The Wild Duchess/The Willful Duchess (The Duchess Club Book 1) by Renee Bernard

time. The pair elicited sighs at the sweet sight of a father and his daughter, but just as Scarlett had feared there were a few whispers of how unfortunate that no available bachelor had offered to take her out onto the floor thereby forcing her father to step in.
    Scarlett sighed, envying her twin’s courage and ability to dismiss the world to be happy.
    “Excuse me, Miss Blackwell. May I have this dance?”
    Scarlett pivoted to face the Duke of Chesterton, happily surprised to find him there. He was elegantly attired as always, just as she remembered him—older, still handsome, with kind eyes. “Your Grace, may I first introduce you to Lord and Lady Winters? They have been as an aunt and uncle to me for as long as I can remember.”
    “Then I am even happier to make their acquaintance. I am Elgin York, sixth Duke of Chesterton and a few more titles that make me feel ancient when I pompously list them out so I’ll leave it there.”
    The men shook hands, courtesies exchanged. Galen looked impressed but nonplussed at the titles though he did manage to glance out to confirm that Ashe was oblivious to the development of dukes and dances.
    “Are your parents here this evening?”
    “My father is there,” Scarlett said. “Dancing with my sister. Do you see?”
    “Then we should join them. Would you be amenable, Miss Blackwell?”
    She nodded without looking to her chaperones, not trusting herself to betray that she was up to something. Aunt Haley knew her far too well.
    “I would be delighted, Your Grace.”
    He led her out to the edge of the dance floor as the music drew to a gentle close and the next dance began. They stepped out together and Scarlett knew her cheeks were as pink as peonies as people took note of the couple and she overheard the whispers saying “What a lucky girl!”.
    Even so, she lifted the looped ribbon on her train to put her hand through it and off they went—one lucky girl and the bachelor duke.
    “Is it hard to keep up the ruse?” he asked softly.
    “No,” she said. “It is easy to dance and you…are a dear to even think you needed to ask again. My goodness! The gossips needed so little encouragement.”
    “It never takes much. I’ve seen men’s reputations destroyed over something as unsubstantial as a misplaced card.”
    Scarlett gasped. “Truly?”
    “Well, there may have more to it than that if the card is in a deck and one is gambling, it is understandable, isn’t it?”
    She nodded. “I thought you meant a calling card falling off a tray and I wasn’t sure if I should panic or not.”
    “I think you are safe.”
    Scarlett looked past his shoulder to see that indeed, all was calm. There was no mob pointing and staring at them and instead, she was a fortunate debutante enjoying the illustrious company of a duke. It was ridiculously heady stuff.
    “What do you think, Miss Blackwell? Is it working?”
    “Almost too well. Thank you.”
    “Too well?”
    “I think half of London paid me a call after we danced. And the other half is sure to do so now.” Scarlett smiled at him. His height was only slightly greater than hers so it was comfortable to look at him directly as they danced. “Even a dear friend of yours felt the need to drop in and ensure that I wasn’t a harpy set out to ruin you.”
    “To ruin me ? Who was it?”
    Scarlett’s smile faded. “He meant only to look out for your best interests. You mustn’t be cross with him.”
    “Ah! Talon Rush, then. The Duke of Stafford. My protégé is more protective than any mother I expect.” Elgin cleared his throat. “Did he scare you?”
    “He tried,” she answered truthfully before realizing her error. “Of course, I was…He was…I think he is not as impressed with me as you had been.”
    “Talon has his good qualities. He takes everything very seriously but underneath it all, I swear there is a soft heart there. We would not be such good friends if it were not so.”
    Scarlett couldn’t think of a