Page 30 of A Duke But No Gentleman
Days earlier, she had been disappointed by Lord Norgrave and the Duke of Blackbern’s absence.Now she wished they would find another lady to tease and play their wicked games.The marquess left his card two days in a row with Sandwick, when their butler had told him that Lady Imogene wasn’t receiving visitors.The duke had also left his card with the promise that he would call on her this afternoon.On the back of his card, he had scrawled in his distinctive handwriting:
You cannot avoid me forever.
—B
Blackbern would be astounded what she was capable of when she was annoyed.It was precisely the reason why she had accepted the invitation to join her friends on a picnic.No one with the Blackbern or Norgrave titles had been invited.She had made inquiries in advance.After being manipulated into kissing both men, she came to the realization that she lacked the sophistication to be much of a challenge for such jaded gentlemen.
Unless they coveted her because she was a daughter of a duke.An alliance with her family would be prized, she thought.However, her mother was convinced that marriage was not what interested the duke and his friend.
Imogene was determined to banish both gentlemen from her thoughts.
“Lady Imogene,” Lord Asher called out, distracting her from her dour musings.“I would be honored if you would walk with me.”
Her friend Cassia nudged her when she failed to immediately respond to his invitation.She had been sitting on a blanket with Cassia, Miss Faston, and two other ladies.Lord Asher had accompanied the recently married Mr.and Mrs.Hewitt.Cassia viewed the earl’s efforts as dreadfully romantic, and she predicted the gentleman would declare his intentions to Imogene’s father in the near future.Lord Asher was clumsy around her, but he was courteous, intelligent, and the consummate gentleman.The thought would never occur to him to drag her off in a scandalous manner and then kiss her senseless.
Imogene frowned.Some hours, she truly despised the Duke of Blackbern.When she reached the point that she could hold on to her hate for an entire day, she would finally be cured of him.And Lord Norgrave, too, she silently added.His kisses were not as devastating, but he was equally dangerous.
“Imogene,” Cassia whispered.
She shook her head and smiled at the earl.“Forgive me, Lord Asher.Of course I would love to join you.A stroll will shake off the lingering lethargy of our meal.”She offered her hand and he rushed forward to assist her.The toe of one of his shoes caught the edge of the blanket and the poor man lost his balance.Several ladies shrieked in dismay as he fell and landed on Miss Faston.
“Good heavens!”Imogene exclaimed as she and Cassia grabbed the humiliated earl and struggled to help him to his feet.Lord Asher and his unfortunate victim were not helping matters by flailing about.“Miss Faston, are you hurt?”
“No harm done,” the lady wheezed.“My lord, if you could just remove your elbow from my middle.”
Imogene watched in fascination as Lord Asher’s face deepened into a dark red hue.
“I do beg your pardon,” he rasped, struggling to free himself from the awkward tangle of limbs.“Lady Imogene and Miss Mead, if you could release my arms, I may actually be able to do more than flop about like a fish.”
She and Cassia dropped his arms as if they had been stung.
Masculine laughter drifted behind her.Imogene’s eyelids narrowed into slits.She recognized that voice.
Blackbern.
Imogene cocked her head to the side so she could glare at him.“Why do you not be useful for a change and help us, Your Grace?”
Everyone froze at her waspish tone.She supposed it was highly disrespectful for her to order the duke about like a footman, but he deserved it for chasing after her as if he was pursuing a fox on a hunt.
The duke greeted her anger with his usual aplomb.“Not sleeping well, darling, or is it your monthlies?”
“You fiend!”Imogene shouted, too vexed to be polite.She stepped away from the duke before she threw something at him.
“If I was a betting man, I would wager it was her monthlies.”Blackbern braced his hands on his knees as he crouched down.He sent an apologetic glance to Miss Faston.“I beg your pardon, dear lady.Your patience is about to be rewarded.”He seized the earl and effortlessly hauled him off the blanket.“Let me guess what happened.You were distracted by Lady Imogene’s smile.”
“Something like that,” Lord Asher muttered, refusing to look at anyone.
Imogene could sympathize with the gentleman.She was appalled that the duke had humiliated her in front of her friends and Lord Asher, not to mention the false intimacy he inferred discussing personal matters such as her monthlies.
As if he had the right to know!
Blackbern was kind enough to assist Miss Faston to her feet.She stiffened when he glanced in her direction.“Come along, Imogene.You have caused enough mischief for the afternoon.”
“Me?”Imogene took a step back.Everyone was watching her and the duke as if they were players on a stage.“I was attempting to help.”
“You might begin by scrubbing a little soot on your cheeks or perhaps consider wearing a sack over your head when you are strolling about in public.Your beauty is giving us mortal men heart failure, and casts other ladies in an unflattering light.”
“Hear, hear,” mumbled Miss Faston.
