Page 32 of Her Ruse with the Wicked Duke
No, I am probably just imagining things.
“Well, introductions seem to be in order. You already met our resident musicians,” Rowan said. “This mustached gentleman is Patrick Fitzherbert. He is a sculptor for several high-ranking individuals around the country.”
“It is a pleasure.” Patrick bowed deeply to her, and she nodded.
“Robert Billings over there, at the bar, is a writer. A fantastic one at that.”
She peered over at the shadowed man pouring himself a glass of bourbon and drinking all of it in one large gulp.
“And Miss Sarah Shelley is an actress from France.” Rowan pointed to the woman draped across the couch, waving to them.
He walked Alice over to the woman, whose dark, wine-colored dress was incredibly revealing. Alice suddenly felt overdressed after seeing the amount of skin the woman was showing.
“Your Grace, it is always a pleasure.” Miss Shelley stood up, jutting her chest out. Alice saw it as a bit overconfident and averted her eyes to the floor. “And the Diamond that I have heard so many things about around London. I thought I would never meet someone so important to the aristocracy.”
That is a little overzealous for what the title truly means, but perhaps folks outside the ton understand it differently…
“You are too kind, Miss Shelley.” Alice curtsied, and the woman giggled. Alice stood up, confused.
“The formalities are not necessary,mon amie. We are all close friends here.”
“Stop teasing her.” The musician’s wife giggled from across the sitting room. “We are all very excited to meet you.”
“Would you like a drink, Miss Snow?” The Duke looked down at Alice, and she nodded.
I will need several if this is how the evening is going to go.
ChapterEleven
“Damn you,” Cain muttered, throwing his hand on the table, defeated. “How do you do it every time? Are you cheating?”
Rowan sat back at the card table, satisfied as he watched his friend lose another wager. Cain Ryder had an insatiable urge to bet on their poker games, and Rowan was more than happy to make a fool out of him every single time.
“You are simply bad at the game,” Rowan replied, and everyone who surrounded the table laughed. “Care to go again? I will go easy on you this time.”
“Although I would love to see you gentlemen go at it again, I just received word that dinner is ready. Please, everyone, follow me to the dining room.” Xander smiled.
Rowan stood up from his seat, chuckling at the still-grumbling Cain, who followed suit. They made their way to the dining room.
“You are quite good at poker, Your Grace.” Alice grinned. “A little fiendish to tease him like that, though. Do not you think?”
“I have a taste for it,” Rowan smirked.
“For poker or teasing?” She narrowed her eyes, a playful grin on her face.
“I suppose you will have to wait and find out.”
Alice’s eyes widened, then lowered to the floor as they walked at the back of the crowd. Rowan placed a hand on the small of her back as they entered the dining room and waited for everyone else to take a seat. He felt her breath hitch, and he could not help but smirk.
“Where would you like to sit, Miss Snow?”
“Um, I am not sure. I have never been to an event where my place is not already assigned.” She smiled sheepishly.
He chuckled and applied feather-light pressure with his fingertips to her spine as he ushered her toward a seat near the head of the table, by his side.
“This smells delicious, Your Grace.” Patrick smiled, his mustache wiggling as he sniffed the air.
“Do not forget to thank the staff, I did nothing but provide the ingredients. Enjoy your meals,” Xander said, nodding to the footmen, who began serving the guests plates with various vegetables and meats.
