Page 4 of Best Duke Ever

Mirabelle hid her chuckle by dipping her head.

“This woman is relentless.She just left her fan on the table right in front of Gabriel’s eyes, and now she’s walking away.”

“Please tell me the same footman is retrieving it for her?”

“It’s uncanny.He is.”

“She does tend to pick up puppies in her wake.”

“I resent that.”

“You’ll get over it, pup.”

Edward grunted his disapproval.“I’m not a puppy.”

“Then show her that.”

“That’s your advice?”

“Yes.But that’s not my only advice.I actually have two pieces to offer you, and you can choose which one is more palatable.”

“So gracious of you.”

“I thought so.”He moved her around on the floor a few steps before she continued.“My suggestions are as follows.One, tell her how you feel and see if she might feel the same.”

“An unlikely choice.”

“Two, help her find the right man so that she stops making a fool of herself.Or worse, chooses incorrectly and ends up miserable.You know that she spoke about trying to get the attention of the Duke of Ravenshire?What was she thinking?”

“You do know that Sebastian eloped with Seraphina, don’t you?”

“What?”Lost in shock, Mirabelle stood still for a fraction of a second.“Oh.That bears some investigation on my part.At a later time.Right now we have work to do.”She patted his shoulder in a sororal fashion.“What are you going to choose to do with Lenora, duke?”

It only took him a second to answer.“I’ll do exactly what I have to.”

Chapter 3

“Ow,”Lenoramuffledhersqueal as the Duke of Thornhaven stepped on her toe to slide past her.If he didn’t notice all the efforts she was going to earlier, she certainly didn’t want him to see her now and show her pity.

An arm brushed against her shoulder.Wasn’t anyone conscientious of their surroundings anymore?But then she felt a gentle, steadying touch at her waist.Discreet as always.All the same, a tingle ran up her spine.She knew who it was.

“Do you want a balm for that injury?”

“My toe will be fine.”

“I wasn’t talking about your toe.”

She whirled to face Edward.“Botheration!”she hissed at him.

“I’d say.You went to extreme lengths to catch Gabriel’s attention.”His gaze was vexingly straight ahead at the many dancers on the floor.“You did catch one man’s eye though.”

“I did?”She hadn’t meant to catch Edward’s attention with her antics.That was a strange thought to let permeate her mind.A ribbon of awareness circulated through her.Edward was an incredibly handsome man.And if she didn’t know exactly what type of man she wanted, her eyes might be swayed by him.Him and his dark hair, smirking lips, and broad shoulders.A quiver echoed within her.

“Yes.But obviously that poor footman doesn’t stand a chance.”

Oh.He meant someone else.That made more sense.But, well, that was a weird sense of emptiness that blew in her chest.

“Ha.Ha.That footman was only doing his job.He’s not interested in me—”

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