Page 8 of Wicked Is the Duke
Robert stood and walked to a sideboard. "Whiskey?"
Henry nodded. "Yes, thank you."
Robert continued. "I must be honest, the earl took me by surprise, and I’ve come to realize since our meeting it was a mistake to make such an agreement."
Henry accepted the glass and took a swallow. "Unfortunately, from what I know of Carlisle, he won't take her rejection gracefully. He's used to having his own way. Beware of him."
"Thanks for the warning. I'll agree to your request. You may court my sister. I'll deal with the earl."
He finished the remainder of his whiskey. "I'm afraid I must be off. I have one more stop to make," he said. "I'd like to invite Anna to the theater night after next."
"I’m sure she’d be happy to accept, Your Grace."
"Excellent. It promises to be a special night. Rather than a play, there will be an opera singer from Italy, though her name escapes me."
"Yes, I heard she was supposed to perform. I haven’t kept up with the details."
"I wouldn't have either if not for my sister, Jane."
"Will she and her husband be there as well?"
"Yes, I'm sure they will be. My sister loves the opera."
Robert smiled and lifted his glass in Blackmont's direction. "Here's to the opera."
Chapter Four
Anna looked at herreflection one last time. For her evening at the opera with the Duke of Blackmont, she chose a new sapphire silk gown with black roses on the bodice. It was more revealing than most gowns she wore, but it had been made in Paris. She'd been saving the gown for a special occasion like this one. She wanted to look her best for the duke. A lot was riding on this.
The duke had expressed an interest in courting her. Though she knew of his reputation for being a rake, Anna dismissed such talk as gossip.
The Earl of Carlisle was most interested in courting her. Despite her rebuffs, the man was persistent. Too much so.
The earl was far too old for Anna to consider. She wanted a marriage where, if they started out as friends, it could progress to a love match. The earl was only interested in an heir. She knew what would happen. Once she bore him a son, he would send her off to one of his lesser estates and forget about her and the child. She doubted he would ever be involved with the child; it wasn't in his nature.
Of course, at his age, he could either live to be an old, old man, or perhaps die of some ailment of the heart. She wasn't willing to take that chance. The man repulsed her to the point of being physically sick to her stomach.
