Dancing with the Duke Read Free Page B

a corner of
her toast. Alex took a sip of his coffee and opened the morning
paper.
    “It is a lovely morning, is it not?”
    Alex murmured his assent but continued to
scan the paper’s headlines. He was determined not to allow
Charlotte’s presence in his house to disrupt his normal
routine.
    “I think I have made up my mind,” she
said.
    Giving up, Alex folded the paper and placed
it beside his plate.
    “About what?” he asked as he reached again
for his cup.
    “About whom I’m going to marry, of
course.”
    He narrowly avoided choking on the coffee.
“You’ve already received offers of marriage?”
    She laughed. “Of course not. It’s still early
in the Season.”
    Charlotte’s response gave him pause, and he
wondered why he felt out of step in her presence. It couldn’t have
been her beauty, for she was hardly the first beautiful woman he
knew. It must be the fact that he still found it so hard to believe
this was the same girl he’d once known.
    “If you’ve received no offers,” he asked,
“then how have you come to a decision?”
    She took another bite of her toast, and he
found himself watching the movement of her mouth far too
closely.
    She waved the toast airily. “I have decided
who I will encourage, of course. I am confident that with enough
attention I can bring this person to propose to me.”
    Alex could very well believe that. And to
think he’d once deemed Charlotte Grant to be without charm. He’d
watched her work her magic on other dazzled men that night at
Almack’s… had even been momentarily struck off balance by it
himself.
    He was almost afraid to ask the next
question. “And who have you decided on?”
    “Lord Haversham. He is a little older than
me… almost as old as you. But he seems to like me well enough,
don’t you think? He’s also very attractive. I believe we’d have
lovely children together.”
    He was stunned by her announcement.
Haversham? Not if he had any say in the matter, and he very much
intended to. It occurred to him, however, that he would have to be
careful with his response. He’d heard enough from his sister over
the years to know Charlotte could be very stubborn. If he tried to
forbid her to encourage Haversham, she’d likely do the exact
opposite.
    Feigning a casualness he was far from
feeling, he picked up his paper again and unfolded it. “I’m sure
Haversham would make a very good husband for you,” he said, staring
blindly at the articles on the front page. He waited a beat before
adding, “I’m sure you won’t mind having a small wedding.”
    There was a brief hesitation. “I hadn’t given
thought to my future wedding.”
    “Good. So you won’t have built up your
expectations.”
    He suppressed his smile of satisfaction when
she took the newspaper from him, and raised a brow in question.
    She sighed. “Clearly, you have something you
want to tell me.”
    “Me? Of course not. I would never presume to
tell you what to do.”
    Two small lines appeared between her eyes
when she frowned. “It’s obvious you know something I do not.”
    He brought a forkful of his eggs to his mouth
and finished chewing, taking his time, before replying. He was
heartened when Charlotte crossed her arms, not bothering to hide
her annoyance at being kept waiting. Good. Why should he be the
only one uncomfortable with this whole absurd situation?
    “Lord Haversham is currently experiencing a
slight problem with his finances. It would seem that he likes to
play cards a little too much. Unfortunately, they do not appear to
like him.”
    “Oh,” she said, her annoyance deflating.
    “Quite. But I am sure the two of you will get
along very well despite your reduced circumstances.”
    The look she aimed at him was filled with
suspicion. “He does not appear to be living in the manner of one
who does not have much money.”
    He shrugged. “Shopkeepers are very willing to
extend credit to those they feel can afford it. When word spreads,
I am sure you will