Diamonds & Deceit by Leila Rasheed Read Free Book Online Page A

exasperating—oh, there goes the countess. She’ll shake her off.”
    “And bring him over here, I hope.”
    Indeed, Rose saw that the countess had managed to detach the tenacious Ethel Berridge and was coming toward them with the force and determination of a jockey heading for the Grand National finish. The duke, though a head taller than she was, had no chance of resisting. He looked thoroughly annoyed. Suddenly Rose found herself in his gaze, and, taken by surprise, did not instantly look away. It could only have been a second in which their eyes met, but she felt heat touch her cheeks as if as if tinder had met flint.
    Rose looked away swiftly. She hadn’t meant to draw his attention, and she was annoyed that she had done so. Now the story of the housemaid turned lady would scamper around the ballroom once again—only this time it would be of the housemaid turned fortune hunter.
    “Charlotte!” the countess announced as she reached them. She was glowing with sapphires and self-satisfaction. “Alexander left our little party so quickly that I hadn’t the chance to bring you together. But of course you remember each other. Alexander, I’m sure you know Lady Gertrude, Lady Emily, Lady Cynthia—and this is Lady Rose.”
    Rose looked down with a wry smile while Lady Gertrude and Lady Cynthia twittered greetings. The countess might as well have inserted the word unfortunately in front of her name. She looked up and was disconcerted to see that he was still looking at her and would have seen her smile. He, on the other hand, looked as likely to smile as Buckingham Palace itself. She quickly glanced down again, playing with the tassel on her fan. A man with no sense of humor, how dull, she thought. But his eyes were deep green, dappled with gold like a sunlit forest.
    “I must congratulate you on your recent marriage, Lady Westlake,” the duke said. His voice was low and serious. His eyes fell on Charlotte, and his momentary look of confusion was quickly replaced by composure. “And of course I remember Charlotte very well.”
    “Yes, our first season was delightful, wasn’t it?” Charlotte’s eyes sparkled from behind her fan. “I particularly remember that Saturday-to-Monday at Gravelley Park—they have such a fine collection of Oriental vases. I did enjoy sketching them.”
    Rose was startled enough to look up from her fan. Charlotte, she was sure, would not notice an Oriental vase unless one hit her on the head. But Charlotte looked perfectly innocent, smiling sweetly at the duke.
    “They certainly do,” he replied with an answering smile. “Lord Fintan’s home is delightful.”
    “It’s such a pity he doesn’t invite you more frequently. But then Laurence is a peacock who likes the stage to himself.”
    “Do you think we are rivals?” He glanced back at the floor where Fintan and Ada danced, gazing into each other’s eyes.
    “I think you were once.” Charlotte’s tone was almost flirtatious. Lady Gertrude and Lady Cynthia exchanged glances.
    The duke looked at her blankly, then, with a hint of embarrassment, said: “I must admit that my last London season is a…little hazy in my memory.”
    “Oh, I remember it very well.” Charlotte smiled behind her fan, her eyes sparkling.
    “Indeed?”
    Rose was amused to hear the duke sounding quite nervous. He looked over Charlotte’s shoulder, directly at Rose. Before she could do anything but blush and wish she were elsewhere, he said, “Lady Rose, are you engaged for this dance?”
    There was an outraged rustle as all the women swung to face Rose. Rose found herself speared on at least three fierce gazes.
    “Oh, Lady Rose doesn’t dance ,” Lady Gertrude said with a high-pitched giggle.
    “No?” The duke did not look away from Rose’s face.
    “No indeed. She has rather more practical accomplishments.” Lady Cynthia fluttered her fan.
    For the first time Rose had seen him, the duke looked intrigued. “I see. Are you political, Lady Rose?