Page 1 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke
CHAPTER 1
"Are you sure this is not too improper a costume?" Cecilia asked again, pulling at the hem of the short skirts she was wearing.
"I promise you, Cecilia," Lily, her friend and daughter of the Earl of Windham, assured her. "You will be among the most covered up."
"I do not know why I struggle to believe you," she murmured pulling at the hem of her skirts to cover her thighs.
Lily swatted her hand.
"Stop squirming," she told her. "You look beautiful. Do you not want to experience something other than stiff propriety for once in your life?"
"I do but…"
"If you need any motivation to continue, remember what Magnus did to Boxworth," Lily stated. "You remember how angry you had been, and how heartbroken."
She had wept into her pillow when Lord Boxworth, whom she had been pursuing, had suddenly said he wished to discontinue their friendship because her brother had threatened him. She had been sore with rage and the damned man had not even been remorseful.
"You can do much better than a pup from a family of no consequence," he had said, not even looking away from his paper to look at her.
Stubborn, haughty oaf.
She understood his protectiveness because they only had each other to rely on since their parents had passed and having to take responsibility of her, he had taken his duties much too seriously.
"I can never forget it," she said, pouting. "And he has been more insistent on securing a match with Lord Haversham, who is positively a bore. He is not even giving me the option of deciding my future."
Lily gave her a look that showed she understood.
"You need this one night to make a decision for yourself."
"With a little pressuring from my friend," she interjected.
"That is beside the point, and stop interrupting me," Lily scolded. "You want excitement and I am giving it to you. I promise you, your reputation will be unhurt after just one night of fun."
Cecilia hoped that was true but swallowed any further protests on her tongue. She would trust the girl's judgement even if she wasn't comfortable looking like someone who worked in a brothel. Her friend was dressed much the same as her but much more at ease.
They were in a hansom on their way to the Solstice ball, apparently one of the hottest events of the year even if it wasn't posted in the newspapers.
Lily had suggested it when Cecilia had begun one of her usual rants of being tired of the sheltered life her brother Magnus, the Duke of Blackmore, intended for her to live. From the moment she had heard the particulars of the secretive ball, she knew it would be the perfect way to rebel his hold on her.
The Solstice ball was apparently organized every spring and winter solstice but no one knew who organized it or where it would be held each year. It had an exclusive guest list who were sworn to secrecy so there would be no surprise guests who would put a stop to it.
Lily had refused to tell her how she had secured an invitation but she had extended it to Cecilia since she was allowed to bring aguest. It had been easy convincing her brother she was going to the Newtons’ ball with Lily so he would not suspect what she was truly going to do.
When she had been shown her costume for the evening, which was apparently a requirement, she had wanted to change her mind but Lily had used manipulation to get her to change and to don the mask.
"Imagine how good you would feel doing something so scandalous when Magnus expected you to be nothing more than a good little debutante."
Her anxiety had stood no chance at those words.
Her annoying brother had been pressuring her lately to decide on a suitor to pursue, but when she did decide, he would intimidate them or threaten their families and she was sore tired of his behavior.
"We're here, Helena," Lily said excitedly as the carriage came to a stop.
They had decided on monikers for the evening so they would not be recognized and the name Helena had always fascinated her. Lily had decided she wanted to be called something other than a flower and had chosen Diana.
She looked out of the window at the nondescript house that they had stopped in front of. No one would suspect the riotousactivities going on inside. She couldn't even hear anything outside.
Were they in the wrong place?
