Along Came a Duke by Elizabeth Boyle Read Free Book Online

exasperation that Hen was exhibiting. “He needs a fat purse to fill his coffers.”
    â€œWell, he won’t be ‘poor Kipps’ then, will he?” Preston tried to quip, but his jest fell on deaf ears. Unfortunately, like the thud of his joke, he felt his own future close around him like a pair of leg-shackles.
    â€œIt is no laughing matter,” Henry said. “It’s that or debtor’s prison for him.”
    â€œYou have ruined us with this escapade, Preston,” Hen said, resuming her seat and staring him straight in the eye. Her usually affable blue gaze was deep and serious. “Every tongue in Town is blaming us for Kipps’s fall. Have you noticed that the doorbell hasn’t rung once this morning? The salver sits empty.”
    â€œHardly empty,” Preston corrected. “I just came in and it was buried with letters.”
    Henry’s face turned red and he began to bluster. “Because you and that idiot went and placed that demmed advertisement—”
    Hen stopped her brother with a wave of her hand. “Preston, there are no invitations arriving—not even from the few mushrooms who would dare to presume. The only scrap I have received this week was to inform me that my vouchers for the Season had been revoked. I am banned from Almack’s! Me!” The lady reached for her handkerchief.
    Preston knew it wasn’t to douse tears, for Hen never cried. Still, here was his aunt, making a great show of dabbing at something in her eyes.
    â€œYou don’t even like Almack’s,” he reminded her.
    â€œWhat has that got to do with anything?” she said. “No respectable family wants to be associated with you, with us.” There it was again, that dramatic pose with the handkerchief stuffed to her supposedly quivering lip.
    But as he looked closer, he could see Hen was truly distressed, and something in his chest clenched into a knot.
    The same sort of knot that had had him driving his carriage into an oak to avoid a flock of geese and dragging home strays he found on his meanderings.
    Demmit! His aunt knew him too well.
    And to that end, Henry picked up where his sister had stopped. “Hen and I have discussed this and are in agreement that the only thing that will save us all is for you to take a wife.”
    â€œWhy don’t you go out and find a wife,” Preston suggested just as Henry was taking a sip of his tea.
    â€œI think you and Roxley already took care of that,” Hen said with a wry, disapproving shake of her head.
    Lord Henry sputtered a bit. “Your wretched advertisement has brought out every spinster and lonely heart within a hundred miles of London.”
    Preston looked from one to the other. “Advertisement?”
    His uncle’s brow rose into an imperious arch. “The one you and Roxley penned?”
    This time it was Preston’s turn to sputter a bit. Oh. That advertisement.
    The duke leaned over and nudged his uncle in the ribs. “Don’t like the bit, but you are more than happy to see me saddled, eh, Henry? Besides, you’re six months older than I, so it only seems right that you dip your toe in first. You should be thanking me. I’ve done you the favor of fattening the pot.”
    He knew better than to push Henry too far, for the next time they met at Gentleman Jim’s, Preston was going to take a devil of a beating. As it was, Henry was rising to his feet, hands fisting.
    Perhaps he wasn’t going to have to wait . . .
    â€œPreston, this is hardly helping!” Hen told him. “You! Sit!” she ordered her brother.
    â€œIt is a matter of keeping the family together, you reckless fool,” Henry replied, even as he sat as his sister had bid. He might be able to pummel Preston in the boxing ring, but neither of them could out argue Hen. “I could marry, but then what? You’ll still be gadding about causing one reckless scandal after