Page 5 of His Duchess' Wicked List

“Of course, Madam.” Daniel abruptly took his hands off the beauty’s shoulders. “I hope you are quite able to walk…”

“I am well, Sir,” the dark-haired beauty assured, with a small smile, her blush deepening again. “Thank you.”

Her companion took her arm firmly and dragged her away, trailed by an older woman who looked like a maid. He couldn’t help watching them depart. Her figure was so very fine. It wasn’tuntil they had rounded a bend that he noticed a piece of paper slip from the book the beauty had been carrying, drifting in the air like a small white bird, before coming to rest on the ground.

He rushed towards it, scooping it up, feeling a small stab of joy. This was the excuse he needed to speak to her again and find out her name. He had been so spellbound by her that he had let her walk off without even finding out who she was.

He rounded the corner, clutching the piece of paper in his hand, seeking her and her companion. But to his dismay, the park was so crowded that he couldn’t see them anywhere. It was as if the crowd had swallowed them entirely.

Daniel stopped abruptly. It was no use. The dark-haired beauty was gone. Disappointment washed over him. He wasn’t going to be able to find her again. Unless…

He glanced down at the piece of paper, hoping that she might have written her name on it. A small hope—but a hope, nonetheless.

His eyes widened as he read it. It was a list of some kind, scrawled in black ink.

And oh… what a list it was.

A slow smile spread over his face. This list wasdefinitelynot meant for prying eyes. He doubted that the mystery woman hadmeant foranyoneto read it, other than herself. He had never read a list quite like it before.

The little minx.No wonder she held onto that book for dear life when we collided. If anyone read this list and knew that it came from her, she would be enshrouded by scandal.

He read through it again, stunned to his core. His blood was on fire. He was certain of only one thing: hemustfind her again. And quickly.

CHAPTER 3

“Madeline!” The Marchioness of Ollerton’s voice was as cutting as glass. “You are away with the fairies. Your food is congealing on your plate, Daughter.”

Maddie jumped a little in her chair, almost dropping her fork, as if she had been caught in a private act. In fact, shehadbeen indulging in a private act: daydreaming about the impossibly dashing and handsome man she had collided with in Hyde Park that very day.

She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him ever since she had returned home—he had been constantly on her mind. She had barely concentrated during her pianoforte lesson, which had earned her a sharp rebuke from Mr. Farquar, her tutor.

As soon as she could, she escaped to the privacy of her bedroom, languishing on her bed, indulging in the memory of the brief encounter. But, as always, she had been forced out of her solitude to attend dinner with the family. And now, itseemed she could barely eat… and her mother was noticing her distraction.

“I apologize, Mama,” she uttered, trying to sound chastened. “But you do know that I have never been overly fond of venison pie.”

Her mother gave her a sharp look. “However, youarefond of artichoke soup, and you barely touched the first course either.” She sighed dramatically. “Now that I think about it, you have been in a singular mood ever since you returned from promenading in Hyde Park. Mr. Farquar remarked that you were particularly absent-minded during your lesson as well.”

Maddie played with her fork, twisting it in her hand. “You should dismiss Mr. Farquar,” she said, wondering if she could distract her mother successfully. “The lessons are a waste of time. I willneverbe proficient in the pianoforte. We all know that Augusta is the only musical talent in the family!”

“Maddie, you are too harsh on yourself.” Her father’s eyes softened as he gazed at her. She knew she had always been his secret favorite. “You play well, my dear child, and will only improve with practice.”

“A lady’s education is woeful,” Augusta declared crisply, weighing into the conversation. “Maddie should be proficient in languages, mathematics, and literature, the same as a gentleman. Instead, all we do is endlessly practice an instrument, learn to dance, and embroider. It is a travesty.”

There was an awkward silence. Lord Ollerton looked dumbfounded, staring at his oldest daughter as if he couldn’t quite fathom what kind of creature she was at all.

Lady Ollerton rolled her eyes, not even trying to disguise it. She never hid her irritation when Augusta went on her bluestocking tirades.

“Be that as it may, Daughter,” she gritted out, “we pay good coin for your sister’s pianoforte lessons, and at the very least, Madeline needs to be conscious of that fact and respect her tutor’s time and dedication.”

“Perhaps you should ask Maddie whatshewishes to do with her time,” Augusta countered tartly. “If she studied something she was actually interested in and found useful, there might be a better outcome all around. Instead, you treat her as if she is a puppet and you are the puppeteer, pulling her strings as you see fit.” There was a loud clatter as she dropped her fork, quite deliberately, onto her plate.

Lady Ollerton glared at her. “He who pays the piper calls the tune,” she said, her mouth curling. “That is something that you would do well to remember, Augusta. You are a dependent in this household. And it is high time you started to earn your keep.”

Augusta’s green eyes were shooting daggers now. Maddie shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

The battles between her older sister and their mother were becoming more pronounced and virulent. All that Lady Ollerton wanted was obedient daughters, and Augusta was quite determined to rock the boat, as vigorously and as often as she could.

“How can I earn my keep?” Augusta asked in a deceptively calm voice. “You refused to educate me properly, so I cannot earn a living in any way commensurate with my talents. I am forced to be a dependent in this household.”

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