Page 2 of The One With the Rogue Duke

She stood up to look him in the eye. “Of course I have a plan.”

“Good. Because you’re about to lose this place. I should only hope—”

Pru put a hand on Soren’s forearm. “She can always stay with us if she needs to.”

She winced almost as tightly as her new brother-in-law. “That’s simply not necessary, Pru. I have a plan. And I always get what I want. I’ve invited the Duke of Elwin. He shall be my new husband.”

“Does he know that?” Soren asked, hands loosely stuffed in his pockets.

“It’s on a need to know basis, and he doesn’t need to know.” She smirked. “Yet.”

“Really—”

“It’s all right, Pru. You worry too much. I’ve got this. The plan is to marry a wealthy duke to save me from destitution, or something like that.”

“You’ve increased your odds. I hear the Duke of Quelston is also attending. How did you manage that?” Soren asked.

“That trifle of a man,” she dangled her fingers in the air, “was an add on. Our dear sister Temperance practically forced me into it. She said she wouldn’t come if I didn’t invite him. If it had been anyone else imposing such an ultimatum on me, I would not have acquiesced so easily, but for my sisters you know I’d cave. It’s my only flaw.”

“Only?” Soren questioned, but his reaction was lost—or ignored—when Verity turned to her sister.

A shuffle of Pru’s brows ended in a furrow, as Pru mumbled, “How…very odd—”

“It’s not odd at all. Women swoon at his feet. I just hope poor Temperance can see what a rake he is. I will not permit them to be alone together. I shudder at the thought. I’ll be busy coer—convincing Rafe to marry me. So you must be sure to steer Temperance clear of…that odious man.”

“Perhaps he’s changed. Have you even seen him in the last eight years?” Pru’s naive curiosity made Verity chuckle.

“Men like that don’t change. Ever. And no, I haven’t seen him. I’ve been married. I’ve been busy.”

“You’re not still upset with him for—”

“I could care less.” Verity waved her sister’s question away.

“So you care then?” Pru probed.

“What? No, I just said I don’t care.”

“Actually, you said…never mind.” Pru shook her head.

“Well, then.” Verity clapped her hands together. “Your room is ready. Would you like to freshen up after your trip? Lie down? I’m going to see the horses to make sure everything is ready for our ride tomorrow. I heard that there was some trouble in the stables.”

“Yes. We’ll take some time to rest before this evening’s activities begin. You take care of what you need to,” Pru said.

“I will. At this point it’s inevitable that this estate will change hands, but at least this will be the most incredible house party yet. Nothing can put a damper on it. Not even England’s most notorious rogue.” She flicked her fingers in the air. “I’m sure I’ll hardly notice him.”

Chapter 2

Ash

“This is the third time you’ve been back in a month.” Grice, the stablemaster, swiped his hat from his head and used his sleeve to wipe up the sweat. “You do know you broke ankles the last time you were here, don’t you?”

“What’s that?” Without looking over his shoulder, Ash called out while checking Blackmare’s hooves.

“You’re breaking ankles up here.”

“How so?”

“The maids are in a tizzy. Think you’re one of the new stablehands.”