My Darling Duke
The reporter: “Does the duke send you more gifts?”
Miss Danvers: “Very charming and acceptable gifts between an engaged pair. Alexander spoils me endlessly with books of poetries and the most eloquent verses of his creation. He dotes on me and I, too, dote on him.”
The reporter: “Is your attachment a love match, then?”
Miss Danvers: “I do declare it to be so! He indulges me shamelessly.”
Impudent wench! He indulged her, did he? And not just the regular kind…but shamelessly.
The reporter: “Will the duke return to the House of Lords anytime soon? He’s a powerful voice of reason, his pen an instrument for change.”
Miss Danvers: “We do not discuss anything as droll as politics, Mr. Dawson. We speak on matters of the heart.”
Somehow, Alexander did not think her as vague as she implied. No, this woman was as cunning as they came.
With an impatient sigh, he moved on to the mention in the scandal sheets.
Lady Goodie has spied the most daring lady of the season walking to Hyde Park several times, her lady’s maid a few paces behind. Discreet inquiries indicate Miss Kitty Danvers is without a phaeton or a carriage of her own.
Whoever this Lady Goodie character was, she made it her duty to inform society in each of her weekly columns how lacking Miss Danvers was in appearance and gentility to become a duchess. Last week’s scandal sheet had mentioned how vibrantly Miss Danvers laughed, and that her riding boots had seen better days.
Why the charade, Miss Danvers? And how exactly does it benefit you? he silently mused. She hadn’t used her deception to gain anything for herself, beyond the town house his lawyer had insisted on securing for the lady. He felt an odd compulsion stirring inside him to understand this stranger’s drive and complexities.
Flipping the newssheet, he carefully read several mentions of her. While the other papers’ articles were done in admiring tones, Lady Goodie seemed of a mind to vilify Miss Danvers with biting, sarcastic remarks that poked at Miss Danvers truly being the fiancée of the Duke of Thornton.
Lady Goodie has it on the highest authority that the captivating and almost scandalous Miss Danvers was once again seen riding a horse astride in Hyde Park! Shocking, of course, and the last lady to titillate society in such an audacious manner was our darling Lady Caroline Lamb. This author wonders: What does the duke have to say about his fiancée’s outrageous and speculative manner?
Alexander picked up another paper, which referred to the same incident but defended her action as courageous and defying conventions of the biddies of the ton. In fact, this article thought the duke should be proud to have such an intrepid duchess-to-be.
It seemed one set of society was liable to believe the lying wretch, but the other half was wary and cutting. How was she maneuvering the dark and treacherous waters she’d willingly dived into?
With deft aplomb…or are you afraid, Miss Danvers?
His lips curled, and he reached for the inkwell and feather. Pulling a sheaf of paper from his top drawer, he started his composition. He was too enthralled by the unconventionality of Miss Danvers to ignore her any longer.
Dear Miss Danvers…
Alexander paused, assessing the impulse to write to her. And say what? Demand an explanation? Alert the bold vixen that he was aware of her scheme?
Blast his heart for being so perplexed, so intrigued by her subterfuge. She was a puzzle…and he liked puzzles for how they occupied the mind and allowed for the passage of time with some modicum of enjoyment.
Damnable nonsense to be so captivated by a female he knew to be a lying wretch.
His heart jerked and he blew out a slow, audible breath. Yet…he was enchanted. And she’d achieved this without Alexander ever meeting her.
Instead of sending her a letter, he quickly scrawled:
Mr. Pryce,
You will see that Miss Danvers is fitted with a phaeton and a matching pair. You’ll arrange for the horses to be stabled and cared for. At no time must you make Miss Danvers aware that you and I have discussed her. You must convince her to take these items as befitting the fiancée of a duke. She must not be told that I had anything to do with the command.
The Duke of Thornton.
His letter would perplex the young lawyer, but Alexander knew he would obey him without questions.
A quick knock on his study had him lowering the quill. The door was flung open with exuberance, and his sister fairly skipped into his sanctuary, a small pink bundle squished lovingly between her arms.
She’d found the pig.