Formal dinner parties were not Robert’s forte. Not unless he could corner some business acquaintance and talk the spice trade to them. An evening where he couldn’t secure a new contract or agreement was, in his opinion, an evening wasted.
This evening’s hostess had fortuitously sent him a copy of the guest list. Mrs. Stevenson had been clever in inviting a number of people whom he knew were good company. From what he’d heard, getting the Duke of Spice to accept a private invitation to dine was considered quite the coup amongst the matrons of thehaut ton.
Personally I would be the last noble I would ever want to sit at my table.
Unbeknownst to his hostess, Mrs. Stevenson had presented Robert with an even better reason to attend her home tonight. He’d been delighted to see Lady Victoria Kembal’s name on the guest list and had quickly sent Mrs. Stevenson his note of acceptance.
The need for revenge was a familiar one, and he was powerless against its temptation.
The chit has it coming to her.
Robert was wearing his most enchanting smile as he stepped into the foyer of the elegant Mount Street townhouse that evening. He bowed to the hostess, then shook the hand of her husband, thanking them for their gracious invitation. He pretended not to see the excited grins Mister and Mrs. Stevenson exchanged with one another upon his arrival.
Yes, I am a duke, and I am at your home.
After a few minutes of small talk about the weather and the price of stocks on the London exchange, Robert moved further into the receiving room. Whisky glass in hand, he slyly searched for his prey.
A thrill of anticipation shot down his spine as his gaze finally landed on Lady Victoria Kembal. She was standing to one side of the room, a middle-aged couple situated either side of her. He immediately recognized the Duke and Duchess of Mowbray. The tall Clifford Kembal, with his shock of salt and pepper hair, was paying close attention to his wife. Lady Anne, whom Robert had met a few times over the years, seemed a little ill at ease.
I wonder if this is one of her first times back in society since her return.
He found it odd that despite all the gossip about her own family, much of which had featured inthe Morning Herald, Lady Victoria still saw fit to pen numerous letters to the newspaper.
Tonight he intended to permanently change her mind about sending unsolicited correspondence. By the end of the dinner, the stuck up little miss would know exactly the price that not minding her own business had cost her.
“S and W, how are you?”
Robert turned at the voice. He accepted the bow of his fellow guest with good grace. “Good evening.”
He was determined that his manners tonight would be utterly spotless, right up to and including the moment he tore Lady Victoria Kembal to pieces. He would leave her dignity in shreds, while at the same time giving her nothing to pin her hat on for complaint against him.
“I haven’t seen you at a social gathering in some time. Thought you’d retired permanently to your estate,” said the other gentleman.
Robert gave a light laugh in response. “No. Not retired, just busy. But all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, so I thought I’d venture out this evening.” He nodded in the direction of his quarry. “I’m glad I did, there are some pretty young ladies here this evening.”
The other man nodded. “Not thinking of finally taking on a duchess are we, S and W?”
Robert waved his words away. “One day I must, but right now I’m still enjoying my bachelor years.”
Victoria recognized him the moment she set eyes on that face. The gentleman over the other side of the room, the one who was stealing the occasional glance her way, was the same man shehad run into in the supper room at the ball the other night. The rude one.
She glared at him.
He smiled back.
“Victoria?”
Her mother’s voice roused her from the silent battle she was conducting with the stranger across the way.
“Yes Mama.”
Lady Anne moved closer, and while she brushed an invisible piece of lint from her daughter’s shawl, leaned in and whispered, “A young lady does not make faces at other people in polite company, especially not when that other person happens to be a bachelor duke.”
Her heart stilled at the words ‘bachelor duke’.Please no. He can’t be.
The duchess continued with her ministrations, touching Victoria’s pearl choker to make it perfectly straight. “That is the Duke of Saffron Walden. You were meant to be introduced to him at the first of the balls we went to the other week, but your paths unfortunately did not cross. If there is one person whom I would like you to make a favorable impression on this evening, it is His Grace.”
Her heart began pumping at a fast rate as the Duke of Spice approached. Victoria swallowed deep. Lady Anne might well be pinning her hopes on a union between her daughter and this man, but she didn’t know they had already crossed swords.
