How to Dazzle a Duke Read Free Page A

think
    best.” A gamble, certainly, but the events of the past three weeks
    had proven suffi ciently to Penelope that Sophia was a woman to
    gamble upon. “I am quite convinced that you know what you’re
    about. The women who have sought your aid seem to me to be
    entirely delighted by, if not the chain of events, their conclusion.
    Will you help me, Lady Dalby?”
    There was no taking the words back now. No, nor the wish.
    She wanted a duke. She didn’t see any reason at all why she
    shouldn’t have one. Having come to Sophia for aid, it would have
    been a ridiculous bit of foolishness to not be forthcoming about
    what she wanted, wouldn’t it? Penelope had decided her course
    and she would hold to it, with Sophia’s help or not. But she did
    10 CLAUDIA DAIN
    so want Sophia’s help as her own efforts had produced not a
    solitary duke or heir apparent. Surely, she could do no worse
    with Sophia on her side.
    Sophia, far from looking shocked, such a relief, leaned for
    ward and stared in some fascination at Penelope.
    “And what is your one requirement, Miss Prestwick? I confess
    to being curious.”
    Penelope suspected rather strongly that there was no mystery
    as to her one requirement, but she played along, not a bit put off
    by plain speaking, as should be perfectly obvious to the most
    obtuse of persons, which Sophia Dalby clearly was not.
    Penelope leaned forward upon her seat, matching Sophia’s
    pose nearly completely. “I want a duke, Lady Dalby,” she said
    calmly and clearly.
    Sophia did not so much as blink. “Many girls want dukes,
    Miss Prestwick. Indeed, I should say all girls would like one.
    Why should you get your duke?”
    Penelope smiled and tilting her head playfully, said with the
    utmost earnestness, “Because I can afford one, Lady Dalby.”
    Sophia blinked. “Darling,” she said with a smile, “we are
    going to get along famously.”
    Oh, she did hope so. She did so very much want her duke, or
    heir apparent; she was not unreasonable, after all.
    Two
    “AS you can afford a duke,” Sophia said, leaning back against the
    milk blue damask sofa and studying the lovely young girl before
    her, “you can almost certainly afford me.”
    “I beg your pardon?” Miss Prestwick said. She did not stam
    mer, that could be said in her favor, but she did look more than
    a bit surprised. Small wonder, really. These young things, they
    did seem to think that life ever should fall their way with such
    very little effort on their part. It was most unfortunate, to be sure,
    that life was not nearly so accommodating. “Afford you, Lady
    Dalby? I do not comprehend you.”
    “Then allow me to clarify,” Sophia said. “I have, or have not,
    aided the women you have observed; we shall not be so crass as
    to name them, shall we? Their privacy is as important to them
    as yours is to you. Being indiscreet is so rarely good form, though
    sometimes . . . but never mind that now, Miss Prestwick. The
    point must be that, while I did or did not aid certain women in
    attaining the men they desired, or at least deserved, my interests
    were also served. How am I to be served if I choose to aid you,
    12 CLAUDIA DAIN
    Miss Prestwick, that is the question. I do nothing for . . . nothing.
    Or had you heard otherwise?”
    Sophia knew very well that Miss Prestwick had not. Of all the
    rumors that had ever been circulated about Sophia Dalby, being
    free and easy with her favors was not one of them.
    To her immense credit, Miss Prestwick recovered her compo
    sure quickly. She blinked hard, stared directly into Sophia’s eyes,
    and said, “What would you like, Lady Dalby?”
    Sophia was more than a little impressed, which happened
    so very rarely that she took a moment to savor the sensation.
    What a truly remarkable girl. Miss Prestwick would do quite
    nicely as a duchess.
    “What is it in your power to offer, Miss Prestwick?” Sophia
    responded.
    Miss Prestwick blinked once more, took an audible breath,
    and said,