Page 67 of Dukes for Dessert

Marina glanced toward her as her fingers stilled. Straightening, she sat as Juno had taught her—shoulders back, spine stiff, chin up, slight smile in place. Pride shot through Juno, as well as glee that Marina had found the courage to do what she must in her mother’s presence.

Lady Wetherby’s features flashed with surprise and perhaps a dash of approval. “We are to attend a house party next month. The Duke of Warrington will be in attendance, and he is in search of a wife. My darling, you could snag a duke without having to suffer another Season.”

Juno felt a burst of tenderness at the warmth in the countess’s tone. She might be frustrated by her daughter—and certainly didn’t understand her—but she wanted the best for her, including the chance to avoid a Season, which she knew Marina had loathed.

Instead of responding with relief at this prospect, Marina crumpled, her face falling into a deep scowl. “Must I, Mother?”

“I’m afraid so.” The countess had stiffened, her face freezing in disappointment. “I do hope you can summon the appropriate enthusiasm.”

Turning toward her charge, Juno gently touched the young woman’s arm. “Just think, you’ll have a chance to practice everything we’ve worked on. A house party is the perfect place to gain confidence and hone your skills.”

“I barely have any of either,” Marina said quietly, shooting a perturbed look toward her mother. “But I suppose I have no choice.”

“That is correct,” Lady Wetherby said firmly. “We leave in a fortnight.” Her expression gentled once more. “The duke doesn’t care for the Marriage Mart either. Perhaps the two of you will find an accord. I think this could be just the match you’ve been waiting for.”

“I haven’t been waiting for any match,” Marina muttered. “May I go now?”

“Yes.” The countess looked rather despondent as her daughter stood and shuffled from the room.

Juno tensed as she readjusted herself on the settee to face her employer. “She’ll be ready for the house party. She just needs to acclimate herself. We’ve plenty of time to prepare.”

“I hope you’re right, considering what I’m paying you. In fact, if you can ensure this betrothal occurs, I’ll increase your pay twenty percent.” Lady Wetherby stood. “Do not let us down, Mrs. Langton.”

The countess swept from the room, and Juno narrowed her eyes in contemplation. A fortnight to not only ensure Marina was ready for a house party, but that she could snare a duke. It would be Juno’s most daunting challenge yet.

She leapt to her feet, eager to get started.

Alexander Brett, Duke of Warrington, stalked into the drawing room at precisely a quarter of an hour before six. His mother, seated serenely on the dark red settee, came from the dower house most evenings to dine with him.

She surveyed him as he went to pour a glass of her favorite madeira and a brandy for himself. “How was your day?”

After handing her the wine, he sat in the chair near her settee. Same drinks, same seating arrangement, same question to begin their conversation. He liked same.

“Productive.”

“As always,” she murmured. “I don’t suppose anything exciting happened?”

“The post was greater than usual.” He sipped his brandy.

“Anything of interest?”

“Not to me, though you would probably find the invitation to a house party notable.”

His mother, in her early fifties with still-dark hair, save a few strands of gray at her temples, sat a bit taller. “What house party? When?” Her sable eyes sparked with enthusiasm.

“Doesn’t matter. I’m not going.”

She pursed her lips at him before relaxing. He could see she was choosing her words, lining up her soldiers for the coming battle. “But you should. I realize you don’t care for social situations; however, this is a small gathering, not at all like the events of the Season.”

Dare, the name he’d been called his entire life, which was a shortened version of the courtesy title he’d held—Marquess of Daresbury—before his father’s death three years earlier, narrowed his eyes at his mother. “You’re behind this invitation.”

“What makes you think that?” She tried to sound innocent, but her gaze darted to the side and her voice rose. When he said nothing, she looked back to him and exhaled. “Fine. Yes.”

“Am I to understand you convinced Lady Cosford to host a house party so that I might attend?”

“Of course not. I merely made a few well-placed comments to friends in recent months.”

“What sort of comments?”

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