Page 13 of Duke of Chaos

“I just do not know how I am going to do this if every time I get close I have to leave to look for Juliet. She has no idea she is sabotaging her own happiness by doing this!”

“Perhaps that is why you should tell her?” Barbara asked, but when Lydia threw her a look she muttered, “Or not.”

In truth, Lydia had not told them everything either. They did not know she would become Ezra’s substitute bride if she were to succeed. The guilt of keeping such a secret hung heavily upon her, but she could not let them know. Not yet.

“Let us worry about Juliet,” Alice said helpfully, “You can do this, Lydia. You could tame a wild bear with your manners, this is nothing for you!”

Feeling empowered by her sister’s speech, Lydia raised her head high and smoothed her hands over her dress. Alice was right, and she looked as pretty and welcoming as a peach on a sweltering day. As Helena often did, she’d chosen the fruit-hued dress to draw the light but not be the center of attention. She’d also carefully highlighted her eyes, cheeks, and lips with just a touch of rouge that was so light it nearly matched her dress. Only a single strand of three diamonds hung from each ear and a simple, pearlescent teardrop hung from a peach-hued ribbon around her neck. Simple, but elegant and welcoming.

“Thank you, my darlings,” Lydia replied warmly, looking each of her friends in the eye.

“I shall go look for Juliet now,” Helena offered, “Ambrose will help me and will be discreet.”

“And Barbara and I shall make sure nothing interrupts your next conversation with Poppy,” Alice added. “Now, go!”

Her confidence renewed, Lydia turned from her friends, set on making her way back to Poppy’s table, when a gentleman clad in black from head to toe stepped into her path.

“Hello, Lydia,” a familiar voice purred, sending warmth flooding through her veins as she looked up into his icy blue eyes. “It seems you have failed in your task.”

“The evening is not yet over, Your Grace,” Lydia told him calmly as she stood before him in all her regal beauty.

Ezra took a moment to study her change of appearance up close. This evening, she was not the modest oldest sister he had seen two nights earlier, but an angelic vision in peach. While ruffles, frills, and feathers were taking over the style, Lydia’s satin dress was well-fitted in the bodice and the sleeves, short and thin and simply draped on the outside of her shoulders. It was a gown befitting a crown, which Lydia substituted for a coroneted braid. Beautiful, yet understated.

“I have watched you,” he replied, admiring her confidence, “given you ample space to work your charms. And still, the countess has yet to agree to speak with me. You have failed.”

He held out his hand to her then, bowing slightly. When she looked back at him with hatred, he let his eyes wander around the room as if to say,you think embarrassing me is going to help your cause?

In response, he was rewarded with the gold and bronze flecks igniting in her eyes as she smiled sweetly and slipped her hand into his. Quietly and with grace, he led her a few paces onto the dance floor and swept her into the song.

“The evening may not be over but the time to accomplish your task is,” Ezra murmured as he took the lead. “It was a valiant effort, and I saw that you came close to accomplishing your goal on a few occasions. But the countess has not been swayed, and if my sources are correct, she is more interested in your gown than my business.”

Lydia followed his steps beautifully, her body becoming the image of feline grace as she moved under his instruction.

“You underestimate me, Your Grace. You have no idea the miracles I can work within the last dwindling moments of this evening.”

Lydia spoke her words so sweetly and so calmly that her voice felt like a soft caress across his mind, soothing the heckles that always harbored there. Ezra nearly faltered in his step at hersweetness, but he reined in his surprise and in response, sent her for a sudden twirl in an effort to offset her.

To both his chagrin and amusement, Lydia handled the twirl as gracefully as a ballerina and even added a flourishing flick of her wrist before her hand delicately touched his shoulder again. As the music stopped, they let go of one another, and as Ezra bowed to her, he again experienced the intense, heated sensation she’d created on the night she’d visited him.

“Oh, Lydia, darling, what a beautiful dance! And, Your Grace, who knew you could step so eloquently?”

Ezra turned and bowed low at his waist to Lady Poppy Farris, Countess of Charmaine. He had spotted the woman the moment he had entered the room, dripping with the rewards of her husband’s multiple gemstone mine stocks. If he could convince the earl to let him buy stocks at his desired rate, the turnover in just one year would easily reduce half of his father’s remaining debt.

“Countess Charmaine, your praise is an honor,” he said with as much feigned warmth as he could muster. “Perhaps you would like to be next?”

Ezra could have sworn he caught the briefest of eye rolls from Lydia before he turned his attention toward Poppy. She had begun giggling and blushing at his suggestion and was sputtering winsome excuses about being married but flattered.

“You could do me another honor, though, Your Grace,” Poppy finally said as she resigned from her fit of giggles.

“Anything,” Ezra said willingly.

Though Poppy seemed not to notice, he was very aware of the multitude of stares their conversation had attracted. The Earl of Charmaine himself had stepped toward them to watch.Perhaps Lydia did succeed,he mused, keeping one eye on the earl and another on his wife.

“This is my dear stepdaughter’s first season out,” Poppy explained, giving him a pout, “She is so shy, pitiful thing, and it would do her so well to be courted by someone like you. Could I please bother you with an introduction?”

Ezra gave her an appreciative smile as he bowed to her again and said, “Forgive me, my lady, but I must refrain as I am now officially off the market. I would, however, love for my soon-to-be wife and I to join you and your entire family for a meal. Perhaps my darling lady could help your daughter find a suitable gentleman. She is, I must say, the most upstanding young lady I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.”

Lydia paled at his side as Poppy’s face moved swiftly from disappointment to pleasant surprise.

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