Page 22 of The Duke's Vice

Crossing her fingers under her cloak she had hoped her comment, which had come from the current mystery novel she was reading, would work.

The door man harrumphed. “Invitation?”

Buzzing sounded off in between her ears. “Excuse me?”

“If you’ve been invited you must have an invitation. All new guests are instructed to bring their invitations with them. You would know that if you had received your invitation.”

Beatrice rolled her lips.

Remain calm. This could be a trick. What if there isn’t instructions on an invitation? But what if it there was? What if there was no invitation at all? Did Graham mention an invitation at the ball?

The rock of a man laughed. “I was right. You don’t belong here. Be gone.”

Beatrice cleared her throat. “I forgot it. Surely, this isn’t the first time someone has forgotten their invitation. I’m new after all.” She plastered the biggest smile on her face, hoping to persuade the man to move.

It did not work. He continued to stare past her as if she no longer existed.

She huffed. “Fine. I’ll go all the way back to my home to retrieve it and I’ll be back.”

He shook his head. “Very well.”

She blinked. “Aaaall the way back,” she exaggerated her words for emphasis. “I won’t be back for another hour or so and I’ll miss most of the party.” Her words whined, and annoyed even her, but she hoped she could still convince him to let her in.

“How unfortunate for you.” He remained unmoved in his stance.

She groaned. “Fine. I’ll return with my invitation and then you’ll be sorry you didn’t let me in!”

The man looked at her pointedly. “I highly doubt that.”

She huffed as she turned to walk away but not before looking at the sides of the home to see if there were other points of entry. Her latest mystery novel had a chapter on the heroine climbing through a window. Unfortunately for her, the windows all had very pointy looking shrubbery in front of them.

My goodness, what goes on in there that it needs a door man the size of a cathedral and lethal shrubs in front of windows?

The security only made her want to go in more. Which meant she needed to do the one thing she did not want to do, take Graham up on his offer. Perhaps she could add in an amendment to smack him every time he annoyed her. The thought alone made the idea of going to him more amenable.

“What a lovely day for a stroll. I just love these cooler summer days, don’t you Beatrice?” Charlotte strolled with her arm entwined with her daughter’s while Candace and Charlotte’s maid, Elizabeth, followed behind them.

Beatrice gave a noncommittal response. She couldn’t stop thinking about how she would get in contact with the Duke of Graham. She could easily ask her mother, but then she would have to give a reason why she needed it and she didn’t want to open pandora’s box. She could ask Candace to find out the address, but her maid already felt too involved with her scandalous list she didn’t want to burden her any further.

“Oh, look, it’s the Duke of Graham!” Charlotte’s voice was like a punch to the stomach.

Beatrice’s eyes flew up to take in the tall duke leaning against a tree they were walking towards. He gave off the air of casual aloofness that bothered Beatrice for some reason, yet made Charlotte gravitate towards him all the more.

Charlotte paid no mind to the fact that she was dragging Beatrice in his direction. “Good morning, Your Grace. What brings you out on this gorgeous day?”

Beatrice groaned at her mother’s overly friendly demeanor. If she only knew what kind of man he truly was, she wouldn’t be parading Beatrice in front of him. She glanced at her mother from the corner of her eyes. Or would she? It was no secret her mother would go to any lengths to see her daughters married.

“Just enjoying the day which keeps getting more beautiful the more I experience it.”

Charlotte’s shrill laugh had couples turning in their direction. Beatrice closed her eyes and wished for death to take her.

“Oh, I’ve heard you are ever the charmer.” Charlotte covered her face with her fluttering her fan. “Isn’t he the charmer, Beatrice?”

Beatrice scowled. “Yes. So charming.” She said with little emotion.

Undeterred Graham extended his arm. “May I escort you ladies on your walk?”

Beatrice tightened her arm around her mother’s, hoping her mother would pick up on her unease.

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