Page 1 of A Duke for Hire

CHAPTER ONE

“Seraphina!” Theodosia Briarwood giggled, clasping both of her friend’s hands tightly. “There you are. Amelia and I have been looking for you. Where have you been?”

“Theo, my darling,” Seraphina exclaimed happily, glad to be among her friends again, “You know my Mama, always trying to win me a dance at these things.”

Her turquoise-blue eyes glanced around the ballroom she had just walked around with her mother with, trying to keep the grimace off her face. It was always the same since her mother, Mary Kinderson, and her paramour Peter Godwin, Duke of Caldermere, had decided together to thrust their illegitimate daughter into society two years ago.

Her mother continually tried, in vain, to find a suitor for Seraphina to dance with, hoping to catch her a husband. And each time it ended in failure, with Seraphina clustered with the other wallflowers. Which, in truth, was where she preferred tobe. She understood her mother’s preference to be wed to a noble rather than a commoner. The lifestyle was better by far- but the company was questionable. Most nobles looked down on her for being the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Caldermere, and rather than embrace her, gossiped about her.

Fortune had smiled on her, however, when she had met Theodosia, Rosalind, Ophelia, and Amelia, four noble daughters with hearts of gold. Two of which were presently by her side, offering her the most wonderful support.

“Ignore these stuck-up young bucks,” Theo urged, then held Seraphina’s hand up to give her a spin, “If they cannot see your beauty and grace, then woe be to them.”

“Hear, hear,” Amelia agreed, “Your gown is incredible! Such a creamy yellow! It pairs perfectly with those chocolate curls and blue eyes of yours.”

Seraphina blushed at the compliments her friends bestowed her, still not used to such support.

“You are both far too kind,” she replied, sweeping her eyes down their ballgowns.

The Duke had given her and her mother an account at the Modiste’s so that they could dress appropriately, but his idea of fashion was much more conservative. And, while she agreed her own gown was lovely, it was nothing compared to what her friends’ wore.

Theos ballgown was a mint green bedecked with silver and gold threads, which highlighted her sea green eyes and shining blonde hair; her hairstyle artfully hid the long, thin scar that raced from her temple to the edge of her brow. Amelia’s was a shimmering lavender, which complimented her honey brown eyes and light brown updo.

Seraphina understood why she herself was the wallflower; both due to her questionable lineage and lack of luster, but she could never fathom why the two friends were there by her side. Still, she cherished them all the same.

“We are being honest,” Theo answered, slipping an arm around her shoulders. “You truly look lovely, and I was at your last dance lesson, remember? Your steps have improved considerably.”

“I am trying,” Seraphina replied earnestly, “These last two years have been a whirlwind of lessons. The only reason I wish my father had recognized me when I was younger was so that I could start training for society earlier. What you have had your entire lives to learn, I have only had two years to master.”

“It is not the time that is important, but the dedication,” Amelia told her. Her eyes then flicked over the crowd, landing on Seraphina’s mother.

“Though, I fear your mother may be doing more harm than good,” she leaned in and whispered to Seraphina. “High society does not take pressure from the lower classes well. Perhaps she would benefit your chances more if she stepped back a little?”

Seraphina chortled behind her hand and whispered, “Good luck telling her that. She thinks that now that the Duke has put her in fine dresses and allows her to flutter me about these things, that she is as good as them. Even when their faces clearly relay that she is not.”

“Well, at least your debut is less of a scandal now,” Theo said, “Remember how poorly they treated her two years ago?”

“I will never forget,” Seraphina said, and meant it.

Her mother had once been a maid in the Duke’s home. According to Mary, she and the nobleman had fallen in love. Only there had been two problems with that.

Mary had been born a commoner. And the Duke already had a wife.

Seraphina’s birth and her very existence had been kept a secret until the Duchess of Caldermere sadly died shortly before Seraphina’s twentieth birthday. She blushed now, thinking of how her mother had forced her into the Duke’s office not even a week after the woman’s funeral, and demanded that Seraphina be turned into a Lady.

“Sera, my love,” Theo said softly, calling her back to the present.

Seraphina shook her head, as if trying to dislodge the unpleasant memory, and forced a wan smile as she turned to her friend.

“Apologies, dear friends,” she said, forcing a small laugh.

“No apologies necessary, darling,” Amelia said warmly, reaching out to give Seraphina’s arm a squeeze.

A burst of affection bloomed within her as she focused back on Amelia and Theo. Though they looked nothing alike, they were the sisters\ she had craved deeply growing up as an only child. Together, they had formed a pact to get one another away from the wall and into the arms of a suitable husband. Though, admittedly, the task had proven difficult for all of them thus far.

“Let us not focus on the problem, but more on the solution,” Theo said hastily. “You need a husband. Not just for status, but a way to escape from your predicament with your parents.”

“Well I am ready to listen if you have any ideas,” Seraphina replied resolutely, drawing in a grounding breath. “What have you got?”

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