Page 57 of The Duke Meets His Match

“As well rehearsed as one can be in a half day’s time,” she replied.

“And you are clothed for the part,” he said. “Your gown is exquisite, by the way.”

“Thank you.” She suddenly realized that his waistcoat was a brocade of burgundy and rose and wondered if his valet had contacted Lady Walmsley to determine what Susan would be wearing. “You look very fine too, and—coincidentally, I’m sure—we appear to complement each other.”

The corner of his lip twitched. “Ah, a trace of the saucy girl I met in Lord Cantwell’s library a year ago just showed herself. I had feared she had vanished.” He glanced out the carriage window. “It appears we are nearly to Carlton House, so we must make final preparations.”

Susan was still mulling over his “saucy girl” comment. “What final preparations?” she asked.

He suddenly became serious. “If we are to succeed, I need to introducethem to the woman who cared not a whit that she was standing up to a duke and who was not afraid to put him in his place. The woman who is clever and discerning and can infer the nuances of conversation and return fire with fire when necessary. You won’t know this, of course, but I referred to you as ‘the harpy’ after I first saw you.”

“Very flattering,” she said.

His face was still serious, despite her retort. “It wasn’t at the time, but it is now. Or perhaps Athena is a better description. Yes, you are my Athena this afternoon—my gray-eyed goddess of reason, intelligence, peace ... and battle strategy.”

“Those are lofty words, Your Grace,” she said, and then she chuckled. “I referred to you as His Loftiness when I didn’t know who you were.”

“Touché, my dear. You weren’t wrong. And I must be at my lofty best today, with my Athena at my side, if we are to succeed.” He leaned closer to her. “This is for good luck,” he said, and then he gently kissed her, laying his hand on her cheek. “May we be victorious,” he murmured afterward, and then he kissed her again.

The carriage rolled to a stop.

“And thus it begins,” he said.

***

George assisted Susan from the carriage and once again offered her his arm. He watched her face as she took in the imposing façade of Prinny’s residence. The place was impressive enough from a distance, but approaching the entrance on foot would be intimidating to one unaccustomed to such grandiosity.

He leaned toward Susan so he could whisper in her ear. “Do you remember the look you gave me when I accused you of eavesdropping?” he asked her. “That is the expression I would like you to assume right now.”

She turned to him. “You meanthislook?” she asked him sweetly, but her eyes bore through him like fiery darts; a single brow lifted disdainfully; her beautiful mouth formed a moue of pure haughtiness.

“It is even better than I remember,” he said warmly.

“Charmer,” she said.

“These doormen must believe that you and I together have every right to be here, even though the invitation bears only my name,” he said. “You must put any egalitarian feelings you have behind you for now.”

“Do you take me for a fool?” she asked him acidly.

Perhaps she was going to betoogood at her role. “Trust me when I say that I would never dream of such a thing,” he said. “And well done, by the way.”

She smiled at him.

“One last word of advice,” he whispered as he caught her eyes wandering to the grand columns of the entrance portico. “Donotgape.”

“I’m not gaping,” she said.

“You may be inclined to once we get inside. No matter what, donotact impressed. You must appear blasé. Indifferent.”

“Iknowwhat ‘blasé’ means,” she said.

As they approached the doors, George reached into his breast pocket and retrieved his invitation, then handed it to the livery-clad doorman. “The Duke of Aylesham and his betrothed, the Honorable Miss Susan Jennings,” he stated firmly in his most ducal manner.

The doorman looked at the invitation and then at George and then at Susan and then back at the invitation.

“Did you not hear me clearly?” George asked, assuming a bored attitude this time and raising his quizzing glass halfway to his eye. “Do you need to borrow my glass to read what it says?” He twiddled the quizzing glass in the doorman’s direction.

“Begging your pardon, Your Grace, but—”

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