Curiosity Killed the Duke (Dukes in Danger Book 8) by Emily E K Murdoch

Author:Emily E K Murdoch [Murdoch, Emily E K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-12-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

30 April 1811

“This is a mistake.”

“You’ve got to stop saying that,” hissed Samuel under his breath, though he couldn’t stop himself grinning in the dark of the carriage. “Someone might hear you. Someone might actually believe you.”

Even in the gloom, he could make out the glare Lulu shot him from the opposite side of the carriage.

His grin widened.

Because she was right. In a very real way, this was a mistake. This was a dangerous decision, one that could not only get him into a heap of trouble—not something he enjoyed at the best of times—but worse . . .

He could attract the ire of Lady Romeril.

Samuel shuddered in his greatcoat as his carriage rattled along the Edinburgh streets.

And yet, here he was. Doing the thing Lulu had told him, resolutely, she would not consider. She thought it far too foolish. Which was why, when he had pulled up outside her building not ten minutes ago, he had been half certain she would not come down.

He needn’t have worried. Lulu had already been standing on the pavement, waiting for him. That gold and black piped gown suited her even better in the darkness of the evening. It had been all Samuel could do not to pull her into his arms and—

“There’s still time to change your mind,” came Lulu’s soft words, breaking through his thoughts.

“Absolutely not.”

“You are perhaps the most radical man in the whole of Edinburgh, you do know that?” Lulu said conversationally, as the carriage started to slow. “I mean, you must be the only person who would consider this acceptable!”

“I haven’t the faintest idea what you mean,” Samuel said loftily, though he could not help but continue to smile. “I have received an invitation. I am expected.”

“You are expected,” Lulu pointed out, pulling her shawl closer around her shoulders. “Yes, the Duke of Chantmarle is very expected. I am sure Lady Romeril will be delighted to have you attend her ball. But a woman of low repute—”

Samuel winced.

He hated it when Lulu spoke of herself like that. So, she had fallen on hard times. She had found it difficult to survive and had made decisions many would consider unsavory.

Did he particularly like the fact that she had acted as a courtesan? No. But that wasn’t who Lulu was. It was something she had done, not an intrinsic part of her. And it was Lulu, all of her, that he wanted to accompany him tonight.

“Who is going to stop the Duke of Chantmarle attending Lady Romeril’s ball with his guest?” Samuel said aloud.

Even in the dark, he could almost hear the eye roll. He certainly heard the scoff.

“You are being purposely obtuse!”

“That I am,” Samuel said happily as the carriage drew to a stop just outside Lady Romeril’s Edinburgh residence. “Ready?”

Outstretching his hand, he saw Lulu was still not completely convinced of his plan.

And why should she be? Samuel had spent little to no time on it, after all. The moment Lady Romeril had declared—not invited, declared—that he

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