Page 35 of Saved By the Rakish Duke

“Is he with anyone else?” Duncan asked.

“I believe he was discussing matters of business with Lords Penswaithe and Tresney,” replied the servant.

Duncan swore under his breath.

Wonderful…he sighed to himself.Each of them is barely tolerable on their own, but together, they’re utterly insufferable.

But Duncan reminded himself that the success of Lady Penelope’s quest for a husband depended on this, so for her sake, he would stomach their company.

Even as he entered the room, he could already feel the wretched party’s eyes on him.

He approached their cluster of armchairs with the most convincing smile he could muster. “Good afternoon, gents. I trust all is well,” he greeted cordially.

“Did you hit your head, Blackmoore?” Penswaithe immediately taunted, “Or has your eyesight become so bad that you’re mistaking Tresney’s red hair for Fairhaven’s?”

“Come now, lads.” Duncan felt his smile constrict. “I know everyone says that Louxbridge and Midlington graduates don’t mix, but such conflicts have always consisted of nothing more than good-natured—albeit somewhat spirited—jabs.”

Naturally, Duncan was addressing the table, but his eyes remained trained on Steepwharf, who took a big gulp of his coffee before finally breaking his stony silence,

“What do you want,Your Grace?” his tone dripping with venom.

Seeing that his audience’s patience was somehow already wearing thin, Duncan cut straight to the point. “I heard you were having a garden party this Saturday and was wondering if you had space on your guest list.”

“Not a chance,” the viscount scoffed. “Why would you even care to come anyway? I don't know what you and your debased friends are planning, but there’s absolutely no room for your sort of-”

Duncan raised a hand to stop him. “Actually, I’m asking on behalf of my mother and her goddaughter,” he clarified. “Why on God’s green earth would Fairhaven and Harlington be so desperate to get into agarden partyof all things?”

“The dowager duchess wishes to come?” Steepwharf raised a skeptical eyebrow. “But why?”

“Why else?” Duncan shrugged—feeling a twinge of guilt for using his mother as an excuse. “You know how she is, always endeavoring to keep up with everyone—that’s why there isn’t a soul in the world that wishes her ill.”

“Which is more than can be said for her rake of a son,” Lord Tresney chimed in.

But Duncan held his tongue, hewantedSteepwharf to say yes.

“It’s true that I hold nothing against Her Grace,” Lord Steepwharf contemplated out loud, tapping his chin as he did so. “In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I’m still rather fond of her, so forhersake, it would be-”

He raised his eyes towards Duncan, “And you shan’t be bringing any of your wretched bedfellows with you?”

“Not at all,” Duncan assured him. “Just my mother and the goddaughter that she’s endeavoring to cheer up. She’s just lost her father you see.”

Duncan silently apologized to Penelope for using her as an excuse as well.

“Yes, but whatexactlyare you trying to do, Your Grace?” The Marquess of Penswaithe eyed him up and down. “You aren’t really known for your noble intentions.”

Duncan let out a deep exhale. “Gentlemen, I promise you that you’re reading far too much into this. How am I supposed to prove that to you?”

Lord Tresney’s eyes suddenly lit up. “That’s a wonderful question, Your Grace. Now that you’ve mentioned it, I might know just the thing.”

CHAPTER12

It was a somewhat warm day for a garden party, but otherwise, everything seemed to be going well.

Penelope straightened her skirt as she listened to the Dowager Duchess of Blackmoore make pleasant conversation with Lord Steepwharf’s sister—now the Countess of Belmere.

The party itself was a rather cozy affair with no more than twelve or so other guests present. As a result, the only people she recognized here were Lord Larkspur and another lady whose face looked familiar, but whose name escaped Penelope for the time being.

“How wonderful that you’re enjoying married life!” exclaimed the dowager duchess, gently fanning herself in the shade of the large oak tree they currently stood under. “If you get the chance, do ask Lord Belmere to see if he can try to talk some similar sense into Duncan’s head as well.”

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