How to Dazzle a Duke by Claudia Dain Read Free Book Online

the same things in him. He respected her,
    who she was and what she had accomplished, but he did not fear
    her. Very many people did. And they were right to do so.
    “There is very little point to having a dull secret, Edenham.
    It defeats the point entirely,” she said with a smile. “Shall I
    guess it?”
    Edenham left off his musings and chuckled, enjoying his ex
    changes with Sophia as he did with few others. “Guess? I’ve all
    but told you. The blanc de Chine cup is missing. Another price
    less porcelain from China in its place. Did Westlin give you this
    one, too?”
    Sophia grinned and said, “Darling, why should Lord Westlin
    give me anything more? He has given me his son, by way of my
    daughter. That is more than enough to satisfy me.”
    “You returned the porcelain to him then? It was worth a small
    fortune. I had no idea you were so generous. Certainly there isn’t
    a single rumor to that effect.”
    “It was worth a very large fortune, darling,” she said, taking
    a sip of her tea. “Let’s be honest about it. It was quite generous
    of me to return it, true, but then, the need for it had disappeared
    entirely. Caroline is to be the next Countess of Westlin, once
    dreary Lord Westlin dies. What need have I for a small cup?
    He was more than welcome to it, though I must confess he did
    seem surprised that I returned it to him. Perhaps he is the one
    who started the rumor that I am not generous? I certainly think
    it sounds like something he would do.”
    “You could have kept it. I’m quite surprised you didn’t,” he said,
    taking a swallow of tea, studying her across the rim of his cup.
    How to Daz zle a Duke
    37
    “Everything has its uses, darling, and when its use is fulfi lled,”
    she said softly, gazing serenely into his eyes, “why not be rid of
    it? I do enjoy a simple solution, don’t you?”
    Edenham smiled mildly and shook his head at her. “There
    is nothing simple about you, Sophia, and it is far too late to
    pretend so now. Are you going to tell me about this celadon
    vase or shall I be forced to place a wager on White’s book as to
    its origin?”
    “Why, it’s Chinese, Edenham, as you can plainly see,” Sophia
    teased. “As to who gave it to me, I don’t think I shall tell you.
    Keeping this a mystery to you is far more entertaining than tell
    ing you could possibly be. See what happens when you push too
    hard? All is denied you.”
    “Dear Sophia,” Edenham said, grinning like a boy, he was
    certain, “I can assure you that never in my life have I pushed too
    hard and been denied. Quite the contrary.”
    And it was on that rather ribald note that Sophia’s butler,
    Fredericks, entered the room and informed Sophia that she had
    a caller.
    Mr. George and Miss Penelope Prestwick were admitted
    nearly immediately. By the startled look on Fredericks’s face,
    they stood upon his very heels.
    “Miss Prestwick,” Sophia said serenely, “what a surprise to
    see you again so soon, but how lovely of you to have brought your
    darling brother along. Mr. Prestwick, you are looking marvelous.
    Quite recovered from the ball you hosted, obviously.”
    “I find myself hardly taxed at all, Lady Dalby,” Mr. Prestwick
    said cordially. “But then, I do think it is a woman’s domain to be
    overtaxed by social tides and streams, wouldn’t you agree?”
    “I most certainly would not,” Miss Prestwick said, fl ashing
    a dark look at her brother as she sat upon an elegantly propor
    tioned chair. Mr. Prestwick smiled cordially and sat in a matching
    chair next to her. “I can’t think how you came to such a conclu
    38 CLAUDIA DAIN
    sion, George, as I am not so fragile as that a ball would over
    whelm me. Wouldn’t you agree, Lady Dalby?”
    Sophia smiled as she poured out two more cups of tea and
    passed them gracefully to Mr. George and Miss Penelope Prest
    wick. “Miss Prestwick, I can’t think how anyone would ever
    conclude that you are the least bit fragile. Brothers,