Delighting the Duke (Dukes Done Wrong Book 4) by Alexa Aston

Author:Alexa Aston [Aston, Alexa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2021-10-26T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Hart sat silently as Lawson, his valet, finished tying his cravat. Nerves filled him.

Tonight was the opening of the Season.

He dreaded it.

His London tailor had seen that Hart had the right clothes for each invitation issued to him. He had replied affirmatively to all events during the first two weeks, not knowing which ones Olivia might be attending. Word had passed among the ton that Lady Olivia Knight was staying with the Duke and Duchess of Haverhill, her dear friends, so Hart assumed she had received her fair share of invitations. He would have asked her—if he had ever seen her long enough to speak with her.

Ever since their outing to Gunter’s, Olivia had made herself scarce. He hated that those two judgmental women had forced her to retreat like a turtle into its shell. At least where he was concerned. From what he gathered, she did go on various outings with her friends, which relieved him. When he came to tea, however, she seemed to have a letter to write or some other excuse to leave. He received a polite smile from her and then she retreated from the room.

Once, he had slipped away from tea and found her in the nursery playing with Sam. He had stood in the doorway, a lump in his throat, seeing how right she looked with a babe in her arms. Clearing his throat, he told the nursery governess he had come up to take a quick peek at Sam. Olivia had smiled graciously and handed the baby over—and then left the room. Hart couldn’t even enjoy his time with Sam because he longed to talk with her.

Would she try to avoid him tonight?

“There, Your Grace,” said Lawson, nodding his approval.

“Thank you,” he said. Glancing in the full-length mirror, he added, “I am glad you know how to put the right items together to make me look this good. As an army officer, I never had to worry about what to put on. It was my uniform every single day.”

“England is grateful for your service, Your Grace,” said the valet. “I hope you have a fine time tonight.”

“That remains to be seen,” he grumbled.

“Oh, Your Grace, you most certainly will. You are a duke of the realm and the most eligible bachelor of this Season.”

Hart frowned. “How do you know so much about the Season?”

Lawson smiled. “The network of servants who trade in gossip is vast. If you have need of knowing anything about any young lady you might be interested in, merely ask me. I can have that information for you within a day or two. If you find a lady physically attractive, I can ascertain for you if she is amiable and kind, either with her peers or her servants. Frankly, Your Grace, I believe the way a member of Polite Society treats her servants says a great deal about her. Especially if she is suitable to be your duchess.”

Hart thought Lawson quite bold for a servant but he agreed and said, “What do you know of Lady Olivia Knight? Her father is Lord Rivers and her cousin a Mr.

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