The Third Duke's the Charm by Emma Wildes Read Free Book Online

his first coherent thought.
    And he fully realized with a slight shock just how much the reckless suggestion that they run off together had changed his life.

Chapter Four
    Being dragged off to London was just the gloomy beginning, she knew it. Her mother insisted she needed if not an entire new wardrobe, then at least some new gowns and gloves, and of course, what Vivian despised the most, hats.
    Acquiring new gowns had not really been a satisfactory experience. Vivian knew her mother meant well, but she’d always selected the least flattering colors—because they were fashionable, of course—without regard to Vivian’s complexion and hair color. Then there was the lace, big swoops of it usually at the neckline, which her mother claimed enhanced her petite bosom but actually concealed she had any kind of figure at all.
    As a result, she tended to look frumpy, and Vivian was well aware of it. Her first season she’d argued in vain and then had given up.
    This afternoon she selected her plainest day dress, at least two seasons out of style but unadorned and a flattering blue, and set off with her maid on an afternoon call, not even telling her parents she was leaving. After all, she thought philosophically, she was an engaged woman and allowed some freedom as such. Besides, she was just visiting a friend.
    Lillian, she was happy to find, was at home. The newly married Mrs. Northfield greeted her with a warm hug. “Viv. I’m so glad to see you. Shall we chat in the garden? I think it is warm enough.”
    A good friend was worth her weight in gold. Vivian always felt more at home around her precious plants and Lily knew it. “It is rarely too cold for me, you know that.”
    Lily linked her arm through hers and led the way toward the back of the house. Dryly, she said, “Yes, if there is a stray rose to be clipped or some other bit of foliage that needs attention you are outside attending to it no matter the weather.”
    “I am not the only one,” Vivian said somewhat defensively. “This is England, the land of the quintessential garden. I think it a perfectly sound hobby.”
    “It is.” Lily laughed. She was a beauty with rich brown hair and blue eyes, and last fall had married the Duke of Rolthven’s younger brother, though like Vivian, she had been considered on the shelf. “No need to explain yourself to me. I think it is marvelous you don’t just wish to discuss embroidery or the latest style in hats. I shudder over that type of inanity.”
    Hats again. What a dull subject.
    “Charles has eloped.” Vivian hadn’t meant to quite blurt it out that way, but she needed to talk to someone and Lily was a level-headed female and one of her best friends. “Er . . . I suppose this part of it is obvious, but with someone else.”
    Stopping in the middle of the path, her friend stared at her. “What? How could he do such a thing to you? You just became engaged.”
    With a shrug, Vivian said, “He was honest with me, and very much in love with the young lady whom I assume by now is his wife; and I certainly didn’t want him marrying me when he was so infatuated with someone else, so I encouraged it, actually. The engagement was never our idea in the first place.”
    There was a small stone bench in the sunshine and Lily took a seat in a swirl of fashionable muslin skirts as if her knees had gone weak. “So you aren’t devastated, I take it.”
    “Not by that.” Vivian sat down next to her and stared at a bank of early-blooming flowers, admiring the periwinkle color but only absently, which was quite telling. “There’s an unforeseen complication I did not anticipate.”
    “Such as?”
    Vivian looked up with a rueful smile. “You won’t believe it.”
    “You
are
acting rather strange and talking in circles.” Lily’s fine brows drew together. “I realize this means you won’t be getting married after all and your mother must be extremely disappointed, but—”
    “My mother is delighted.”
    Lily