How to Dazzle a Duke Read Free

perfectly plain
    that Penelope had no wish to speak of her annoying roses.
    “They give every appearance of being so,” Penelope said
    tartly, quite unable to stop herself and nearly unapologetic
    about it.
    Sophia gave her a considering look, her eyes twinkling, and
    then asked, “How do you take your tea, Miss Prestwick?”
    Bother. Now, if the pattern held, Sophia would engage her in
    a perfectly pointless discussion about various teas for the next
    quarter hour. The Duke of Edenham was due to arrive at Dalby
    House in less than thirty minutes, but if Penelope did not have
    Sophia firmly in her corner by then, Edenham would prove use
    less. She knew that as well as she knew her own name. Unless
    aided by Sophia, there was not a duke in Town who would fall
    into her very deserving lap. They hadn’t yet done, had they?
    Without the proper aid, they clearly never would. Sophia, as
    8 CLAUDIA DAIN
    annoying as she could clearly be, was the proper aid, indeed the
    only aid. That was more than clear.
    “Lady Dalby,” Penelope said, ignoring the subject of tea entirely.
    “I am quite aware, indeed, all of Society is quite aware, that you
    have a particular talent, one could even say a passion, for matchmaking.” Penelope paused briefly to study the look on Sophia’s
    face. She looked not one whit alarmed, or even surprised. She did
    look entertained. Penelope was perfectly willing to be the source
    of humor for Sophia, as long as she got her duke in the end. “You
    have done so, quite obviously, with three women of gentle birth in
    the past month, one of them your own daughter.”
    “But of course with my own daughter, Miss Prestwick,” Sophia
    interrupted, needlessly. “How else was she to marry without my
    guidance and permission?”
    Penelope shook her head in annoyance and continued.
    “Clearly true, Lady Dalby, I was only recounting my observa
    tions. If I may continue?” She was not asking permission, which
    was perfectly obvious to both of them.
    “Please do,” Sophia said with a smile, leaning back against
    the cushions.
    “If one includes Mrs. Warren, which I feel I must as she is a
    close family friend, then the number jumps to four. Four women
    within a month. Four women who have made stellar, if not to say
    unexpected, matches with respectable and honorable men. Is
    that an accurate recounting of events, Lady Dalby?”
    There. She had got it all out without further interruption.
    Penelope was aware that she was holding her breath, her spine
    very straight as she held Sophia’s gaze. It was, surprisingly, not a
    particularly awkward moment. Sophia made it so, of that she was
    certain. No huffs of outrage or looks of offended dignity; no, she
    was completely at ease, calm as a shallow pond. Strangely,
    Penelope realized she had expected nothing less.
    How to Daz zle a Duke
    9
    “I am completely charmed,” Sophia said softly, “that you’ve
    taken such trouble, Miss Prestwick. I do think, however, that if
    your accounting is to be precise, the true number is four women
    in not quite three weeks. You seem to be a woman who values
    precision.”
    And indeed she was. How unusual and how pleasant for
    someone to have noticed that about her. But then, she was under
    the rather firm impression that Sophia noticed everything about
    nearly everyone.
    “I do, Lady Dalby,” Penelope said. “I also value results, which
    I suspect you do as well.”
    To which Sophia Dalby nodded and smiled in clear delight.
    Perfect. Things were going so well and so very quickly, which is
    just as things ought to go. Penelope plunged in to the full; what
    ever hesitation, and indeed she had nearly none to start with, cast
    away in the pure pleasure of such plain speaking.
    “Then, Lady Dalby,” she continued, “I have come to ask if
    you will help me as you’ve helped the others. Will you make it
    five, Lady Dalby? I should like a husband. I have only one re
    quirement, and having met that, he can be whomever you