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Miss Knox sniffed. “Unfortunately,I have to return home in a few days.”
“You’re not here for the Season?” Nora asked.
Miss Knox shook her head. “My parents refuse to fund any more Seasons. They said three was more than enough and that if I couldn’t find a wealthy husband in London by then, I’d have to hope someone in our district would come up to scratch.” She smiled at Miss Parnell. “Lucy and I became friends a few years ago, and she invited me to visit her this week.”
Miss Parnell linked her arm through Miss Knox’s. “I wish you could remain for the entire Season.”
“She can,” Nora interjected without thinking. “Miss Knox, please allow me to sponsor you.” It was a spontaneous offer, but one she didn’t regret. She warmed to the idea of doing for someone else what Lady Satterfield had done for her. In fact, Lady Satterfield would most certainly help her—or perhaps even try to sponsor Miss Knox herself.
Miss Knox’s jaw dropped again, but for a bit longer this time. “Your Grace, that’s… I don’t know what to say.”
Nora smiled at her. “Just say yes. If not for the kind and generous sponsorship of my mother-in-law, I might not have married Kendal. It would give me great pleasure to provide the same for you this Season.”
Miss Parnell turned to her friend, her expression animated and her tone eager. “We’ll write to your parents immediately. How can they refuse the duchess’s kind offer? They’ll be thrilled to have you out of their hair and in the hands of a duchess, no less.”
Miss Knox looked at Nora. “Do you think I could find a duke too?”
Nora laughed. “I don’t know. I didn’t set out to snag a title at all. That I landed an Untouchable still mystifies me sometimes.”
“I daresay we need to steal that phrase—the Untouchables,” Miss Parnell said. “Would you mind?”
“Not at all.”
“It’s an excellent term, and will pair rather well with our naming convention.” Miss Parnell exchanged humored glances with Miss Knox, who giggled, and Miss Breckenridge, whose lips curved into a charming smile—the first Nora had seen from her.
“Do tell me,” Nora urged.
Miss Knox looked past Nora into the throng of ball goers. “We have names for certain gentlemen.” She gestured toward the Earl of Dartford. “Take Dartford, for example. He’s the Duke of Daring.”
“But he’s not a duke,” Nora said.
Miss Parnell shrugged. “No, however in our view, they may as well all be dukes.”
“And Dartford is certainly daring,” Miss Breckenridge noted, and not without a touch of disdain. “He races in the park every Tuesday, can be found gambling in the worst hells, and I hear he’s swum nude in the Thames.”
Miss Knox nodded primly. “Just so. We call the Earl of Sutton the Duke of Deception.”
“Because he’s led so many young misses to believe a proposal is in the offing, only to drop them cold,” Miss Parnell said.
“A thoroughly deserved nickname,” Miss Breckenridge said. “And don’t forget the Duke of Depravity.” She curled her lip as she said the name.
Nora looked between them. “Who is that?”
Miss Knox sighed. “The Duke of Clare. But we actually call him the Duke ofDesire. Ivy insists on labeling him depraved.”
Miss Breckenridge narrowed her eyes at Miss Knox. “Because heis.”
Miss Parnell tapped her finger against her chin. “He’s also a degenerate, debauched, and disreputable, if you’d like to expand his naming options.”
This provoked another smile from Ivy, and everyone else laughed.
Miss Knox glanced around. “Was he even invited?”
“I’m certain he was,” Nora said. “He may be debauched, but he’s still an Untouchable. Whether he actually attends is another matter.”
“Like your husband.” Miss Parnell inclined her head toward the doorway to the terrace.
Nora turned and met her husband’s emerald gaze. She felt a familiar rush of excitement and anticipation. Five years of marriage had done nothing to diminish their attraction or their connection.
