Page 25 of Duke of Diamonds
“Awar?” Fiona gasped, her eyes flying across the page Hester had thrust into her hands.
The drawing room had been filled with the quiet clink of teacups and the soft murmur of conversation when her friends arrived. But the moment she read the bold, scandalous headline, all pretense at gentility vanished.
“Oh yes,” Hester replied, eyes wide with delight. “An actual war—well, not with cannons and swords, but something quite nearly as thrilling.”
Fiona stared at the page. She had purposefully avoided the gossip columns these past weeks, determined not to subject herself to their constant speculation. But she was grateful now that her friends still read them. This—this was something she could not have imagined.
The sheet declared, with theatrical flair, a growingduel of affectionsbetween the Duke of Craton and the Earl of Canterlack. A ‘war over the diamond,’ it said. She was, apparently, the diamond.
She nearly dropped the paper in dismay.
“They saw me walking with Canterlack at Hyde Park,” she murmured, mostly to herself. “And then Craton came and took me home. They even noted the Earl’s… mood.”
How do they know so much?The fine details—right down to Canterlack’s “unpleasant countenance”—were far too precise.
She felt suddenly watched.Hunted, almost.
“What happened?” Hester leaned forward eagerly. “Is it true? Are we witnessing the start of a grand feud?”
“You ache for scandal, Hester,” Nancy said, clicking her tongue and shaking her head with mock severity.
“As if you are not itching for the same details,” Hester shot back, rolling her eyes. “You’re as curious as a cat with a locked door.”
Fiona couldn’t help it—she laughed. The whole thing was absurd.
“But truly,” Nancy said more softly, tilting her head, “is the Duke truly interested in you, Fiona?”
Fiona lowered the paper and set it aside with care, smoothing her skirts. “We have crossed paths more frequently since the dance,” she said carefully.
Not a lie. But not the truth either.
Hester clapped her hands. “Iknewit. I knew something had begun since that evening. He never dances, Fiona. Never. You must have captured his notice.”
Fiona gave a little shrug, though she felt the warmth climb up her neck at the memory of Isaac—of the way he had watched her, the way he had pulled her from Canterlack’s grasp with a calm ferocity.
Nancy, however, did not join in Hester’s glee. She glanced down into her teacup, then up at Fiona with measured calm. “But I thought Canterlack already had a strong suit.”
Fiona’s heart gave a subtle lurch.
Before she could fashion a reply, Hester interjected. “Oh, rubbish. If she does not prefer Canterlack, she is not beholden to him. It is not as though she has been signed over in contract.”
If only you knew.
Her friends had no idea of the engagement. Only Anna knew. As far as society was concerned, Canterlack was still merely a suitor.
“Oh, of course I did not mean it so,” Nancy said at once, her expression contrite. “Forgive me, Fiona.”
Fiona gave a small chuckle and waved her hand gently. “I understand entirely, Nancy. Truly.”
“I was merely wondering about this so-called war,” Nancy added, eyes flicking to the paper again. “It is quite dramatic.”
“We must not expect the Earl to retreat without resistance,” Hester said with a sage nod. “But the real question is—whom do you prefer?”
“Indeed,” Nancy echoed, sitting forward slightly. “If thereisa contest for your affections, Fiona, you must have a leaning.”
Fiona drew in a quiet breath and managed a polite smile. “I do not know the Duke well enough to offer a fair comparison.”
Nancy’s gaze softened. “Well, I do hope he wins your heart.”
