“Ahhh, cheeky boy. The name is good, but I see no reason to invite you.” The Dowager Duchess wagged a finger at him in gentle reproach.
“Why ever not?” he asked, unable to keep the genuine confusion from his voice.
“Because you, dearest Dominic, are a rake. And I do not want my vast fortune to go to someone with no wife or family. That would just mean it went to the crown after his death, and I have not had three husbands just to see my wealth leave my family’s hands,” his grandmother said simply.
“You make it sound like hard work.”
“It was hard work. Not that you would know. You do not even have a fiancée to your name.” She gave him a pointed look.
He answered without thinking, the lie leaving his mouth so quickly he was barely aware of saying it. “Actually grandmother, I do.”What am I doing?
“I do not believe you. You are only saying that you have a fiancée, so I will invite you to the Dowager Dabbles.” Dowager Duchess Caverton raised an eyebrow at him, a challenge in her eyes.
It was not generally advisable to lie to his grandmother. The woman had an uncanny knack for seeing through deception, but with a fortune as great as hers on the line, perhaps it was worth a little risk.
“I am not,” Dominic said firmly, keeping a small smile on his face.
“Rather convenient, do you not think, that I say you need to have a hope of a family and heir to be invited, and you procure a fiancée.” His grandmother pointed out, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Dominic shrugged nonchalantly. “Convenience does not make it untrue. It has only forced me to tell you sooner than I had planned. My fiancée, she… well, we were not quite ready to be out.”
“A likely story. I know your reputation, Dominic, and I would have known if you were courting someone.” Dowager Duchess Caverton frowned at him.
“Then perhaps you are less well informed than you think. For Iamengaged and therefore should be invited to your Dowager Dabbles,” Dominic said triumphantly. “Perhaps you need new sources of information, grandmama.”
“Prove it.” Her eyes glittered with a challenge.
“Pardon?” Dominic asked, his heart hammering as he tried to keep his face neutral.
“Prove to me that you are truly engaged, and I will give you and your dear fiancée an invitation,” Dowager Duchess Caverton said with the air of a hunter laying a trap.
“Me and my fiancée?” Dominic frowned.
“Of course, I assume you would want to split your money with your betrothed, would you not?”
Fool. You walked right into that one.Dominic laughed, trying to pass off his confusion as an honest mistake. “Oh, of course. I had not realised she would be expected to compete.”
“Of course, she would. After all, I would want to ensure that she was worthy of such a fortune as well.”
“Of course.” Dominic tried not to let his panic show on his face.At least that will give me some time to find a fiancée.“I shall bring her with me when we come to the games. When are they?”
“They are in a fortnight. I assume that will be more than enough time for you to make necessary arrangements to journey to Caverton Castle with your… fiancée.” His Grandmother’s smile was equal parts amused and challenge; it was clear she still did not believe him.
I should never have done this.It was too late to back out now. Instead, Dominic simply said, “Of course, grandmama.”
His grandmother waved a hand in dismissal. “I look forward to meeting her.”
“And I look forward to introducing you.” Dominic bowed low and gave his grandmother his most charming smile before vanishing into the crowd.
He was one step closer to an inheritance that could restore his duchy and change his life. All he had to do was find a fiancée.How hard could it be?
Chapter Two
A WALTZ TO REMEMBER
“What on Earth is that girl doing? You would think I had not spent a small fortune on dancing and etiquette classes. Smile, go on smile. Oh, heavens. Not like that.” Lady Veronica Nettle, Countess Bellmore shook her head in frustration and disgust.
Beside her, Lady Charlotte Nettle gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.Anger will not serve me now.Forcing herself to take a deep breath, Charlotte followed her stepmother’s gaze and found the focus of her ire.
