A Deal with a Duke (The Daring Drake Sisters 2)

Harry moved away from the elephant before he lost his hat for good. He picked up his daughter and moved a little closer to Chunee. The elephant stuck his trunk out to sniff Charlotte, causing a riot of giggles to erupt from the little girl.

“We should move on and allow others to see Chunee,” Mrs. Gardiner stated, holding her hand out for Elizabeth.

“Yes, of course.” Harry walked toward the lions.

As the afternoon progressed, he couldn’t help but notice Louisa’s reticence. It was utterly unlike her. And he didn’t like it.

Chapter 9

“I HEARD A RUMOR THAT you went to The Exeter ‘Change yesterday with a certain duke,” Tessa said, sipping her tea in their mother’s salon.

Louisa nodded. “Yes, I had promised Charlotte I would attend with them. Not to worry, our maid was with us.”

“Indeed? I heard Mamma had insisted Emma accompany you as a proper chaperone.”

“Emma had plans with Susan. Besides, she had no desire to be amongst the dirty animals. And it turned out that there was no need for a proper chaperone.”

Louisa picked up a biscuit with a sigh, remembering how disappointment had gripped her as she watched Harry with Mary Gardiner. Mary appeared to treat Charlotte no differently than her daughter. And Harry had smiled at her. Something he rarely did with Louisa these days.

“Oh?”

“Mary Gardiner and her daughter joined us.”

“Oh.” Tessa rubbed her rounded belly. “Any news on the husband search?”

Louisa told her about meeting Collingwood. “I don’t know what is wrong with me, Tessa. I look at Collingwood, and there is no spark, no excitement...nothing.”

Not that she could tell her sister how looking at Harry made her belly flutter and think dreadfully improper thoughts. Tessa might be upset to learn that Louisa found Harry attractive after what his father had done to her husbands.

“Then he is not the man for you. Trust me. After three marriages to the wrong man, you will know when the right one comes along.”

“I am twenty-five years old. Surely, if such a man existed, I would have noticed by now.”

“And how old was I when I met Jack?” Tessa reminded her.

“Twenty-five,” Louisa replied flatly.

“Perhaps that is the fate of the Drake sisters. We don’t meet our true love until we are five and twenty.”

“Don’t tell that bit of nonsense to Emma or she may have an apoplexy,” Louisa said with a laugh.

Tessa laughed and then sobered. Hearing noises at the front door, they both quieted, listening for a moment. After hearing no new voices, Tessa asked, “Where are Mamma and Emma this afternoon?”

“Lady Huntley’s again. It is Mamma’s favorite place to hear the gossip of the day.”

“Miss Drake, this just came,” Davis said, holding a salver with a letter.

“Thank you, Davis.” Louisa picked up the letter and noticed the seal, before slipping it into her pocket.

“Oh, just open it,” Tessa said, pouring herself more tea. “Is it from him?”

Louisa nodded as she retrieved the note and broke the wax. As she read the letter, her stomach roiled in protest. This is what she’d wanted. She was supposed to want him to be happy...but this...this hurt so much. “Oh Lord,” she muttered.

“What is it?” Tessa asked quickly.

“He wants me to find him a wife.” As she scanned the requirements for his bride, she almost laughed.

“Isn’t that what you had suggested?”