Page 6 of The Duke of Ice
“Because the dukes aren’t here yet!” Hannah kept her voice low, but her features reflected her anxiety.
Violet lightly touched her friend’s arm and guided her to pivot so that she was no longer facing her guests. “Remain calm. All will be well. Perhaps they were simply delayed.”
Hannah shook her head. “I was a fool to pin my hopes on their attendance, wasn’t I?”
Perhaps, but Violet wouldn’t say so. “It doesn’t matter if they come or not. Your party will be a smashing success. And they will be the poorer for not being present.”
Hannah’s mouth curved into a wobbly smile. “You are the dearest of friends.”
The sound of the butler speaking to someone in the hall made Hannah freeze. A moment later, he appeared, leading a gentleman. He was tall, broad-shouldered with brown hair and thick brows cloaking warm brown eyes. This couldn’t be the Duke of Ice. He looked far too pleasant.
Furthermore, Hannah didn’t relax, which meant he wasn’t the duke she was hoping for. This must be the other one, the one she’d had to invite to ensnare the true prize.
Violet suppressed a shudder. Her friend’s scheming made her ill at ease. She offered the new arrival a welcoming smile.
Hannah and Violet stepped just inside the drawing room as the butler paused at the doorway. “The Duke of Romsey,” he intoned.
Every head in the room turned, and conversation ground to a halt. There was a beat of silence before voices quietly started up again.
Hannah offered a curtsey. “Welcome, Your Grace.”
Violet did the same but was prevented from speaking by the hasty arrival of Irving. He welcomed the duke with a bow.
“We deeply appreciate your coming, Your Grace.”
The Duke darted a glance toward Violet but focused on his hosts as he answered. “It is my pleasure. Thank you for the kind invitation.”
Hannah looked past him, clearly in search of his missing friend. “Did His Grace not accompany you?” she asked, her voice tight with stress.
“Not entirely, no. He should be along shortly.”
The manner in which he said the wordshouldgave Violet pause. The duke was uncertain of his friend. Violet prayed Hannah hadn’t caught that slight intonation.
Violet edged away, giving Hannah and Irving a moment to speak with the duke. As she strolled toward the hearth, she overheard Lady Nixon, who was seated beside Mrs. Law on one of the settees.
“The Duke of Ruin, can you imagine?” If a question could sneer, this one would have. Lady Nixon’s face, however, was quite serene. One would never guess at the venom dripping from her tone.
“She said it would be Ice, but we get Ruin instead.” Mrs. Law clucked her tongue. “A veritable disaster. I wonder if anyone will leave now that he’s arrived.” She blinked at her friend. “I wonder ifweshould leave.”
Violet wanted to snap at them that theyshouldgo and that their destination ought to be where the devil resided. Instead, she moved to the opposite side of the room, where she sent discreet glowers in their direction.
She also looked toward her friend, who seemed thankfully ignorant of the obnoxious conversation taking place on the settee. Hannah did, however, look pale. This was not what she’d planned for—nor what she’d hoped.
Surveying the room, Violet tried to determine what others thought of the duke’s arrival. Would anyone leave? Goodness, she hoped not.
At that moment, a flash of light blazed over the lawn, followed a moment later by a loud crash. Then the rain started. Violet smiled in gratitude. Now they had to stay.
“The Duke of Kilve.”
The butler’s announcement took everyone by surprise, or so it seemed to Violet. They’d all been turned toward the window and the spectacular start of the storm.
Conversation stopped once more, but this was much more pronounced. The length of silence stretched until it was palpable. It might have continued for some time if not for another flare of light and subsequent boom.
Violet turned her body toward the doorway and immediately saw the look of triumph radiating from Hannah’s face.Thismust be the Duke of Ice. She glanced toward the biddies on the settee and nearly laughed at the twin looks of shock on their faces. Hannah had done it.
Giddy with joy for her friend’s success, Violet turned her head to investigate this enigmatic duke.
The moment she did so, she understood his nickname, for every part of her went utterly cold.
