Page 49 of Duke of Bronze
Colin sighed and momentarily closed his eyes, already anticipating the relentless torment.
"And here I was hoping for some respite from your wedded wisdom," he drawled.
Sterlin chuckled. "Not when you are next in line, my friend."
Colin scoffed. "Ah, but first, I must endure the Herculean task of selecting the future duchess."
"As it happens," Sterlin said, eyes alight with mischief, "are you acquainted with the season's Diamond? Lady Fiona Pierce?"
Colin raised a brow. "I am aware of her. Why?"
Sterlin leaned forward slightly, as if imparting some grand secret. "Word is she would make a fine duchess. Impeccable breeding, excellent connections, a sterling reputation?—"
Colin's gaze narrowed in suspicion. "Did Giltford put you up to this? Has he enlisted you to sell the idea of matrimony to me?"
Morgan, for his part, let out an exaggerated cry of innocence. "I have done no such thing!"
Giltford, however, merely chuckled, entirely unrepentant.
Colin's eyes moved between the two men, his suspicion deepening. "Surely it cannot be a coincidence that he lectured me about marriage just the last time we spoke, and now you are doing the same?”
Morgan wore an expression of utmost innocence, but Colin was not fooled. Especially when he caught the quick glance exchanged between him and Giltford.
"Good Lord," Colin muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Youhavebeen discussing my prospects."
The ensuing laughter from his friends was all the confirmation he needed. And just like that, Colin realized he was well and truly doomed.
CHAPTER 19
"Ifeel as though I do not know my dear Anna anymore," Aunt Petunia declared, pressing a handkerchief to her eyes with an exaggerated sniff.
"Oh, now you are simply being melodramatic, Aunty," Anna sighed, rolling her eyes as she deftly plucked a throw pillow from Titan's eager grasp. The small gray pug let out a disgruntled growl, his wrinkled face contorting into what could only be described as a canine scowl before he promptly abandoned his conquest and hopped onto Elizabeth's lap instead.
Petunia and Elizabeth had arrived unannounced that morning, just after breakfast, sweeping into the drawing room with all the enthusiasm of women on a mission.
"She promised to inform me about the second engagement so that I might assist her in preparing for it," Petunia lamented, dabbing at her nonexistent tears. "But lo-and-behold, I had to discover it in the gossip sheets, much like the first. Tell me, Lizzy, can you fathom such betrayal?"
Elizabeth, ever the diplomat, offered her aunt a soothing smile. "Oh, I am certain it must have been an oversight on Anna's part."
"It was not," Anna interjected with an unrepentant shrug.
Elizabeth shot her a pointed look and nudged her in admonition.
"Did you know what plans she had for me, Lizzy?" Anna continued, her voice carrying the full weight of her indignation. "She intended to turn me into a doll!"
Elizabeth arched a brow. "Well, that does not sound entirely disagreeable."
Anna huffed as Titan, now growing restless, began nibbling at the sleeve of Elizabeth's dress.
"My, you are like a teething child this morning," Elizabeth chuckled, gently extracting her arm from his insistent grasp.
Titan, thoroughly affronted, scowled up at her before hopping off her lap in a show of dissatisfaction. Anna laughed, unable to help herself.
"I think I shall have to be the one to keep an eye on you. Sebastian has been of no use whatsoever," Petunia declared, reaching for the morning's gossip sheet with an air of great importance.
Anna barely had time to stifle a sigh before her aunt let out an audible gasp. "My heavens! It says here that the Duke was seen in your company yesterday as well." She turned wide, expectant eyes on her niece. "Has the third outing already taken place?"
"What?" Anna snatched the paper from her aunt's hands, her brow furrowing in surprise. She had not yet read the gossip sheet that morning. Could they be referring to yesterday's visit to the hospital? Surely it was only speculation?
