How to Dazzle a Duke (3 page)

the marital dance. He wants you to marry well, I assume, so he

can have no qualms about your seeking aid from someone reliably

able to induce events to take the required turn, can he?”

“Can’t he?” Miss Prestwick asked in answer, her dark eyesglittering in suspicion. “Do you want something of my father,

Lady Dalby? I can assure you that he has nothing you might

want.”

How to Daz zle a Duke

13

Charming. This was going to be a pure delight.

“But, darling,” Sophia cooed, “that is flatly untrue. I’ve yet to

meet a man who has
nothing
I might want. I want so very many

things, you see, and yet not a one of them a duke, at least for a

husband, so we shall not be in any competition on any item that

truly matters. A most important point for allies in arms, wouldn’t

you agree?”

“In arms, Lady Dalby?” Miss Prestwick said with a sharp

smile. “Shall it come to that?”

“Dukes do not come easily, Miss Prestwick, and very rarely

do they come willingly.”

“Perhaps I will surprise you and be the exception, Lady

Dalby.”

“Darling, you are already the exception, and perfectly de

lightful because of it. Now, shall we not trade your exceptional

qualities for a dukedom? Is that not a fair trade?”

“And what shall we trade for your aid, Lady Dalby? What

does Prestwick have that you could want?”

“He’s a man, darling. He must have
something
.”

“He has no wife, Lady Dalby,” Miss Prestwick said stiffl y,

rearranging herself slightly.

Sophia laughed lightly, nearly mockingly. “Darling, can you

possibly be insinuating that I am in need of a husband? And your

father that fortunate man?”

Miss Prestwick said nothing. She did not look pleased, though

neither did she look entirely insulted. Such a remarkably com

posed girl. Would it even take a week to see her married to her

duke? How to get the bet on White’s book was the question. She

had quite used up the Marquis of Penrith’s usefulness there.

Oh well, there was always some man or other to do whatever a

woman required of him, which was really so pleasant of them.

“I merely made an observation, Lady Dalby, not an insinua

tion. You do not wish to marry?”

14 CLAUDIA DAIN

“I have married, Miss Prestwick. Once is suffi cient.”

“I daresay I do agree with you there, Lady Dalby. Done well,

once should be more than suffi cient.”

A heart like a diamond, had Miss Prestwick. Quite a rarity in

any woman possessed of less than thirty years, and not even

common in women above forty. Of men and the softness of their

hearts, it was nearly impossible not to be crass and observe that

they were entirely both more romantic and more self-serving

than should have been possible. Which brought her thoughts

round to the Viscount Prestwick again.

“Miss Prestwick, I hope I shall not embarrass you by remark

ing that you are quite the most sophisticated woman of your

years and station that I have had occasion to meet. It is such a

relief to know that some women are still capable of being both

reasonable and well-informed about the state of things in general

and men in particular.”

“Thank you, Lady Dalby,” Miss Prestwick replied cordially.

“I have observed that there is far too much emotional distur

bance and far too little intellectual calculation in Society. I fear

that makes me unusual to an unpleasant degree.”

“By being unique? Hardly. But who has implied this is an

unpleasant condition? Not the viscount.”

“Not precisely the viscount,” Miss Prestwick said, squirming

just a bit on her seat. “More a general impression from those I

converse with.”

“Such as dukes and heirs apparent?” Sophia asked.

“Such as, Lady Dalby,” Miss Prestwick admitted with a sol

emn expression.

“On the occasion of your remarkable ball during which your

remarkable roses were damaged?”

“On that occasion, yes,” Miss Prestwick said. “But this does

not bring us round to what you want of my father, Lady Dalby. I

can’t think that he would have anything you could want.”

How to Daz zle a Duke

15

“You would likely be surprised at what I can want, Miss Prest

wick. I am nearly certain your father can satisfy me.”

If she said it with a certain suggestive overtone, she must be

excused for it. Teasing Miss Prestwick was entirely too delightful

as the girl was so artfully composed. One could not but wonder

what, or whom, it would take to rattle her.

“Lady Dalby, if you could find satisfaction from Prestwick

and if it were in my power, I would place him entirely at your

disposal.”

Well. How very interesting.

“A gracious offer, Miss Prestwick. Have Lord Prestwick drop

round tomorrow, will you? I shall certainly be at home for him.”

Miss Prestwick lifted her head, took a shallow breath, and nod

ded. Such a completely remarkable girl. Sophia had not the

smallest doubt that she’d make a duchess who would be remem

bered for a full century, at the very minimum. “Now then, as you

so kindly offered Lady Amelia your shawl at your memorable

ball, and as it has become something of a talisman for scandal,

which is absurd as any method required to bring a man to heel

is bound to require some small particle of scandal, it would be

such a lovely display of friendship and concern if you should

decide to give Lady Amelia your shawl, torn so violently upon

your roses at your ball, so that it not fall into other, less generous

hands and increase the scandal. Though, I do admit to some

small bias as to the size of a scandal. Can a scandal ever be too

large? Not in my opinion. They can, however, be too small to do

anyone any good at all. Would you not agree, Miss Prestwick?”

Miss Prestwick smiled and said, “I confess to have not given

scandal, its breadth or scope, very much thought at all, Lady

Dalby. As you have done so, I will take your instruction upon its

merits to heart.”

“Miss Prestwick, you are entirely remarkable, and I am not in

the habit of making such pronouncements. You will do exceed

16 CLAUDIA DAIN

ingly well and, I daresay, have all your plans and wishes bear the

desired fruit.”

Penelope Prestwick’s dark eyes gleamed with suppressed joy,

and she said, “I expected nothing less, Lady Dalby, having

come to you for aid. Now, you wish me to deliver my torn shawl

to Lady Amelia? I shall do so. Indeed, I had attempted to do so

during the Duke of Aldreth’s At Home, but could not fi nd the

opportunity.”

“No, I should think not, what with the Earl of Cranleigh drag

ging darling Amelia into the mews and having his delicious way

with her. Such an unexpected display, was it not?”

“Was it?” Miss Prestwick countered, holding Sophia’s gaze.

“The Duke of Aldreth did not seem either exceptionally surprised

or displeased, which must also be said of Cranleigh’s parents, the

Duke and Duchess of Hyde. Quite remarkable behavior for par

ents to display when their children are behaving so scandalously.

But you are friends with both the Hydes and with Aldreth, are

you not? That was my impression.”

“Your impressions, Miss Prestwick, are quite on the mark,

which does commend you. There is very little that a woman

needs beyond the ability to observe very carefully what occurs

before her very eyes. It is a continual surprise to me that so few

women, and indeed men, are able to see what is right in front of

them. Now, in that vein, you certainly have observed the men

whom must make up your list of potential husbands. Whom do

you prefer?”

“Lady Dalby, I have no preference. I do not know the gentle

men well enough to have formed one.”

Sophia raised her brows and considered Penelope. “Is that

possible, Miss Prestwick? Surely a woman is able to form a pref

erence for the simplest item almost instantly. How not with

a man?”

How to Daz zle a Duke

17

“I may form an instant preference for a hat, Lady Dalby, but

a husband is a far more serious acquisition. I am not in favor of

either haste or carelessness.”

“And of course, one always does try the hat on. Not every hat

suits every face, does it, Miss Prestwick?”

Penelope Prestwick raised her own dark brows and said,

“I have very many hats, Lady Dalby. I am quite adept at fi nd

ing ones which flatter me. And if they do not, I adjust them until

they do.”

“I’m certain you do, Miss Prestwick,” Sophia said, smiling.

“Shall I take you at your word, then? Any man? The choice to

lie completely with me?”

“If he is a duke or an heir apparent, Lady Dalby, I should

think myself very much a fool not to leave the choice with you.

You shall, I have been convinced by observation, make the

choice for me in any regard. Why not dispense with the folly that

I am in control of this? Having come to you, I leave all the details

in your capable hands.”

“Miss Prestwick, if England produced even one hundred

women of your caliber, it would be an entirely different country

indeed, and much the better for it, I assure you. Now,” Sophia

said, rising to her feet, “you will want to make your way to Hyde

House to deliver that badly torn shawl to Lady Amelia. It will do

much to recommend you to her and to the men of that house. If

you do not tarry, you can arrive in good time.”

“The men of that house?” Miss Prestwick said in a slightly

raised tone. “Are you recommending Lord Iveston, Lady Dalby?”

“He is an heir apparent, is he not?”

Miss Prestwick, having stood in response to Sophia’s rise to

her feet and unable to keep herself from following Sophia’s obvi

ous lead in directing her to the door into the hall, was neverthe

less obviously reluctant to leave before the Duke of Edenham’s

18 CLAUDIA DAIN

arrival. The darling girl, quite uncommonly practical, was still

disposed to seek her own way, which was also quite practical of

her. Sophia didn’t fault her in the least.

“Yes,” Penelope said slowly.

“And you would prefer a duke in the full and luxurious

possession of his title? Such as the lovely Duke of Edenham?”

Sophia asked.

Miss Prestwick blushed lightly. It looked most becoming

on her.

“He is most eligible, is he not?” Penelope asked in response.

“You are not afraid of his reputation? He has had three wives

previously, which has resulted in some perfectly ridiculous

rumors about his tendency to kill off the women who share

his bed.”

“
Ridiculous
is the word,” Penelope sniffed, pulling at her left

glove. “Women die in childbed every day. I hardly see that the

duke should be held accountable for ill health and a weak con

stitution.”

“You are formed of hardier stuff?”

“Most certainly,” Penelope Prestwick huffed.

“Miss Prestwick,” Sophia said with a smile, “I do believe you.

However, I do think that a visit to Hyde House is the thing to do

at this moment.” Miss Prestwick hesitated, even though Freder

icks had opened the door and every physical indication was that

the entire staff of Dalby House was encouraging her to the door

onto Upper Brook Street.

“
At this moment?
Is this a ploy of sorts, Lady Dalby? Something

to intrigue the Duke of Edenham?”

Sophia smiled and drew a deep breath before answering.

“Darling, most men require ploys of various sorts. Even dukes.

In point of fact, dukes more than any other sort of man. They are

so very accustomed to achieving their every desire at every con

ceivable opportunity and not a few inconceivable ones. Do you

How to Daz zle a Duke

19

not think it would intrigue them to be made to pause, even to

stumble, if only for a moment?”

“I confess to have given it no thought,” Penelope said. “But I

suppose it makes sense, in a rather peculiar fashion. The lure of

the unique, Lady Dalby? Is that what you’re suggesting?”

“I am, darling, and you are the ideal woman to carry it off to

perfection. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“I would,” she said, lifting her delightful little chin. “Then I

shall make for Hyde House, engage Lord Iveston’s attention if at

all possible, whilst you meet with the Duke of Edenham and . . .

what are you to do with the Duke of Edenham, Lady Dalby?”

“Why, entertain him, darling, as innocently as I possibly can.

You truly have no preference? No hidden longing for Edenham

over, say, Calbourne, or the intriguing Lord Iveston?”

Miss Prestwick fixed Sophia with a very direct look and

answered, “Lady Dalby, I shall fix my longing upon the man you

can best arrange, have no doubt about it. Good day.”

“Good day, Miss Prestwick,” Sophia said with a bemused

smile.

Three

PENELOPE exited Dalby House as slowly as she could without

looking ridiculous. Even so, she still managed to miss the arrival

of the Duke of Edenham. No matter what she had told Sophia