Page 1 of Her Ruse with the Wicked Duke
ChapterOne
“Oh, can you just imagine?” A woman of the ton leaned across the looped arm of her friend as they marched through the ballroom, passing the newly returned Duke of Grafton. “The Duke is here. I must ask him to dance.”
Ladies flocked to the suave gentleman, who looked utterly bored with the courting procedures. He had taken over his father’s businesses when he came of age and was now a well-traveled, unimaginably handsome piece of gossip for this Season’s conversation.
“Your Grace, would you join me on a walk through the gardens?”
“Oh, I was just coming over to ask the same.”
“Ladies, please. The Duke would not associate himself with those of your social standing.” Lady Camilla Neale shot them all a snide grin, approaching a servant and grasping a crystal flute of champagne.
She looked the same as she had since they were children, flaunting her high status whenever she could. His father used to invite her family to every event, but since his passing, the Duke had not seen much of them.
The other ladies exchanged looks of calculated annoyance before casting a sickly sweet smile at the Duke and scattering across the room.
“A grand entrance, My Lady.” Rowan bowed gratefully to the old family friend. He was beginning to feel claustrophobic. “As always.”
“As was yours, Your Grace.” She smiled. “Mother was raving about you returning to the city for the Season. I suppose you are here to finally secure that legacy of yours, hm?”
“You charm me.”
He wanted to keep this conversation brief, as he had returned not for marriage, but to tie some loose ends regarding his business associates.
The plan, which he had hastily thought up on a swaying ship returning from the Americas, was to return to London and solve whatever was holding his investors back from supplying his ships with the proper freightage. His luck-driven scheme was proving futile, as he now found himself in a precarious situation, in a room full of women who would do anything but speak about the English trade.
“I have a feeling that you are not here for the reason everyone thinks.” Camilla squinted at him. He gave her an inscrutable look, and she shook her head playfully. “You have not changed. Have you visited the Duke of Rutland or the Duke of Rothesay since your return? I was hoping to speak to them soon about arranging an event at one of their estates.”
During his school days, though he was friendly with everyone, Rowan only had two close friends, around whom he felt he could be himself. He had attended Eton with Cain Ryder and Xander Yarros, growing up together in the same neighborhood in the countryside. After his mother’s affair and his father’s death, Rowan was angry, and his friends kept him from hiding away in shame or expressing his grief through violent means.
“You know how they are about those kinds of things, My Lady. Ryder is not allowed past the doors after what he did, and Yarros despises the whispering and stares.”
“I suppose I was being hopeful.” She smiled. “Well, I must be going. It was wonderful to see you again, Your Grace. We should catch up. Maybe you can come over for tea.”
“Absolutely. Send my best regards to your mother and father, My Lady.” Rowan nodded as she retreated to look for someone.
Once more, he was left to fend off the incoming crowd of ladies and mamas.
* * *
“Where is he?” Alice Snow stood on the side of the ballroom, muttering to herself as she scanned the floor for the man she had been waiting to see all evening.
Lord Eaton, one of the most eligible bachelors this Season, was openly seeking matrimony, meaning that she may finally have a chance at getting away from her brother.
Richard is traveling on business, which means that it is the perfect time to approach and try my very best to charm him without my brother spoiling everything. Plus, he is not entirely repulsive, which is a prize that is few and far between this Season.
Most of the ton was pining after the Earl, but tonight, new excitement had filled the room, and the women Alice usually chatted with were nowhere to be seen.
She furrowed her brow when she saw a crowd forming at the double doors, but she could not be distracted for long when she saw the Earl enter the room, wearing a lavish blue coat. His blonde hair shone in the light of the chandeliers, and Alice knew this was her time to make a move.
It is now or never.
She mustered the courage to move her feet forward, slightly wondering why the other ladies were not racing toward the gentleman like the past few parties, but decided to not take the moment for granted. Before she could make it to the Earl of Eaton, the crowd of ladies at the doors moved, and suddenly, someone pushed into her, almost knocking her to the ground.
“Oh, I apologize, I—” the man started, grasping at her waist before his eyes went wide. “My Lady. My most sincere apologies.”
Alice looked down at where the mysterious man’s bourbon had stained her dress. She could cry at this moment if the entire ton was not looking at her, waiting for her to break.
Instead of giving them what they wanted, she pushed her shoulders back and bowed her head, not even bothering to look at whoever had just utterly embarrassed her. “It is quite all right. It was an accident, after all. I must excuse myself.”
