The Duchess of Love by Sally Mackenzie Read Free Book Online

to take himself in hand, as it were, something he’d not resorted to since he was a lad.
    He folded the note and put it in his pocket. It appeared that he and Nigel had some business to conduct in Little Huffington tomorrow afternoon.

Chapter 4
    â€œCouldn’t you have left the book at home?” Venus looked over at her sister as they trudged down the hill to the village. How did Ditee manage to read and walk at the same time?
    â€œI’m at a very interesting part.” Ditee shot Venus an annoyed glance before she turned a page. “If you’ll remember, I didn’t want to come.”
    â€œEven Mama agreed your blue dress needed some new ribbon to brighten it up.”
    Ditee snorted. “That dress is perfectly fine the way it is. There’s no need to waste time and money fussing with it.”
    â€œDitee, that dress is five years old.”
    â€œSo? I can’t have worn it more than a handful of times.”
    Venus drew in a deep breath. She would not argue, but she couldn’t quite bite her tongue. “The white ribbons are yellowed with age.”
    Why couldn’t Ditee be a little more aware of her appearance? She didn’t have to be clothes mad—that would be a mistake here in Little Huffington where the latest fashions were simply late, arriving two or three years after everyone in Town had moved on to other things—but a little interest wouldn’t go amiss. She was so beautiful; she would be completely without par if she’d cultivate just a modicum of fashion sense.
    Ditee’s eyes traveled to the next page. “No one is going to be studying my ribbons at this stupid gathering. Really, I don’t know why I have to go. I would be happier staying home.”
    Venus nodded at Mr. Pettigrew, the blacksmith, as they reached the village shops. “Perhaps, but even Papa said you must attend, Ditee.” She’d tried everything to convince Mama and Papa to go and drag Ditee with them after the invitation to the duke’s garden party had arrived this morning. She’d even pointed out Papa’s living as vicar might be dependent on getting into the duke’s good graces; Greycliffe could certainly decide to install someone else if he chose, and then where would they be? It was just an accident she’d mentioned Mr. Valentine.
    She frowned down at her sturdy walking shoes. Why hadn’t Mr. Valentine told her he’d written to Papa? She kicked a stone that was careless enough to be lying in her path and sent it shooting ahead of them. Once she’d mentioned his name, Papa’s face had lit up. He’d told Ditee she had to meet Mr. Valentine, who was apparently quite a Latin scholar. Of course, Papa didn’t know the man was also young and marriageable; he only cared that he was interested in the classics.
    Ditee was supposed to be matched with the duke, not Mr. Valentine, but what did it matter? A husband was a husband, and if Mr. Valentine was more appropriate, so be it.
    Venus felt very disgruntled.
    â€œYou don’t happen to have a pencil and a scrap of paper, do you?” Ditee asked.
    â€œOf course not. Why in the world would I?”
    Ditee shrugged. “I didn’t think you would; I merely hoped you might. I would have brought them myself if I hadn’t had to hurry out of the house.”
    â€œYou didn’t hurry anywhere. I had to hound you for the last half hour to get you to leave.”
    Ditee sniffed. “There you have it. If you hadn’t been badgering me, I would have thought to bring them myself. Now I have nothing to make a note on.”
    â€œLikely Mr. Fenwick will have paper and pencil in his shop.”
    Ditee’s face lit up. “Of course! I’ll—oh!” She’d quickened her steps just as a man came out of Mr. Whitcomb’s snuff and spirits shop. She ran full into him, throwing up her hands to brace herself on his chest and dropping her book to the