Page 8 of Distracting the Duke

Better and better. It looked as if Miss Soper would make him the perfect wife. Not judgmental, not argumentative, eager to please…

“Don’t be flattered, sir,” Lady Clara replied. “Miss Soper is simply well-bred. She would behave thus to any gentleman who treated her kindly.”

He bit back a sharp retort, then said smoothly, “It seems we are of one mind, madam. Both of us have praise for the young lady. Tell me, Miss Soper, was not your father Lord Fitzpayne of Hanwich?”

“He was indeed, sir,” Miss Soper replied. “How clever of you to know.”

Of course he knew. He wouldn’t dream of courting a woman without doing his research. Miss Soper was an orphan and an heiress, who could fill his coffers as well as his heart.

If only certain opinionated widows would stop interrupting the conversation.

Forcing a sigh of satisfaction, he rose from his chair. “If we are finished here, let’s begin our tour.”

Etiquette required him to give his arm to Lady Clara, although he would have preferred to give it to Victor Frankenstein, or Old Nick himself. But he’d find a way to deal with her. Nothing could be permitted to get in the way of his designs on Eleanora Soper.

Certainly not the disagreeable Lady Clara.

Chapter Six

Clara had to admit that the next half hour, spent examining the Duke of Ulvercombe’s public rooms, was very pleasant. Kessington House was splendid, and she detected considerable pride from its owner.

She also detected that the duke was determined to woo Ellie.

Which was a good thing. A satisfactory outcome would please a great many people. And it wouldn’t take Philip long to recognize the social and financial benefit of their ward becoming a duchess.

As for her, as soon as the family’s future was secure, Clara could make her escape and set up her own establishment. That happy thought alone made her feel rather more accommodating toward their host.

So long as he could make Ellie happy, it didn’t matter what Clara thought of him. Anyone could see they would make a remarkable couple and produce beautiful children.

She paused and gazed at a vase of vibrant blue delphiniums, which started to blur as her eyes grew moist.

Children.

Oh, how she’d wished for a child, but she and Simon had never been blessed that way. The fault was entirely hers, which made her even sadder. Her younger sister, Kate, had conceived in the blink of an eye…

“Lady Tinniswood, does the flower arrangement not please you?”

She started at the duke’s query and rapidly blinked away the tears. “Oh, no, it’s lovely. Excuse me, I seem to have something in my eye.”

If only he wouldn’t stand quite so close. It was a bad habit, and she must make sure Ellie trained him out of it.

“That reminds me,” he said, reaching into an inner pocket. “I have something of yours. My housekeeper applied salt, apparently, and did a splendid job. Here.”

It was the handkerchief she’d used to soak up his bloodied nose at their last meeting.

How very thoughtful. How very unexpected! She tucked the handkerchief into her reticule.

“Shall I help you remove the object?”

“Hmm?” She strained to recall what they were speaking of. Ah, her teary eyes. “Don’t worry. It’s gone now, thank you.”

Why was he troubling himself with her? Shouldn’t he be glued to Ellie’s skirts? No doubt, he supposed making up to her guardian would help win Ellie’s favor.

“Excellent. Tell me, what do you think of my lacquered Chinese cabinet?”

“Very fine. As are all your furnishings and ornaments.” She paused, then added, “I see not all your statuary is on display. Did you think I might try to steal the Pajou Venus from under your very nose?”

Surprisingly, he smiled. “You’re not going to let me forget about that, are you? There is another, rather larger statue of Venus I have my eye on at the moment, found recently in the sea just off the Greek Islands. I saw an illustration in the Gentleman’s Magazine, and I’m afraid my greed was aroused.”