Page 67 of Last Duke Standing

“Stop smiling like you are some sort of oracle.”

“How can I help but smile? Your willingness to admit I am right is one of the things I most admire about you.”

“I never said you were right. Don’t smile like that. It displeases me. It’s entirely too self-satisfied. Is this all you’ve come to say, William? That my sister outshines me at every turn? You needn’t have bothered. I have known that since we were young girls, when a general in my father’s service brought Amelia a pony as a gift, even though it wasmy seventhbirthday. He could hardly look away from her and remarked to my parents several times that she was a beautiful child. That was just the beginning. So no, you don’t have to tell me Amelia outshines me.”

William was taken aback. “I never said your sister outshines you, Justine. I said you shrink. To be clear, you outshine her in every way. And the general, whoever he was, was a fool. A bloody damn fool.”

She eyed him dubiously.

“What is this look? Can a man no’ admire a woman without being suspected of ill will?”

“No.”

“Cynical,” he said, nodding. He absently traced a finger down her arm. “That will serve you well in your reign.” His fingers tangled with hers.

“Ithink so. Better to be cynical than too trusting.” She shifted away from him, putting her hand just beyond his reach. “Now, then, what advice have you come to give me today?”

“How disappointed you will be to know that I did no’ come to offer advice so that you can dismiss it. I’ve come to invite you to the opera.”

She gasped. “The opera? Ilovethe opera.” The dog had scampered back to them, and Justine stooped to pick her up again.

“What a fortuitous coincidence. It is a new production.Il Trovatoreby Verdi.”

Her eyes brightened. “IadoreVerdi operas. His company performedRigolettoat the palace in St. Edys for my parents.”

“Then you’re in luck. The opera will be performed at the Royal Italian Opera in Covent Garden. I thought perhaps you would do me the honor of accompanying me?”

She tilted her head to one side, considering him. “Is there someone I am to meet?”

“I’m no’ the matchmaker. For your pleasure only.”

“Will there be a crowd?”

“Aye, of course. But you will be the guest of the Duke and Duchess of Grafton and view the opera from a box. Above the crowd, so to speak. There is a private entrance into the theater.”

“Who else will come?”

William thought about it. “Lord and Lady Bardaline?”

She wrinkled her nose.

“Lady Aleksander?”

She clucked her tongue disapprovingly. “When?”

“Sunday evening. Does that suit?”

Her eyes shone with pleasure. She kissed the dog’s nose. “It suits us well, doesn’t it, Dodi? Thank you.”

“Should you no’ inquire of your master of the chamber?” He looked at the lower terrace. Bardaline was ushering Mawbley off and away from Justine.

“Him?” She rolled her eyes.

“Shall I inquire if Princess Amelia is available?”

“Amelia will be in the country this weekend with Lady Holland.”

William hesitated. He’d assumed he would take both princesses. He thought about how it would look to the world if she was to accompany him without her sister. “Should we no’ ask someone to accompany you?”

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