The Duke Conspiracy Read Free

hand gallantly.
    The usually starchy matron giggled like a
schoolgirl over his courtly gesture. “Get on with you, you young
scamp. Of course, my darling Elizabeth would be delighted to dance
with you.”
    Alex noticed the “darling Elizabeth's” slight
roll of her eyes at her mother's words, but she turned a welcoming
smile upon the duke. Offering his elbow to the young lady, he
escorted her to the dance floor as the musicians struck up the next
quadrille.
    “Thank you for partnering me, Lady
Elizabeth,” Alex began the conversation with his companion.
    “Was I given much choice, Your Grace?” she
returned with a straight face.
    Alex looked at her sharply, wondering
fleetingly if he ought to apologize before he noticed the twinkle
in her eye. Relaxing into the familiar steps, the duke allowed a
smile to lighten his features.
    Ignoring her unanswerable question, he turned
the subject. “Are you enjoying your evening?”
    Lady Elizabeth tilted her head in slight
inquiry as she thought on the subject. With a delicate shrug she
replied, “It is passable, Your Grace.”
    “You do not enjoy events of the Season, do
you, my lady?”
    “I pray you do not tell my mother I admitted
such to you, but no, not overmuch. I would so much rather remain on
our estates forever. Not that I wish to remain under my mother's
watchful eye for the rest of my life, mind you. I guess you might
say this Season business is a necessary evil.”
    Alex grinned at the young lady before him,
wondering if he should admit that he agreed wholeheartedly with
her. He pressed for more information. “Then why did you bother
coming for the Little Season? Why not wait until the Spring
Session?”
    “My mother was so disappointed with my lack
of success in my first season. She thought I could use the extra
exposure of the Little Season. I believe she thought there would be
less competition as some ladies do not come to Town for the Fall
Session but most of the lords who need to be present for Parliament
do, thus giving me more selection.”
    “Your mother is a shrewd strategist.”
    “I believe all determined mamas are,”
answered the duke's dance companion, “but it would seem that many
of the mamas had the exact same strategy. If you will note, this
ball is barely less crowded than one would experience during the
regular Season.”
    “'Tis true, my lady, but one could attribute
that to the popularity of Lady Chorney as a hostess, rather than
the number of people who have come to Town for the Fall
Session.”
    “She is quite lovely, is she not? Do you know
the Chorneys very well, Your Grace?” Elizabeth was glad to change
the subject.
    “Not that well, but I have been their guest a
couple of times as well as hearing the viscount speak in the House
upon occasion.”
    “Last Season I was a guest at the most
darling breakfast Lady Catherine hosted. We dined al fresco, which
was a novel experience for me as my mama tends to think it is
unhealthy. I thought it was divine.”
    “It does sound novel. Were you not cold?”
    “It was near the end of the Season, so we
were quite comfortable. It was absolutely lovely despite the
challenge of getting ready for a ton event so early in the
morning. Most of the assembled guests were not used to seeing the
day much before noon. I do believe that was part of the amusement,
watching how everyone tried to hide the evidence of their excesses
from the previous night.”
    “You do have a perverse sense of humor, do
you not?” the duke commented with a wry chuckle.
    “Oh, that is exactly what my dear friend
Rosamund tells me every time,” declared Lady Elizabeth with a
smile, causing a sudden hitch in Alex's breathing. “Would I have
met this Rosamund?” Alex asked tactfully, feeling his heart race in
reaction as he thought of his old friend, forcing his eyes not to
stray to the side of the ballroom where he was sure she was
standing. He could hardly fathom his constant awareness of her.
Controlling his