. “There’s something about the Russells that set my teeth on edge. They act like gods gazing down from Olympus at us inferior mortals.”
    â€œSome of us are inferior,” Caro said pointedly.
    â€œIn your case, I promise to overlook it, Caroline.”
    â€œTouché, Georgy!” Harriet giggled.
    â€œWhy don’t we go to the top of the stairs? Perhaps we’ll catch a glimpse of some of Mother’s guests,” Dorothy suggested.
    You are simply dying for a glimpse of Bedford, Georgina realized with surprise. I suppose he is the premier duke of the realm, but his attraction eludes me completely. A vision of his brother, John, sprang into her mind. His black hair, dark eyes, and dominant personality seemed in complete contrast to his brother, Francis. She wondered why the surly devil kept popping into her head and made a firm decision that from now on she would banish the old man from her thoughts.

Chapter 6
    Two days later, John Russell and his three sons were ready to depart for Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire. Before he left, young Johnny went to bid good-bye to his mother.
    The moment she laid eyes on him, she rose up on her hands and knees in the wide bed and snarled at him like a wild animal. “I have been ill for nine long years because of you. I wish to God that I had never had a third son!”
    Johnny stared, aghast, at her words. “I’m so sorry I caused you to be ill, Mother. With all my heart I wish you were well.”
    â€œYou are a hateful little liar. I gave birth to a demon when I had you! Like your father, you can’t get away fast enough. You’ll both be happy when I’m dead and gone.”
    Johnny’s face