Page 1 of Wicked Is the Duke
Chapter One
Henry Blackmont, theDuke of Blackmont, wanted to be anywhere besides the Earl and Countess of Warwick's ballroom. The ball was one of the most talked about of the season. He knew that as an unmarried, titled man, mothers would be parading their daughters in front of him all evening, which was precisely why he avoided thetonand polite society at all costs.
Tonight, however, was different. Miss Anna Grover, who'd caught his eye recently, would be in attendance with her brother, Robert. Having seen her a few times, he was sure he'd found his wife. Tonight he would get an introduction and they would play the game. He would ask her to dance this evening. Twice. Tomorrow, he would send her flowers and call on her at the appropriate time.
His choice would leave dozens of fair hearts broken, but Henry had made his decision. He needed a wife who knew the ways of the world, not some young debutant with doe eyes. Anna was such a woman. Having been raised on the continent and having traveled extensively with her brother, Robert, Henry knew she would make him a fine duchess.
"Trying to devise a battle plan?" Viscount Radstock asked as he stood next to Henry. His friend was heir to one of the oldest fortunes in England.
"I already have one in my mind. I'm simply looking for the young woman," Henry drawled.
"You're seriously going to take a wife, Blackmont?"
"I need to. My siblings are settled, Jane is married, and the others are in school. It's time."
"What says your mistress? Does she know?"
"Lady Lavinia is no longer part of my life," Henry said.
"Then you must join us for some fun afterwards." His friend grinned.
"What have you in mind?"
"You know the place. We thought a good romp after this stifling affair to be what we all need."
Henry gazed across the room. There she stood with her brother, Robert. She looked like a Greek goddess dressed in gold, her dark hair swept up off her neck in the latest fashion, a ruby necklace graced her neck. He wondered if it was a family heirloom. "I'm afraid I can't," he said. "If you'll excuse me, I need to sign a dance card."
"Best make it more than one, or you'll have an angry mob of mothers at your heels," Radstock snorted.
"I'll be sure to do so. I'll meet up with you in the card room," Henry replied.
He never heard his friend's reply, if he’d made one at all. He strode across the ballroom to greet the Grovers. The earl and his wife had certainly invited most of London's elite. The room was already stifling from the heat generated by the number of bodies in such a tight space. Not that there was anything small about this ballroom. It was decorated in shades of gold and black. The floor was a white marble with black veins running through the stone and the walls were papered in a gold paper. Overdone, in Henry's opinion.
Musicians were readying to start. He wanted to claim his dances with Anna. Perhaps a waltz or two. Yes, tongues would wag, but he was serious about making this woman his wife. Besides, he didn't care what any of the mothers might say. He'd ask one or two others to dance as well.
He approached the pair, bowing to Anna. Her brother seemed pleased to see him. "Mr. Grover, Miss Grover. I'm happy to see you decided to attend. The earl and his wife are known for the two balls they host each season. I believe this is the larger of the two."
"Good to see you, Your Grace," Robert Grover replied. "I understand getting an invitation to either of their balls is indeed an honor."
"Yes, so I've been told," Blackmont drawled, his eyes searching Anna's. She was magnificent, reserved, but he felt that might have something to do with her brother being in such close proximity.
“Your Grace, may I present my sister, Miss Anna Grover.”
Miss Grover, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“Your Grace.”
"May I sign your dance card, Miss Grover? For two waltzes if you don't mind. I'm afraid I'm out of practice with some of the livelier ones."
She smiled and handed him the card with a pencil. He broke his gaze and peered down at the card. No one had signed it yet. He put his name in both the appropriate places and handed it back to her. "Thank you, Your Grace. I look forward to them."
They stood and exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes. Henry knew he was being watched by every mother and daughter in the ballroom. He needed to make his choices for two more. Perhaps three. That would be all. No one would be able to say that the Duke of Blackmont hadn't danced with at least some of the debutants.
He excused himself and turned to walk away. He needed a drink before the evening progressed any further. Especially before he had to face the mothers.
Henry found a footman and took a glass of champagne that was being offered. Not the whiskey he preferred, but this would do as he decided which young woman's dance card he would sign next.
As he was drinking his champagne off to one side of the room, he heard skirts near him. He turned to find Lady Caroline, his friend Trent's sister, at his side. Trent was heir to the Duke of Marlborough, making his sister well sought after with young men. The problem was that Lady Caroline seemed to only have eyes for him.
