Fate Is A Stranger: Regency Romance Read Free

kind of anticipation toward any social event for more years than he could recall.
    He realized that it was too late to decline the invitation, as he had already accepted.
    And without examining his motives too closely, Peregrine de More, Duke of Hawkinston, summoned his valet.
     
    * * *
     
    "Your grace, we are honored," Harding Durbin, Viscount Kelly, said nervously, as the duke was announced. Lord Kelly had rushed over to the duke, leaving the small receiving line comprised of himself, Lady Kelly and Violet. The duke nodded to Lord Kelly and Lord Kelly directed him to Lady Kelly, who waited nervously. Hawkinston greeted Sadie tersely and dismissively and moved on to Violet. Violet glanced up as he approached her and her dark lashed blue eyes looked into his.
    For a moment the duke felt dazzled—taken aback by unexpected, overwhelming beauty. He had never seen a woman so beautiful in all his life.
    Hawkinston felt the force of Violet's beauty like a sudden sharp gale. She could not be unaware of this; surely she must be pretending not to know of her effect on men. Her face was serene and composed. Hawk always suspected the motives of courtesans. He had had ample experience with them.
    "Miss Durbin," said the duke, nodding.
    "Your grace," said Violet with a curtsey. They exchanged a few pleasantries. Violet felt a thrill of awareness in the duke's presence, as if the sun were blazing down on her. Yet her face did not reveal it.
    What did this mean? She felt hot and cold and as if she would suddenly take off soaring above the room.
    For the first time in her life Violet felt she had no control over her senses.
     
    And it was in that very same instant that the Duke of Hawkinston swore to himself that he would come to an arrangement with Violet before the night ended. The astounding beauty would be his, heart and soul, for as long as he wished it. Of that he was quite certain.
    Once Violet quieted down her pulse and heart, she pounded herself back to reality. She had seen a lot in the duke's initial assessing glance and in the few words exchanged and she didn't like it. She saw a man who was used to having his way in everything, especially concerning women. And she also saw disdain in his eyes, both for herself and especially for her mother. For herself she didn't care, as it was what she usually got from society men, but Violet was deeply offended by the disdain she saw in the duke's eyes directed at her mother. He had looked down at her mother and then away as if he pointedly wanted to snub her.
    Sadie and Violet had been shunned by almost everyone in society, yet society at least stayed away. The Duke of Hawkinston had come to their house to show his contempt.
    She also saw something in his seemingly cursory glance, the assessing look she saw in the eyes of many of the society men who came into contact with her in the few social functions she and her mother attended. What she saw in his eyes—an unpleasant knowing look—was the belief that she could easily be made his mistress.
    It was obvious to his grace, as it had been to those other men, that marriage to any of them was beyond her grasp and so the second best thing, a discreet liaison, could be arranged.
    "I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news," said the duke to her question regarding his nephew.
    "I’m afraid Jared is laid up with a cold. I hope you do not find the exchange to your dislike."
    "Certainly not, your grace, "Violet assured him, turning away from him so that he would not read her face.
    When it was polite to do so, Violet escaped the duke's oppressive presence and headed toward the terrace for a breath of fresh air. As she had gone through a back corridor to get to the terrace in a roundabout way she was able to enjoy a much prized solitude in the velvet darkness of the far corner of the terrace, where it turned just for a few short feet.
    She glanced up at the moon. The silvery rays illuminated a face that hid a soul scarred by sorrow, deep sorrow