Page 11 of The Duke Meets His Match

“That is all I ask,” she said. She stepped closer to him while Bledsoe greetedthe next guests to arrive and grasped his hand in both of hers. George’s backstiffened reactively. “There is more of your mama in you than merely your eye and hair color, Aylesham,” she said softly. “I wish I could explain to you what that means. I hope you reflect on the stories you have heard about her to discover this for yourself. I believe it may bring you the happiness you seek. She wouldwant you to be happy.”

“What do you know of my happiness or lack thereof?” George asked with a slight edge to his tone.

She dropped his hand and stepped back. “I speak out of turn, I know, and for that, I apologize. Enjoy yourself this evening.” She smiled at him and then turned to greet her next guests, the Earl of Iverson and Lady Iverson, who were currently speaking at length with Lord Bledsoe.

George strode into the ballroom, working to quell the vexation he’d felt at her words. Howdareshe? How dare she judge the state of his life as though she had any right to do so? Looking for happiness was a fool’s errand. And how dare she intimate that hismother—the mother he’d never known, except from what few stories had been told to him on the rarest of occasions—was the key to unlock this missing happiness? It was foolishness.

Whatever good mood he’d had when entering Bledsoe House—if there’d been a good mood—had entirely fled now. But he had told Lady Bledsoe he would dance once or twice and listen to the music and eat refreshments.

Well, hewouldlisten to the music, he thought as he stalked into the ballroom with his trained expression that told those around him to keep their distance. Themusicians were bound to be of finer quality than those at many London ballsbecause Lady Bledsoe was a stickler when it came to music. And he would eat refreshments because why ever not? And he would find the two least annoyingladies he could to dance with this evening. Then he would leave, havingfulfilled his word to Lady Bledsoe.

He would return home to peace, solitude, and—

He didn’t allow himself to finish the thought as he made his way through the crush of people already in attendance.

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