Page 31 of A Duke for Diana
“Oh, I almost forgot what we were discussing in the first place. The jewelry. The young ladies being presented are expected to put as many diamonds and pearls as possible on their persons. Full diamond parures are preferable, of course—”
“Of course,” he said sarcastically.
“We have no full parures of anything, but I loaned Rosy the diamond tiara from my own presentation,” she said, “complete with feathery excess rising out of it—though we had to replace some of the ostrich feathers because they were too worn and droopy after seven years and three women’s débuts. They were handed down from Eliza to me to Verity.”Stop babbling, Diana!
She drew in a deep breath. “We’ve gathered an assortment of our own diamond and pearl earrings, but we don’t have much in the way of necklaces and brooches, so we’ll make do with paste . . . anything that glitters, really, because I believe that’s the point. Oh, and Eliza intends to loan Rosy some of the jewels her late husband gave her.”
“Good God, you should have mentioned this to me sooner.”
“You haven’t been around, remember?” she said in an icy tone. “And your mother and sister were reluctant to bother you concerning jewelry because you weren’t even sure Rosy should have new gowns when you spoke to me three weeks ago.”
His face flushed. “You have a point. And I probably should have said something before, but when the will was read some months ago, the attorney I inherited from the previous duke showed me the Brookhouse jewels he’d been keeping in a safe. I’ve been meaning to bring them here anyway, so when I’m at the solicitor’s office signing papers this morning I’ll fetch back the casket of jewels. I know for certain it has a parure of emeralds Rosy can wear for the dinner, and I suspect it has some other things you can use.”
“That would be wonderful,” Diana said. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me just yet.” He smiled faintly, and this time his gaze met hers. “You’ll have to choose the proper ones for the various gowns.”
“What a trial,” she said dryly. “I’ll be forced to play dress-up with what are probably spectacular jewels.” She pretended to be having the vapors, complete with pressing the back of her hand to her forehead. “But I shall persevere.”
He laughed. “I’m glad I can amuse you.” He nodded to Rosy. “And I’m very glad you’re taking care of her attire. She told me she has to wear a hoop skirt, of all things. I haven’t seen a woman in one of those since I was a lad, and I’d definitely have no idea where to purchase one.”
“The hoop skirts are why the gowns look like dollops of whipped cream.”
“I like whipped cream,” he said lightly, though his gaze on her had turned rather intense.
“Ah, but you can’t eat these gowns.”
“That’s a pity.” He fixed on her mouth. “I’ve had no breakfast, and I’m feeling rather . . . peckish.”
How was it he managed to make his every remark feel like a caress? And why was he flirting with her again as if nothing between them had changed?
Just as she thought that, he seemed to catch himself, for he returned his gaze to his sister, who was now talking to Verity. “You’ve transformed her, you know. I daresay once her hair is up, I won’t even recognize her.”
“You’d better. You’re accompanying her today. Not to mention, you’re having your own presentation. Or have you forgotten?”
“I remember.”
“The clothing for men is very specific.”
“I’m well aware. Rosy has reminded me of it repeatedly. White bag wig. Breeches. Old-fashioned coat. Buckled shoes.”
“Are you sure you won’t get caught up at the attorney’s office and forget to return home in enough time to change?”
He crooked up one brow as he met her gaze. “Why? Are you planning to dress me?”
She could feel heat rising in her cheeks. Once again he was flirting. She might as well flirt back. “I will if I have to.”
Something passed between them that electrified the very air. She couldn’t breathe. Her heart was pounding. She would swear he felt it, too.
He bent close to whisper, “Feel free to dress me anytime you like, Diana.” Then he straightened and seemed to realize they had an audience—one that wasn’t paying any attention to them, but still . . . “You may not have noticed,” he went on, “but I own a watch, which keeps perfect time. I’ll be here at the necessary hour, I assure you.”
She forced herself to take a breath. Then another and another. After that, she was able to compose herself. “Do you have a chapeau bras?”
“What’s that?”
Feeling a sudden panic, she said, “Perhaps we can get you one from—”
He chuckled. “I know what a chapeau bras is. Good God, you must really think me a green lad. My new tailor sent me right off to the only hatter he approved of. The same for a cobbler and a glover. But as it happens, I already owned a chapeau bras. I wore it to the Society’s dinner. You just didn’t see it because your footman took it from me when I arrived at your sister’s house.”
