Page 21 of A Duke to Elude (Sherton Sisters 1)

“I’m quite sure the hats I have designed do not do the same damage that a mob cap would do.”

She shrugged. “Surely, you could have them designed, too.”

Finally, he laughed. “You might be onto something. Custom made mob caps. Do you think we could start a trend?”

“I couldn’t, but you might be able to pull it off.” She leaned back as though to examine him. “But I’m sorry to have to tell you that you’ll have to change everything else while you’re at it. I don’t think even the Duke of Wexford could pair a cap with those Hessians.”

James laughed along with her, even though it was somewhat at his expense.

“Sadly, I think I’ll have to agree with you. Alas.”

Now the girl was gazing at him wistfully. “Is it nice being able to set trends?”

“Not particularly,” he answered her honestly, not comfortable with the admiring gaze she was casting him. It wasn’t the admiration of attraction -thathe was somewhat immune to. But seeing a young girl looking at him like he was a hero was not something he could accept. “It takes more imagination than I can actually claim credit for.” He leaned closer and added softly, “It’s all the work of my valet.”

She pulled back from him and giggled but then nodded as though that made complete sense. “I suppose you have bigger things on your mind than inventing the next cravat knot.”

“Rather more, yes,” he agreed with an answering grin.

Now the girl’s eyes turned shrewd. “Why are you speaking with me? I’m fairly certain it is Bel you’d rather be visiting.”

James felt his eyebrows inch toward his hairline but tried not to freeze the girl out for her presumptuous question. He was unused to people speaking their true thoughts to him. She was a delightful girl, and he would hate to hurt her feelings.

“Does no one ever call on you? I find that highly questionable, Lady Vigilia.”

“Oh, people call on me.” She didn’t look in the least cowed by his presence or his question. “But you took her for a drive yesterday, and I don’t think you’re so daft as to try to court two sisters from the same house.”

James nearly choked on the gasp that wanted to escape him. Even Rosabel’s sister thought he was courting her. He should have managed to be more discrete. He tried to turn the subject slightly.

“Not so daft,” he mused. “Do you know, I cannot recall anyone ever implying that I was in the least bit daft? You continue to provide me with novel experiences.”

Vigilia laughed but clearly hadn’t been distracted when she elevated an eyebrow in a clearly questioning manner. James ignored it, knowing there was little she could do about it. He again met her shrewdly attentive gaze, surprised at how similar and yet different the two sisters were. Their watchful eyes seemed to see more than he was comfortable with, but while Rosabel was as contained as she seemed able to be, Vigilia was pretty much an open book.

James was about to regain his feet and take his leave of Lady Vigilia when he realized he couldn’t invite Rosabel to go for a drive for a second day in a row without being prepared to send an announcement to the papers. He had thought to invite her to stroll around the block with him, but he knew that he was being as daft as the younger woman had asked him about.

Rosabel would never accompany him without a chaperone or companion of some sort. He doubted the countess would consider a maid to be sufficient at this point and would require they be accompanied by a sister or two to observe all the proprieties. Of course, if it was two sisters, that might afford him an opportunity for private conversation with Bel, if the other two could be convinced to stroll ahead of them. But that was too many ifs. He would have to arrange an excursion.

“I was wondering if I might prevail upon you to help me plan some sort of diversion for my sister.”

“Your sister? Has she come for the Season? I don’t believe we’ve yet been introduced, which is rather strange.”

“No, she’s still a bit young, despite what she might think, to be making her debut. Not until next year at the earliest. But she has convinced me to allow her to come for a visit, and I will need to escort her to a few places. I thought you and your sisters might be good ones for her to meet and help her get a little more acquainted with how to go on, so she’ll be ready for next year.”

Vicky looked at him with a slight frown, briefly, before a wide smile split her face.

“That sounds like a delightful plan, both for her and for us.”

“So, you’ll help me?”

“I’d be delighted. As would my sisters, I’m sure.”

Now her mischievous expression caused James a twinge of trepidation, which he chose to ignore.

“I must admit, though, that I’m not altogether certain you have told me the complete truth just now.”

James hoped he was displaying a perfectly innocent expression, or no expression at all, as he raised one eyebrow at her. He couldn’t help the haughty tone of his voice as he asked, “What would make you consider that I might be untruthful with you?”

“Well, I still don’t know why you’re asking me rather than Bel, for one thing.”

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