The Duke's Quandary Read Free Page A

Her aunt tells me her niece is terrified.”
    “As you wish, madam. The girl will have a trusted friend in me.”
    His mother rose and shook out her skirts. “Thank you. I knew I could count on you.”
    “Did you, now?”
    “Yes.” She gave him a slight wink and sailed out the door, her head held high as a true duchess.
    A socially backward botanist? Would she want to spend her time crawling about in the dirt, a magnifying glass held up to her face? Drake swiveled his chair around and gazed out at the dreary weather. The girl was his mother’s problem. He would do his duty and see that her dance card was filled, but his primary focus had to be in securing a wife—a perfect duchess. Now that he was duke, his responsibilities had increased and he needed an heir.
    …
    Drake swallowed the last of his wine and aligned his glass perfectly next to his dinner plate and addressed his sisters. “Ladies, I think it is time we discussed this upcoming Season, and your previous reluctance to accept offers from perfectly acceptable suitors.”
    “You’ve become so stuffy.” Mary wrinkled her nose across the dinner table at her brother.
    “I have not. I wish everyone would cease saying that.” He rolled his shoulders and scowled at his youngest sister. “I merely wished to impress upon you, and your sisters, that it is time to begin considering some of the gentlemen who pay you court as potential husbands. It is my responsibility as head of this family to see you all settled. ”
    “This is my first Season,” Mary returned. “I think your comments would best be served if they were directed at Abigail.”
    Drake swung his attention to Abigail. “She is correct. By my calculations this is your fourth Season.”
    “For goodness sakes, who’s counting?”
    “Obviously Drake is,” Sarah added. “I think he feels overwhelmed with all these sisters to marry off.”
    Drake’s insides twisted at her offhand remark. Was everyone aware of his feelings of inadequacy?
    “I would remind you we did not have a Season last year since we were mourning Papa,” Sybil said. “So this is only the second Season for Sarah and me, and the third for Abigail.”
    “In any event, it is time for all of you to take this business seriously.”
    “Papa said we should choose a husband we loved, not anyone, just so we could say we’re married.” Abigail stuck out her chin, her eyes glittering with tears.
    Drake fell silent. That was one of the reasons he wished to get them all married and under the protection of husbands. Let some other man deal with the tears and recriminations. So many times he felt overwhelmed by female emotions. How had father stood it? Another way he did not measure up.
    “I suggest we put aside talk of marriage and husbands at the dinner table.” His mother patted her mouth with her serviette. “I understand from Lady Bellinghan’s note that our guest, Miss Clayton, will arrive sometime this evening.”
    Mary clapped her hands. “Oh, I’m so excited to have another girl to come out with. It was easy for Sybil and Sarah, being twins, to have each other. I shall enjoy Miss Clayton’s company, even if she is years older.”
    “Hardly years older, dear. The girl is only one and twenty to your eighteen.”
    “Why is she only coming out now?” Abigail asked.
    “She was raised in America, and then spent the last three years in the Devonshire countryside at her late father’s estate. Up until now, Lady Bellinghan had not been successful in presenting her niece, but she apparently has put her foot down that the girl must have a Season.”
    “Why would she not want a Season?” Mary asked wide-eyed.
    “Miss Clayton has spent a great deal of time with her father in the study of botany, and according to her aunt, is not terribly social. We must all help to smooth her way. I would greatly appreciate it if you girls took her under your wing. And your brother has agreed to introduce appropriate gentlemen to