Page 15 of Betting on a Duke
“Do you see him now?” Clarice asked as she looked around the room for a handsome gentleman with two puppies... young ladies in tow.
“No.”
She linked her arm through Letitia’s and gently nudged her toward the exit. “Perhaps next time you can manage an introduction, and you can find out if he’s serious about either of the two puppies.”
Giggles escaped Letitia’s lips. “Thank you for making me feel better. I never realized how difficult it would be to enter Society. In my dreams, I thought I’d meet a man and we’d fall instantly in love.” She huffed. “What a silly notion.”
“It’s not silly,” Clarice said. “I have the same dream. Although mine involves seeing Stanton again, and we fall in love on the spot. Sadly, that didn’t happen tonight.”
Letitia squeezed her arm. “Don’t despair. You two have a past, and pasts tend to come back around.” Letitia’s steps slowed, and she whispered, “Oh my. There he is, gathering his greatcoat and helping the two ladies with their cloaks. They seem to be leaving with him.” The disappointment in her voice surprised Clarice.
“Relax,” Clarice said. “That’s one of Stanton’s oldest friends. I met him years ago. He is Archibald Fitzroy, Viscount Greyson. And if memory serves me, he has twin sisters. Don’t you see the resemblance?”
“Now that you mention it, all three of them have warm brown hair with light highlights. Are you right? Are they his twin sisters?”
“It would be quite a coincidence if he were escorting some other twins. So, yes, I’m positive they are his sisters.” Clarice tugged Letitia along. “Let’s hurry, and I’ll introduce you.”
Letitia’s feet halted.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. An introduction would be helpful so that the next time I see him, I won’t have to stare from across the room, wondering who he is and if he’ll speak to me.”
As they approached the butler to request their cloaks, Clarice cleared her throat to get Greyson’s attention. “Excuse me, Viscount Greyson.”
He pivoted around and smiled warmly at Clarice, and when his eyes landed on Letitia, the entryway’s temperature seemed to rise.
“I was hoping to introduce you to my friend.”
“Please.” His eyes never left Letitia’s face.
“Marchioness, may I present Archibald Fitzroy, Viscount Greyson. Greyson, this is Letitia Fernsby, Marchioness of Rutherford.”
Clarice did not need to say or do anything else. Greyson stepped forward, took Letitia’s hand in his, bowed most gallantly, and kissed her hand. When he straightened, he said, “A pleasure to meet you, Lady Rutherford.”
Letitia curtsied. “It’s an honor to make your acquaintance, Viscount.”
“Forgive my lack of manners,” he said, indicating his sisters. “Lady Chesterfield. Lady Rutherford, these are my two sisters, Miss Aurora and Miss Anastasia Fitzroy.”
His sisters curtsied, and Miss Aurora said with a warm smile, “It is nice to meet you both.”
“Yes,” Miss Anastasia chimed in. “Very nice to meet you both. The Duke of Stanton was shocked—in a good way—when he saw you this evening, Lady Chesterfield.”
Greyson groaned. “Anastasia, you shouldn’t say such things.”
“Well, it is true.”
Clarice’s stomach fluttered. “May I be honest with you? I was shocked—in a good way—myself as well. He appears much the same as I remember.”
Greyson snorted. “Excuse me, ladies, but I must escort my sisters home.” He leaned toward Letitia and lowered his voice. “May I call on you tomorrow?”
Her friend visibly melted, and her cheeks pinkened. “Yes. I would like that very much.”
He took her hand in his and brought it to his mouth, brushing his lips over her knuckles. “I look forward to it then.”
Letitia didn’t move; she stood in the doorway, staring at Greyson’s back. She sighed, and her eyes became dreamy, which Clarice envied. “I’m never going to sleep tonight thinking about that man and his deep-green eyes and that smile. And his voice, I felt the vibrations deep inside me.”
Clarice linked her arm through Letitia’s, feeling joyful for her friend, and led her down the outside stairs to their waiting carriage. Once inside, she said, “That meeting was intense. I’ve never witnessed anything like it. You two connected on a deep level.”
