“Let us make the introduction before the next dance starts. We can intercept him if we just keep walking this way.” Lady Bellmore diverted them, keeping both eyes fixed on the Duke.
“You are wasting your time,” Charlotte said. “What makes you think you will succeed where every other mother in the ton has failed?
“Did I ask for your opinion?” Lady Bellmore hissed before breaking into a smile as they intercepted the Duke a moment later. “Ah, Duke Verimore. I believe you know my husband, Earl Bellmore?”
“Ah, yes. How is His Lordship doing?” The Duke inclined his head towards them.
“Very well, thank you, Your Grace. Forgive my somewhat impertinent manner, but I remember how fondly my husband spoke of you and wanted to introduce you to my daughters, Lady Charlotte Nettle and the lovely Lady Evelyn Nettle.” As Lady Bellmore introduced Evelyn, she took pains to place her directly in front of Charlotte.
“A pleasure to meet you, Your Grace.” Evelyn smiled shyly up at the Duke.
Charlotte decided to remain silent. She was not overly concerned with this latest attempt of her mother’s to make a match for Evelyn. She had been telling her the truth. The man was harder to pin down than an eel.
“The pleasure is all mine, dear ladies.” Duke Verimore smiled a charming smile as he bowed low.
Charlotte only just managed to resist rolling her eyes. She was familiar with men like the Duke.He thinks he is a gift to all women, that no one could possibly resist his charms. All style and no substance.
Lady Bellmore made a show of adjusting the bracelet on Evelyn’s hand, not-so-subtly showing Evelyn’s dance card as she did so.
Charlotte was sure that a man like the Duke, who had for years avoided the most insistent mothers of the ton and their attempts at marrying him to their daughters, would see through the ploy and leave their party. To her surprise, the Duke instead glanced at the card and then canted his head towards her sister.
“Lady Evelyn, it appears that you have this next dance free. Would you perhaps do me the honour of being my partner for it?” The Duke held out a hand to her.
“I —– um — yes, of course.” Evelyn’s voice was higher than usual, and Charlotte could tell that her sister was feeling anxious.
“Do not worry.” Charlotte mouthed to Evelyn once more as the pair walked away.The Duke will probably leave as soon as he can.
She glanced around, trying to see where Philippa had got to, and was vaguely trying to formulate a plan to help her when her stepmother’s voice broke into her thoughts.
“It seems you were wrong,” Lady Bellmore murmured, sounding exceedingly pleased with herself.
“Wrong about what?” Charlotte raised an eyebrow.
“That the Duke would be uninterested in your sister. Look how amiably they are chatting. He seems rather taken with her.” Lady Bellmore inclined her head towards the dancers on the floor.
To Charlotte’s horror, she realised that her mother was right. The Duke did indeed seem to be rather taken with Evelyn. She could see that the Duke was engaging in lively conversation with Evelyn.
And more to the point, he seemed to be genuinely interested in what Evelyn had to say. As the two turned, Evelyn caught Charlotte’s eye, and she could see the panic in her face. Thankfully, Lady Bellmore was too busy gloating to notice.I cannot let this continue.
“Mother, do you really think it entirely sensible to encourage the Duke’s affections? He is a rather well-known rake. If the rumours are to be believed, he has been intimate with half the ton.” Charlotte did her best to sound calm and reasonable, hoping her mother would listen to her.
“Men will be men, and a duke is still a duke. I am sure Evelyn will be able to calm him down.” Lady Bellmore clasped her hands together, and Charlotte had no doubt the woman was already planning out the wedding in her mind.
Charlotte grabbed her mother’s arm, forcing her to pay attention to her. “But what about the rumours?”
“What rumours?” Lady Bellmore frowned at her.
“They say he has an illegitimate child with Baroness Worthington.” Charlotte was fairly certain it had been the Duke who had done that.
“You are thinking of the Duke of York. And that affair was ended some years ago.” Lady Bellmore waved a hand dismissively as she extracted herself from Charlotte’s grip.
“He is seen regularly coming out of gentleman’s clubs, and I have heard that he wagers rather often.” Charlotte forced herself to speak slowly and evenly as she took a steadying breath.r
“So, the man likes to gamble? He is hardly the first.”
“Mother, Evelyn cannot pursue him.”
“Of course, she can.”
