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Her hands shaking, she reached out for the card and sucked in a deep breath when she read the simple note.
“For the ball tonight. Daniel.”
He had not signed it with his title or his full name—just his simple first name.
Daniel.
How utterly, inappropriately intimate!
And yet, she could not stop the smile spreading across her face as she gently lifted the crushed tissue paper lining to reveal the beautiful golden-yellow dress beneath it. Delicate seed pearls and golden beads were sewn into the bodice, and the hemline was embroidered rather elegantly with intertwined vines and leaves in gold thread.
Emily had never seen such an exquisite gown in her entire life!
“His Grace…His Grace is very, verygenerous. That he is!” Jenny breathed, her eyes wide in amazement.
Emily wanted to burst out in laughter. Daniel was wealthy enough to buy three rooms full of such gowns—this would hardly make a dent in his fortune.
But this was also the first time she had ever heard of him gifting a young lady something.
“Jenny,” she whispered, her eyes shining. “I have a dress for the ball tonight!”
* * *
“Your Grace, the package has been successfully delivered.”
Cool blue eyes snapped up to the footman as the Duke eased himself out of the luxuriously appointed chair.
“Really?” the smooth baritone intoned. “Did you make sure she received it?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Very well, call Percy and tell him that I will be attending the Hadley ball tonight.”
The Duke stared at the flickering flames in the fireplace as a small smile curled at the edge of his lips. For the first time in his adult years, he was actually looking forward to attending a ball.
His father would be turning over in his grave right now.
CHAPTER9
Benedict Montgomery, the Earl of Hardy, considered himself to be a patient and reasonable man.
In his youth, he had been quite hotheaded and rebellious until his father had given him Hardy Place as his own estate. There, he had learned to rein in his temper and somehow evolve into the man he currently was—that is, he had managed to become one of the most sought-after bachelors in all of London.
However, right now, he was pacing at the foot of the stairs like a caged tiger, finely dressed, and exuding the aura of a handsome young nobleman in his prime. Once in a while, he would scowl and glare in the direction of Emily’s rooms.
“I do not understand what is taking her so long,” Lady Rutbridge complained, her features twisted in annoyance. “It is not like any amount of preparation could change anything!”
At her words, the young Earl of Hardy shot her a scathing glare that promptly caused his stepmother to shut her mouth. His eyes drifted over to Amy, who was wearing yet another new dress in the latest fashions.
She has not yet even made her bow, and she is parading about like a bloody peacock, he thought to himself angrily.All the while, Emily has had to bear the humiliation of parading about in public in those rags.
“Nice dress,” he remarked, causing his sister to flush in embarrassment.
“Yes, we picked it out together when we bought Emily’s dress for the ball,” Lady Rutbridge intervened with a tremulous smile.
Benedict smiled sardonically. “That seems rather fair.”
This time, it was the Marchioness who turned a bright shade of red. The disparity between Amy and Emily’s attire was so great that, at a glance, it was clear that Lady Rutbridge favored one daughter over the other.
