Page 6 of A Duke But No Gentleman
“When was the last time you washed your ears, Lady Imogene Sunter?”
“I believe it was this morning.”At his frown, she amended, “Or rather, before bed last evening.Why do you ask?”she politely inquired.
“Why?I’ll tell you why, my impertinent little miss.I called for you nearly twenty minutes ago.”
“Forgive me, Papa.”She leaned forward on her toes and kissed him on the underside of his jaw.At five feet and three inches in stature, it was the best she could manage.“Margery was curling my hair, and neither you nor I can rush her.I came downstairs as soon as she was finished.”
“I shouted three times for you, young lady.”
“Actually, it was four.Does that mean I get the whip?”she asked solemnly.
“The—what the devil?—I have never taken a whip to anyone.”Her question befuddled him until he saw the twinkle of mischief in her dark blue eyes.“Although I might reconsider if you persist in exasperating your papa.”
She slipped her hand around his arm and they walked to the sofa.
“You must be confusing me with Verity.I have been on my best behavior.Just ask Mama.”
The duke sat down beside her.“What good will that do, I ask you?Your sweet mother coddles you and your sister.Spoiled to the marrow, you girls are.”
Imogene laughed at his feigned woebegone expression.“And if I asked Mama, she would tell me that you are the one who is too indulgent with us.”She resisted embracing him because Margery had gone to too much trouble with her coiffure; instead she settled on tugging on one of the buttons of his coat as she had when she was a little girl.“So you might as well accept with some grace that you had a hand in spoiling your girls.”
“I will not,” he said gruffly.“At least not outside the walls of this house.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” Imogene said, making a small cross over her heart.“It is the least I can do for the best father in all of England.”
The duke’s expression softened with love as he gazed at his elder child.He seemed to catch himself, and with a shake of his head, he said, “Oh, no you don’t, my dear.You cannot dismiss your latest wickedness with flattery and sweet smiles.”
“I have no notion of what you mean.”
“Indeed you do, young lady, and it is the very reason why I insisted on speaking with you before you depart for your evening.”He abruptly stood and began to pace in front of the sofa.“I have heard a troubling tale, and your name was mentioned.”
Imogene bit her lower lip in contemplation.If her suspicions were true, word had reached her father’s ears more swiftly than she had anticipated.“I cannot fathom what rumors you’ve heard since our arrival in town is too recent to warrant any speculation from strangers.”
“Hmm…” Her father crossed his arms over his chest as he scrutinized her face.“If it were anyone else in the family, I would concur.Is it true that you had a private conversation with Miss Winall?”
Imogene resisted the urge to wince.“Lenora?There is nothing untoward in calling on an old friend.”
The duke’s eyes narrowed at her guileless expression and innocent tone.“Were you aware that her family has been quietly arranging a match between her and Lord Renchare?”
Of course she had heard about Lord Renchare’s interest in her friend.Almost twice Lenora’s age, the viscount had approached her friend’s father more than a year ago to express his intentions.Since then, he had visited the country estate twice in an attempt to win the lady’s heart.Unfortunately, for all involved, Lenora had already fallen in love with Mr.Hewitt—a gentleman she had been introduced to last spring.
“I have heard of Lord Renchare’s interest,” Imogene replied warily.She had received a note from Lenora within a day of her arrival to London, and learned that the family had hoped to announce their daughter’s betrothal to the viscount this month.“More’s the pity no one asked my friend’s opinion on the subject.”
The lines between the duke’s eyebrows became more pronounced.
“Then you do not deny meddling in Miss Winall’s affairs.”
“It depends on your definition ofmeddling,Papa,” she said with a shrug.“Lenora asked for my opinion, and as any good friend is wont to do, I gave it.”
Her father’s coloring did not look very good as he leaned forward.“Did you encourage this girl to spurn the affections of a worthy suitor and run off with her impoverished lover?”
“I would not choose those particular words.”In fact, her father’s summation of the facts sounded utterly dreadful.
He shook his head as he struggled to understand his daughter’s part in this potential scandal.“Precisely how would you describe your part in Miss Winall’s ruination?”
“Lenora is not a ruined lady,” Imogene said crossly.“While it is true, Mr.Hewitt and Miss Winall eloped without her family’s blessing, she is married to a man who holds her heart and will likely value his good fortune for the rest of his life.”
“I am certain Miss Winall’s family is comforted by the notion that instead of marrying a respectable viscount who will elevate their daughter’s standing in polite society, their daughter is worshiped by the second son of a merchant.”
