Page 20 of The Wrong Duke

“What?” she spun around, not at all surprised to find her father glaring at her.

“You had a single job to do, one that for reasons I can’t fathom, you’ve failed at every turn.”

“Father, that isn’t fair —”

“But it’s no matter,” he powered over her. “Perhaps it’s my fault, trusting a task this great to you. I should have known better.” He clicked his tongue. “Lord Malnor will be at our home for the entirety of this weekend, and by the time it is done, I fully expect him to be announcing to the entiretonhis eternal and undying love for you. Is that understood?”

She matched his glare with her own. “Yes, Father.”

His lip curled. “Again, this is your last chance. Do not embarrass me.” And with that, he turned his horse about and kicked his heels into its side, spurring it down the path and out of sight. Happy to leave Amelia to make the walk back by herself, likely as a form of punishment.

And while Amelia wanted to be angry with him. While she wanted to be nervous about what this weekend might mean. While she wanted to scream and shout and tell the world that she was through playing these games... she didn’t do any of that. Rather, she trudged through the park, back in the direction of the entrance, all the while her mind fixated on that kiss.

CHAPTEREIGHT

“What do you think the chances are?” Evan began as he indicated for a server to fill his glass.

“Chances of what?” David asked as he too indicated for his glass to be filled; it was a dark red wine that was on offer tonight although Evan wasn’t familiar with the vintage.

“Of the Viscount having me killed before the weekend is through.”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous.”

“Am I though?’ Evan took a sip of his wine, a little sweet for his taste, but he assumed it was chosen to be paired with the meal they’d soon be eating. “You saw the look on his face when he realized I’d be joining you this weekend. You would think he’d just found out that someone had shot his favorite hound.”

“He was perfectly congenial,” David dismissed. “And Lady Lindstone couldn’t have looked happier.”

“Lady Lindstone, sure,” Evan agreed. He put his glass down but then realized it wasn’t centered properly. A moment taken to position it evenly beside the cutlery, just to the right of the forks so it was within reach, and he continued, “But Lord Lindstone? If it wasn’t for the scene that it would have caused, I have no doubt he would have asked me to leave.”

“Don’t sound so happy about it,” David chuckled.

“I’m just saying, if you stumble upon my corpse at some point during the weekend, don’t be surprised. And also, feel free to avenge me. It’s the least you could do.”

“I’ll do no such thing David said as if he was serious, nose pointed in the air while he sipped at his glass of wine. “I’m a guest here, and the last thing I want to do is cause a scene. That’s really more of a 'you' thing.”

“Well, it was nice knowing you,” Evan sighed.

“I wish I could say the same,” David grinned.

Besides the servers that stood about the edges of the dining room, it was just Evan and David at the moment which was why Evan felt so comfortable joking about their host’s clear dislike, even hatred, toward him. Not that it was much of a secret — so much so that Lord Lindstone probably thought Evan to be the last person he’d see climbing out of David’s carriage when they had arrived not five minutes ago. It was one thing to turn up uninvited to a dinner event, sure, but a weekend-long soiree? One to be spent in its entirety in Lord Lindstone’s manor and on his grounds? Even someone as arrogant as the Duke wouldn’t dare such a thing...

Dare he did. When David had heard about the festivities planned exclusively by Lord Lindstone, he had no doubt what their true purpose was. And while he knew it would be awkward, while he knew it would be arduous and tiresome, and while he knew that he was really testing the limits of what a duke could get away with among his peers, he also knew he had no choice.

This was the last time, he told himself. By the time this weekend was done with, Miss Baker would either give up or unmask herself, revealing to David who she truly was and thus alienating his affections from her so that Evan wouldn’t be needed anymore.

Honestly, the things he did for his best friend...

“So,” David started, turning himself to look at Evan, a small, almost knowing smile working its way up his lips, “what do you think about Miss Baker?”

Evan suppressed a groan; clearly, Miss Baker’s persistence was having the desired effect on David, meaning that simply keeping them apart wasn’t going to be enough. “I think... I think she is trouble.”

“Is that right?” David chuckled softly. “Trouble how?”

He fixed his friend with a no-nonsense eye. “I just don’t believe that she is as she seems. There is something about her that seems dishonest — and you know I wouldn’t say such things on a whim, but it’s just a feeling that I get.”

“Oh, wouldn’t you now?” David’s eyes flashed. “Need I remind you of Miss Harper? Or Miss Thorn? As I seem to recall, you had similar opinions about them also.”

“And as I seem to recall,” Evan countered, “Miss Harper was only using you for your title. And as to Miss Thorn...” He trailed off, cocking an eyebrow at David which told the story without having to say it out loud.

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