The Wild Duchess/The Willful Duchess (The Duchess Club Book 1)

The Wild Duchess/The Willful Duchess (The Duchess Club Book 1) by Renee Bernard Read Free Book Online Page B

Book: The Wild Duchess/The Willful Duchess (The Duchess Club Book 1) by Renee Bernard Read Free Book Online
Authors: Renee Bernard
explanations. I think there’s a law against doing that, Scarlett.”
    Scarlett crossed her arms defensively, unwittingly making a perfect impression of her father whenever he felt cornered. “What else would you like to know?”
    “Which duke asked you to dance? How did it happen? And why aren’t you giddy about this? Why do you suddenly look so guilty?” he offered. “I’d start with those questions and be quite satisfied.”
    “I do not look guilty! I am trying to be disciplined and alter the perception that I am a silly girl.”
    “No one has that perception of you, Scarlett Blackwell. Stop trying to deflect the topic at hand,” Starr chimed in from her perch. “Answer Paul.”
    Scarlett gave her twin a cutting look. “Whose side are you on?”
    “Are there sides?” Starr asked innocently batting her eyelashes. “Oh, my.”
    “Careful. I’ll tell Mother it was you who danced with the Duke of Chesterton and a simple case of mistaken identity and then whose side are you going to be on?”
    Starr laughed. “I yield! I yield!”
    “I was not a great social success but while I was lamenting in the conservatory that it should be against the law to set ones sights too high, the Duke of Chesterton came upon me and was very kind. He meant only to cheer me up and that is all,” Scarlett said then smiled. “Though the assumption of a romance doesn’t harm either of us and I’ve cheerfully agreed not to publicly correct anyone if they make such a leap of misguided logic.”
    “Oh, dear.” Paul’s brow furrowed with concern. “If there’s a scheme, don’t say more. I want to be able to plead ignorance convincingly when I’m interrogated later.”
    “You should come out with us, Paul. You can keep a brotherly eye out for trouble and I know your mother would love to see you in an evening coat.” Scarlett took his hands into hers. “You might even fall in love, Parson.”
    “No, thank you. I’m about to start work with your father and I am in no position to pursue anyone. Besides, I’m trying to picture what young lady in society is going to delight in the attentions of the offspring of an East End firefighter and my imagination is coming up strangely empty-handed.” Paul laughed. “My time will come, Scarlett, but I’ve no desire to put one toe inside some overcrowded salon and run a gauntlet of gossips. I had my fill of my so-called betters at school and I do not wish to meet their sisters. I would rather be soundly beaten with clubs.”
    “You sound like Starr. She deliberately lost her dance card to avoid the crush.”
    “Which availed me nothing after Scarlett’s conquest. I was besieged with dance partners.” Starr pulled a face. “My feet may never recover.”
    “Are you in love, Scarlett?” Paul asked. “With your duke?”
    Starr sighed and spared her sister the effort to answer. “She is not. He was father’s age, though very nice. I thought him dashing but I don’t think he is what she was imagining for a beau.”
    “Don’t be so unkind!” Scarlett picked up another bonnet, the distraction of ribbons and feathers useless in the moment. “Here, come put this one on and let’s see if we cannot salvage it before I am forced to just buy something new.”
    “You are hardly in need of a new bonnet,” Starr said.
    “Nonsense! A woman can never have too many.” Scarlett placed the piece on his head then tipped it to a saucy angle.
    “Says who?” Starr asked.
    “Says your father,” Paul supplied. “And well you both know it.”
    Daisy, their mother’s lady’s maid, interrupted from the open doorway, “Poor Paul! Working for Mr. Blackwell as he does—I don’t think assisting you with millinery nonsense is part of his duties, you wicked girls!” Daisy gently nudged Scarlett aside and pulled the bonnet off his brown curls. “There you are. Dignity restored, young Master Paul.”
    “Thank you, Daisy.”
    “You mustn’t let them bully you into these things.”
    “I

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