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Nora braced herself for what might come next. So far no one had come out and said whether they recalled who Nora was. And Nora didn’t remember Lady Dunn.
Lady Satterfield opened her mouth, but Lady Dunn spoke first. “It’s good that you came back.”
It was? Nora felt a surge of relief and smiled.
Lady Dunn lowered her glass. “Come and sit with me for a few minutes.” She led Nora to an empty settee.
Nora glanced at Lady Satterfield, who nodded encouragingly.
Lady Dunn sat on the pale gold brocade and patted the space next to her.
Nora dropped down beside her. She had the sense Lady Dunn wanted to impart some bit of wisdom or advice.
“You’re a brave young lady,” Lady Dunn said without preamble. “I recall precisely what trouble you found however many years ago that was, and I can only hope you’ve learned your lesson.”
Nora wasn’t sure what to make of the woman’s candor. On the one hand, it was comforting to have things out in the open, but on the other, she felt more vulnerable than she had all day. “Yes, my lady. Quite.”
Lady Dunn nodded her head in one sharp bob of acknowledgment. Her gaze surveyed the room, then arrested. Her lips parted. “My goodness. The Forbidden Duke.” Her tone was soft, almost breathy.
Nora followed Lady Dunn’s line of sight and ended up at…the Duke of Kendal, Lady Satterfield’s stepson. She looked at Lady Dunn. “The who?”
Lady Dunn blinked at Nora as if she’d grown a second head. “The Duke of Kendal. Surely you know that, since you are Lady Satterfield’s companion.” She pursed her lips together. “However, I suppose you wouldn’t hear what’s said about him from his stepmother.”
Nora shouldn’t want to hear what was said about him at all. She was trying to behave in the most exemplary fashion possible—no gossip, no scandal. Still, she was dying to know why he wasforbidden.
Their brief meeting had intrigued her. He was devastatingly attractive with black hair and piercing green eyes, and he’d looked at her with…interest. Or something. There had been a hint of heat in his gaze, which she’d recognized from her experience with Haywood. She ought to run screaming in the other direction, but she sensed that he possessed something Haywood hadn’t: self-control. “Why is he called that?” She immediately wished she could take the question back. She’d always been far too curious—and unable to keep her curiosity to herself.
Lady Dunn leaned forward slightly, displaying a keen interest in this topic. “Because he doesn’t engage in Society, and he doesn’t socialize. He holds himself apart. He isn’t seen, he isn’t approached, and he isn’t spoken to.”
He sounded like the quintessential Untouchable. She sneaked a look at him. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his thick hair waving back from his wide forehead. She could only see his profile, but his chin was square and his lips supple.
Supple?
“Why is he here, then?” Despite her brain telling her to cease pursuit of this topic, she couldn’t seem to stop.
“I was hoping you could tell me, dear,” Lady Dunn said with an edge of humor. “Perhaps he’s on the hunt for his dance partner for Lady Satterfield’s ball. It’s the only event he goes to during the Season, and he always dances just once—the first dance—with a very special, and very lucky, lady.”
Since Lady Dunn was so keen to share information, Nora gave up trying to quash her interest. “Special how?” she asked.
“She’s invariably someone in need of attention—a spinster, a widow, the youngest daughter who’s been forgotten after her elder sisters were married. His selection of her elevates her position.”
He might be an Untouchable, but he sounded like a bit of a hero too.
Nora darted another look in his direction and nearly slipped off the settee. He was staring right at her, and she swore the heat in his gaze had intensified, as if he’d spent the last hour simmering over by the windows. Nora felt distinctly warm. And not uncomfortably so.
He turned his attention back to the windows, breaking their eye contact. Nora dropped her gaze and studied the small flowers on her dress in an effort to right her suddenly sideways equilibrium.
Until she’d caught him looking at her, she would’ve said he seemed to have no awareness of the people in the drawing room. Perhaps he should be called the Aloof Duke instead. Or maybe even the Arrogant Duke. That wasn’t fair. She had no idea if he was arrogant. Perhaps he had a fear of social gatherings or people in general. Perhaps he was really the Skittish Duke. Or the Paranoid Duke. She smiled to herself, thinking she could amuse herself all day coming up with alternate names for him. The Detached Duke. Oh yes, that might fit quite nicely.
“Why are you smiling, gel?” Lady Dunn asked.
Startled from her ridiculous reverie, Nora blinked before turning to look at Lady Dunn. “I’m just enjoying myself. Are you? Is there anything you require?”
“Not at all. It’s time for me to be on my way. I should like to be the first to share the news of the Forbidden Duke’s appearance, and I’ve several more calls to make.” She held out her hand. “Help me up, dear.”
Nora jumped to her feet and assisted Lady Dunn to stand. “It was a pleasure to meet you, my lady.”
Even though Lady Dunn was shorter than Nora, she was somehow able to convey the effect of looking down her nose. “I’ll be keeping an eye on you, Miss Lockhart. I’ve decided to like you. Do not disappoint me.” She winked before taking herself off to bid farewell to Lady Satterfield.
