Page 9 of Three Nights with the Beastly Duke

“Sister, who is it you are looking for?” Rebecca asked, coming up to her side with two glasses of wine. She held one out to Lavinia, and she took it with thanks.

“Your fiancé,” Lavinia replied, then took a sip of wine. It immediately went to her head, giving her a fun, dizzying sensation. She took one more sip and then set the glass down on a nearby table. It was best that she was sharp for the evening.

“What?” Rebecca hissed, her eyes shining with betrayal. “Why would you do that? I thought you were helping me?!”

“Be calm, little sister,” Lavinia soothed. “I have it well in hand, I promise you. The Duke and I have come to an agreement, and I believe, if properly negotiated, you will be satisfied with the results.”

Rebecca’s gaze turned to one of resentment to excitement. “Tell me,” she implored.

Lavinia gave her an amused smile and shook her head. “No. The less you know the better. Have fun this evening. Act as you normally do. There is no need to go out of your way to converse with him tonight. I shall be his companion for the evening.”

“And if someone asks why?” Rebecca asked. “Father has already spread word of the engagement. People will find it odd that we are not speaking to one another.”

“If they do, just simply reply that your new fiancé understands that your social needs are very important,” Lavinia replied with a shrug of her left shoulder.

Her eyes then scanned the room once more, and a mixture of relief and excitement spread through her when she spotted Arthur making his way toward her. She also noticed how people seemed to preemptively move out of his way, as if afraid to get too close. It bothered her to see this.

“There he is,” Lavinia whispered, giving her sister a gentle push in the opposite direction. “Go on, have fun.”

Not needing any further encouragement, Rebecca skipped off to a circle of nearby friends.

“Your Grace,” Lavinia greeted Arthur politely, giving him her best curtsey. “It is so charitable of you to join us again.”

As if he, too, knew they should put on a show, Arthur gave her a low bow and kissed the back of her hand. A tingle went up her arm as his lips touched her skin, and she had to steel herself against the shiver of pleasure her body suddenly wanted to release.

“The charity is all yours, Miss Dennis,” he replied amicably. “Your presence is always appreciated.”

“It is, indeed,” Timothy agreed, walking up to Lavinia’s side. “How do you do? I don’t believe we’ve met formally. Timothy Hill, the Earl of Stonehames.”

Lavinia felt a shock of alarm as her friend suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She hadn’t expected him to be at the dinner. In fact, she had shamefully not thought of him at all since her meeting with Arthur. Quickly, she gathered herself, and put on a dazzling smile.

“Lord Stonehames, might I have the honor of introducing you to Arthur Kendall, the Duke of Whitekin? He is an honored guest of our family this summer season.”

She looked at Arthur imploringly and was not disappointed when he accepted Timothy’s handshake and exchanged pleasantries.

“Ah, yes, you are to be Rebecca’s husband, are you not?” Timothy asked, a sudden bark in an otherwise casual tone.

“As of this moment, yes,” Arthur replied, his eyes darting to Lavinia.

“Lord Stonehames, tell me,” Lavinia said quickly, changing the subject. “Is your dear wife joining us this evening? I missed her at the ball the other evening and had hoped to say hello.”

A look of indigent hurt appeared on Timothy’s face for a brief moment at the mention of his wife. In fact, it was only then that Lavinia realized that he gave her that lookanytimeshe mentioned Emily. But why? She looked back at her friend curiously, wondering suddenly why that was.

“Indeed, she is,” Timothy replied in a defeated tone. “And she is surely worried that I’ve been gone too long. I should get back to her. Come find us later if you wish to speak with her.”

“I will surely do so,” Lavinia said as Timothy already started to walk away. She looked at her friend’s back, wondering what was going on with him.

“A turned down proposal, I assume?” Arthur asked, humor lacing his voice.

“I beg your pardon?” Lavinia asked, turning back to him with a confused look.

Arthur nodded toward Timothy’s fleeing figure. “That gentleman. I’m assuming he proposed to you at some time, and you broke his heart when you chose spinsterhood over him?”

The sense of longing for Arthur’s kiss suddenly shriveled up and burst into dust as indignation flooded through her.

“No,that is certainlynotwhat happened,” Lavinia replied, doing her best to keep her voice at a low, calm tone. “Timothy and I have been friends since childhood and haveonlyever been friends. In fact, he and Emily wedded quite young, as if they couldn’t wait to be together.”

“Apologies.” Arthur chuckled, shaking his head as if amused by her controlled anger.

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