Page 39 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

Lord Mortimer eyed her warily, his neck turning a dark shade of red as the other man—was his name Armitage?—attempted to sink into his chair.

“I am so pleased to see you here tonight,” Louise continued. “My husband has told me a great many things about the game you played with my father some weeks ago.”

Both men stared at her in astonishment, but she had been the subject of gossip and slander for long enough. The rage burning beneath her skin could not be quelled by propriety.

“It is interesting to me, therefore, to hear you speaking so ill of my family,” she said softly, keeping her voice low, her eyes on Lord Mortimer. “I understand you had offered a princely sum for my hand. Strange, then, that you believe my family name is worthless.”

Lord Mortimer cleared his throat several times, his eyes dark and angry.

“Is there anything amiss?”

Louise spun around to find the Duke of Stonewell, the man behind the bull mask at the masquerade ball, standing before her. He was not looking at her, however. His cold glare was fixed on Mortimer and Armitage.

“Are you making a nuisance of yourself again, Armitage?” he drawled. “Because you have already been given a warning.”

“I was having aprivateconversation with my friend here, and the lady interrupted us. That is hardly my fault,” Armitage spluttered in outrage.

“Private conversations aren’t usually held withinearshot, are they?” Louise asked, sipping her sherry. “I do not think you quite understand what it means to hold your tongue.”

Armitage and Mortimer leaned forward in their chairs to protest most violently, but the Duke of Stonewell cleared his throat and stepped between them and Louise.

“Duchess, perhaps I might introduce you to my sister before you come to blows with the whole of the club,” he offered stiffly and held out a hand to show her the way.

Louise shot Mortimer another baleful glare before following the Duke.

I suppose I have not helped my reputation by speaking my mind, but I will not be slandered by idiotic men who see themselves as superior to me.

The Duke of Stonewell followed her out of the room and led her to a smaller antechamber where the smoke was not quite so thick. In the corner of the room sat a young woman about Louise’s age, her long dark hair tied around her head with a multitude of ribbons and sparkling pins. She looked up as they entered and smiled politely as her brother approached her. She rose, and Louise was struck by how tall she was. She wasstrikingly beautiful, and the smile on her face was broad and genuine.

“Charlotte, this is the Duchess of Egerton. Duchess, this is my sister, Lady Charlotte Harding.”

The two women curtsied to one another as Charlotte glanced at her brother quizzically.

“What is the matter?” she asked, a slight frown creasing her brow. “You look as though you have swallowed a wasp.”

The Duke of Stonewell’s stern expression did not change much, but he shot his sister a withering look before turning to Louise. “I am sorry for what they said, Duchess,” he said stiffly. “But you cannot confront our members in such a manner without good warning.”

Louise’s heart pattered wildly at being admonished, but then the Duke continued.

“We need to ensure that we have the right security toejectthem at such moments. If you give me notice in advance, I can be fully prepared to throw them out for their impertinence.”

There was a hint of humor in his voice, but his mouth was stern and angry, his eyes cold. Louise wondered if he ever smiled at all. Many men of his age had laughter lines and faint wrinkles around their mouths, but his face was smooth.

He really was quite intimidating.

“Was someone being rude to you?” Charlotte asked, looking just as irritated as her brother. “Who was it? We must tell Christian.”

“I will tell him,” the Duke insisted. “I have brought the Duchess here so that she can be out of their company for a time. Please entertain her while I see what is keeping Christian.”

He stalked out, his sister watching him with thinly veiled exasperation.

“I do not know why he is surprised by members of this club being high-handed and rude. He is just as bad as them.”

Louise laughed at that.

Charlotte grinned at her. “Were they terribly rude to you?”

“It was not so bad. My reputation precedes me, I think.”

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