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,