How to Entice an Enchantress by Karen Hawkins Read Free Book Online

day would never come. To be honest, it feels as if I’ve been looking forward to this event for most of my life.”
    The duchess looked pleased. “We feel the same, I assure you. I think you’ll enjoy our Christmas Ball. It’s much larger than our annual Winter Ball, which was our most festive occasion until Charlotte and I decided to expand our social calendar. It’s so expanded now that Roxburghe swears he cannot come home without finding the house full of people. He’s right; we’ve fairly packed the months with house parties and balls. But then, what’s a castle for, if not to entertain?”
    “All year long? That must be taxing.”
    “Charlotte and I find it quite worthwhile. All of ourballs have been huge successes—well, all except our Butterfly Ball, which we held last year but will not be doing again.”
    “Why not? Lily said it was lovely.”
    They reached the huge double doors and the duchess led the way through. “Your sister was being kind. For reasons I dare not explain for fear of making you shudder, Lady Charlotte and I’ve decided to never again— Ah! Charlotte, look who I found in the foyer.”
    A kindly looking woman came forward. Her fashionable gown of dove gray accented with heavy cream lace rustled as she walked, while the lace-trimmed mobcap perched upon her curls bounced with each step. Short and plump and beaming, she looked like a small, good-natured fairy. “Miss Balfour, what a pleasure!”
    “Lady Charlotte.” Dahlia dipped a curtsy. Just as she was rising, she caught sight of a tall figure behind Lady Charlotte, near the fireplace. The man stirred the fire with a brass-knobbed poker but, to her faint surprise, didn’t look around at her arrival. His lack of interest piqued hers.
    He was fashionably dressed, his broad shoulders and narrow waist well displayed by his fitted coat and breeches. Why was he here, waiting in the room the duchess had practically dragged her to? Could her grace think this gentleman could be a good suitor? Dahlia’s pulse quickened.
    Her grace’s gaze followed Dahlia’s to the stranger. The duchess frowned and, obviously impatient withthe gentleman’s lack of attention, she cleared her throat.
    The man finished banking the fire, apparently not in a hurry to heed the duchess’s hints. As she watched him, Dahlia had the oddest impression that he was hesitant to turn around. Perhaps he doesn’t wish to be presented as a suitor. Has the duchess forced him into this meeting?
    Her uncertainty grew until, just as he bent to replace the poker, she caught a glimpse of his profile. Her heart gave an odd leap. Before he turned to face her, she already knew what she’d see—the red slash of a jagged scar, marring a face of such masculine beauty that it was worthy of the best Greek tragedies.
    She was prepared for the scar. But what she wasn’t prepared for was the fashionably cut hair that made him look younger. Much younger. It made him seem like a new man, one she didn’t know at all.
    But know him she did, although she was astonished to see him here, dressed and pressed into a man of fashion.
    Before she could stop herself, she blurted out, “Lord Kirk, who invited you ?”

Three
    From the Diary of the Duchess of Roxburghe
    Lord Kirk has much to explain. Much. After hearing a few hard, cold facts from Miss Balfour, I’ve half a mind to refuse to assist him further. Fortunately for him, I enjoy a challenge, and this will be the biggest I’ve ever faced. I only wish he’d told us all to begin with . . .
    *   *   *
    As soon as the words left Dahlia’s lips, her face heated and she sent a hurried glance at the duchess. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude, but I never expected—” She gestured toward Lord Kirk, her onetime friend, long-time neighbor, and now, sworn enemy.
    “I daresay you are surprised,” Lady Charlotte offered kindly.
    “Very.”
    Kirk took up his cane from where it had been resting unnoticed by the fireplace and