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Lady Esther.

Chapter 11

Esther looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Duke. Perhaps shewasbeing overly optimistic in thinking she could turn his impression of her around so quickly, but she knew she had to try. Her parents would expect no less of her.

“Pardon me, Lady Esther.”

She turned—and there he was.

He was smiling. Was he laughing at her? She couldn’t be sure. If he was, she supposed he had earned the right. She had made rather a fool of herself on their last encounter.

“Your Grace,” she said, inclining her head slightly.

He raised his eyebrows. “I see you’ve discovered my true identity.”

“My cousin brought it to my attention,” Esther said. “I’m sure you must think me foolish.”

“Not at all,” he assured her. “To be truthful, I found it refreshing.”

“Refreshing?”

“So many of the young ladies I meet at these balls know who I am already,” he explained. “They seem to come here with a hope of meeting me specifically.”

“Do they?” Esther asked.

“I suppose it’s to be expected,” he said. “They’ve been instructed to make advantageous matches for themselves. I can’t exactly fault them. And I don’t, not really. I don’t think they’re unsympathetic. But it’s not a great deal of fun for me to be treated as if I’m so admirable that I can hardly be spoken to.”

“I yelled at you,” Esther remembered, feeling herself blush.

“I was impressed,” the Duke said. “Do you know how long it’s been since anyone has yelled at me? Told me that they felt I was out of line? Most are more like your cousin, Lady Eugenia. They’ll fall all over themselves to apologize for things that couldn’t possibly have been their fault.”

“Eugenia means well,” Esther said. “She saw me making a fool of myself and wanted to prevent it.”

“Well, you must rest assured, My Lady, that I don’t find you foolish in the least,” the Duke said. “To be honest, I’m very glad I saw you here, because I’d like to get to know you better.”

Esther couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Could this really have worked out so well? He wants to know me betterbecauseI lost my temper and yelled at him? By rights he should despise me, and yet somehow he doesn’t.

She knew her mother would scold her if she had seen the way Esther had behaved tonight. Her father would be horrified. And yet, Esther’s behavior had led directly to the desired result, hadn’t it?

It’s further evidence of what I’ve thought all along. I don’t need them to oversee everything I do. I’m perfectly capable of navigating the challenges of my first Season without any assistance from either of them.

“I don’t believe I’ve seen you before,” the Duke said, distracting her from her thoughts.

“This is my first Season,” Esther said. “And as it’s the first ball of the Season, this is my first chance at being seen.”

“Ah,” the Duke said. “Your first ball. Well, thatisan occasion.”

“Is it?” Esther asked. “I mean to say, I’ve attended balls before, of course. My parents have given them, and so has my aunt. But this is the first time I’ve been to a ball on my own.”

“You’re not on your own,” the Duke pointed out. “You’re in the company of your cousin.”

Esther laughed. “That’s true,” she said. “I meant without my parents. They sent me to London for my first Season, I suppose in hopes that the gentlemen here would be more impressive than those back home.”

“And?” the Duke asked. “How have you found the gentlemen to be so far?”

“The truth?” Esther asked, hesitating.