The Courtesan's Wager by Claudia Dain Read Free Book Online

particular woman when there are so many other women available to him.”
    “I was under the firm impression that it was the man who did the choosing, Zoe.”
    “But of course you were, darling. Of course,” she said, very nearly laughing. “And you shall be under that impression again, once Sophia arranges everything beautifully for Amelia. Then you may go back to thinking whatever suits you. And doing whatever suits you. What does suit you, my dear?”
    Finally, a question he could answer without having to reason it out. Aldreth kissed her soundly, picked her up in his arms, and carried her to bed.

Five
    “ W E shall begin with Calbourne. He should do very nicely,” Sophia said to Amelia and Hawksworth, who stared, slack-jawed, at her.
    “But I thought you said that the Duke of Calbourne was more than, that is to say,” Amelia said, casting an uncomfortable glance at her brother, “was a bit more than a girl of my years and experience could . . . manage.”
    “But, darling, he is not more than I can manage and I shall be with you every moment,” Sophia said, smiling into her cup.
    “I hope I shall be pardoned for sounding as green as grass,” Hawksworth said with an idle air, “but how does one go about interviewing dukes, Lady Dalby? I’m quite certain I’ve never heard of it being done before.”
    “But of course it’s been done, Lord Hawksworth,” Sophia said. “The difference in this instance is that it will be done blatantly, which will make everything so much more interesting, not to mention more productive, don’t you agree?”
    Sophia clearly did not care if anyone agreed with her or not. Amelia, who had spent her life to date making certain that everyone found her eminently agreeable, found Sophia’s blunt approach remarkable. Sophia feared no one; on the contrary, most of the ton were careful not to annoy Sophia in the most minor fashion as it was well-known that she made a spectacular enemy.
    It was a skill, a trait, and a habit that Amelia believed had definite possibilities.
    “We shall begin immediately, shall we?” Sophia continued, again, not waiting for anyone to agree with her. It truly was a useful skill. She simply must acquire it at the earliest opportunity. “I am scheduled to dine with the Duke of Calbourne tonight. I shall simply include you in our party, Lady Amelia. Of course, I do think things would go more efficiently if you were not present, Lord Hawksworth. You understand, I am quite certain.”
    The fact that Sophia spoke with a knowing smile did nothing to lessen the impact of her suggestion. In point of fact, it was rather more alarming than not.
    “Unfortunately, I’m quite certain I do, Lady Dalby,” Hawksworth said, showing just the slightest bit of warmth. It was entirely unlike him, and it was rather sweet. “I can’t think that this could possibly be in Lady Amelia’s best interests. Certainly reducing her to that sort of awkward situation would add another layer of tarnish to her reputation in Town, and she can scarcely afford another layer, can she?”
    Dolt.
    “I’m not tarnished in the least, Hawks,” Amelia said stiffly. “My reputation is precisely as it should be—pristine. I am as pristine as it is possible for a woman of my years and station to be.”
    Which was nothing but the truth. She was twenty-one years old and quite as pristine as any normal twenty-one-year-old woman could be expected to be.
    “And it is quite obvious to anyone with eyes to see that you are exactly so, Lady Amelia,” Sophia said. “Pristine in the extreme.”
    It was most peculiar, but Sophia made being pristine sound like an insult when it was quite obviously nothing of the sort.
    “As bad as that, then?” Hawksworth drawled, looking at Amelia in what could only be described as pity.
    Before Amelia could draw breath to berate Hawks, almost completely past caring that Sophia Dalby would see her in a not entirely attractive light for doing so, and almost equally