Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James Read Free Book Online Page A

it, the tendency bred true in both of us.”
    “Jemma has neglected to tel you that I am the only child of the Mad Marquess, to use the term the popular press prefers,”
    Roberta said. “So the ton wil have more hurdles than Jemma’s reputation to consider when it comes to my marriage.”
    His eyes widened. “You grow more fascinating by the moment. Do tel me a bit of poetry.”
    She scowled at him, and then relented. “My father’s letter to you, Jemma, takes the form of a poem in fourteen stanzas.”
    She opened her little knotting-bag and handed over her father’s letter.
    “It’s entitled ‘Epistle to a Duchess,’” Jemma said. Roberta watched her smile fade into a look of puzzlement. “I’m not sure I’m intel igent enough for poetry,” she said, final y.
    Which was a kind assessment. “It’s not a question of your intel igence,” Roberta said. “I’m afraid that Papa’s poetry is obscure in the extreme.”
    Damon took the poem. “This isn’t so bad. It ever was allow’d, dear Madam, Even from the days of father Adam . Wel , I don’t see much of difficulty here, Roberta. Such stuff is naught but mere tautology, ” he continued. “What’s tautology again? I can’t remember, if I ever knew. And so take that for my apology . He’s apologizing, Jemma.”
    “For what?”
    “For imposing his daughter upon your presence,” Roberta said firmly.
    Damon was stil reading ahead. “Here he’s talking about the solid meal of sense and worth, set off by the dessert of mirth . Very nice rhyme!”
    “Sometimes his poetry is quite good,” Roberta said with a flash of loyalty. “He’s writing an excel ent poem on David and Bathsheba, for example. One can real y understand what he’s describing.”
    “Wel , this poem ends with your most obedient, ” Damon said. “I think he’s asking you to bring out his daughter with al the pomp and circumstance Beaumont can afford, Roberta. My expert judgment.”
    Jemma took back the poem and puzzled at it for a moment. “But what’s the part about a rude ungrateful bear, enough to make a parson swear ?”
    “I find with Papa’s poems that it’s best not to devote oneself too strictly to meaning,” Roberta said.
    Damon let out a bark of laughter.
    “There is just one more thing that I should tel you,” Roberta said.
    Brother and sister turned to look at her. “Wait, don’t tel us,” Damon said, with his irresistible grin. “The family character bred true in you as wel , remote relative though you are. Let’s guess: You have a child—you, with such a young, innocent—”
    “No!” Roberta said.
    But before she could continue, he said, “Your turn, Jemma.”
    Jemma looked thoughtful. “At some time last year, you were at an inn. You gazed out of the window and were instantly struck by an ungovernable passion for my brother.”
    Roberta’s mouth fel open but Damon didn’t notice. “Very nice! Can you work Teddy into the picture?”
    “More than anything, Roberta wished to be a mother, but unfortunate circumstances have decreed that she wil have no children of her own, therefore Teddy wil become her most cherished possession.”
    Damon was laughing. “What about me? I want to be her most cherished possession.”

    Jemma turned to Roberta. “You must forgive us; it’s an old game that we—” She stopped. “You did see Damon last summer! And you fel in love with him? How very peculiar. Are you sure you wish to marry my brother? I can assure you that he’s terribly annoying.”
    Roberta started giggling. “No, I don’t wish to marry your brother!”
    “There’s no need to be quite so emphatic,” Damon observed. “I would quite like to marry you myself, although I see that I shal have to assuage my grieved heart elsewhere.”
    “But I saw something on your face,” Jemma said. “I’m sure—”
    “I went to a bal given by Lady Cholmondelay,” Roberta said hurriedly, getting over the rough ground as quickly as she could. “And I