I guarantee you, that you won’t be disappointed
PREVIEW: A DUKE REFORMED
Turn on to the next page to readA Duke Reformed,the previous book in this series!
“You can’t charm your way out of every lesson, Your Grace.”
“I know I can, Ducky…”
After saving Duke Solomon from a scandal with her sister, he offers Emma a deal she can’t refuse: he’ll give her anything for her lessons in etiquette.
CHAPTER ONE
"Have you seen my sister?" Emma's voice cut through the hum of the ballroom. She stood before Lavinia and Alice, blinking repeatedly as she waited for them to respond. "Have you seen Cecilia?"
Emma swallowed, but the lump in her throat refused to budge. She could hear her heart beating loudly in her chest, and it was making it almost impossible to breathe or concentrate. Her hands clenched at her sides and the fine silk creased under the pressure of her grip as she moved through the ballroom rapidly as her gaze darted from face to face, her heart sinking each time she didn't find the one she was looking for.
Where is she?
It wasn't her idea to come to the ball. In fact, if it had been up to Emma, she would have stayed home, curled up in her favorite chair by the fire with a book in hand. The quiet solitude of her own company was far preferable to the stifling heat and noise of yet another ball. After attending tens – or rather, what seemed like hundreds – of them over the years, the novelty hadlong since worn off. Now, they were merely tedious, a tiresome obligation she endured for the sake of her family.
But tonight was different. Tonight, shehadto be here.
"Tell me," Emma pressed, staring desperately at her friends.
Alice and Lavinia exchanged a quick glance as their conversation, or rather, their gossip halted mid-sentence.Alice's smile was the first to wane on seeing the worry plastered on Emma's face. Lavinia straightened her posture and her expression softened too.
"Cecilia?" Lavinia asked, her tone gentle. "I'm afraid I haven't seen her for a bit. Not since the opening dance. Why? Is something the matter, Emma?"
"She's missing," Emma said, panting. "I cannot find her anywhere. We came together and then we separated at the refreshments room." Emma glanced over her shoulder, as though expecting Cecilia to materialize out of the crowd. "But that was nearly half an hour ago and I have not set eyes on her again. I've looked everywhere, the ladies' retiring room, the terrace, even the card room."
"Calm yourself, Emma," Alice said to her, stepping forward. "It is a ball after all. I am certain she likely just wandered off to chat with someone or stepped outside for some air. You know how she dislikes being in a crowded room."
"That's why I worry," Emma continued, turning to quickly scan the room again. "Cecilia isn't used to the scornful gazes of theton, or their whispers about our family's... situation. She's always been so sheltered... sogood. She doesn't know how to steel herself against their cruelty the way I have–" she paused to scan Lavinia and Alice's faces. "–the way we have had to. Butlately, she has been acting quite oddly and I don't know what to make of it."
Lavinia's expression softened, and she reached out to take Emma's hand. "Has it gotten that bad?"
Emma nodded, pressing her lips into a thin line. "It's worse than ever I'm afraid," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "The debts... they are more than we can manage. Father tries to hide it, but the creditors have started calling at the house. And Cecilia... well, at first she couldn't understand why we have had to let go of so many servants or why we cannot host dinners anymore. But I fear that she knows now and it bothers her more than she lets on. I don't know how much longer we can keep up the pretense."
Alice hesitated, then reached out to place a hand on Emma's shoulder. "Emma, you have done an admirable job shielding your siblings. I am sure that they understand the situation and won't do anything to worsen it. Stop worrying too much about Cecilia. She might be shy and reclusive, but she is a sweet and a smart girl."
"I know." Emma sighed. "I should keep looking for her. Just so I know where she is."
Emma turned to leave, grabbing a handful of her skirts as she prepared to resume her search for Cecilia. But before she could take a step, Alice's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Wait," Alice said, holding her hand out. "Don't go just yet, Emma. You should hear what we were talking about before you came."
Emma hesitated, torn between her urgency to find Cecilia and her curiosity about what could possibly be so important. "Can it wait? I should find Cecilia quickly before–"
"Oh, but you'll want to hear this," Alice interrupted and glanced at Lavinia. "Apparently, there is an eligible duke here at the ball. It's all the debutants have been talking about. I hear he's quite the sight."
Emma blinked, momentarily distracted. "A duke?"
"The Duke of Montclaire," Alice answered. "No one has seen him, but he's here and rumor is, he might be looking to get married this season."
Emma raised her eyebrows. "Alice, the Duke of Montclaire is dead. He was an old man and he had no heirs."
"Apparently he did," Lavinia answered.
