Desperate for a Duke by Dayna Quince

Author:Dayna Quince
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dayna Quince

Heather sat beside Fallon in an open landau. Bundled against the chill and laps covered with blankets, the five passengers sat in silent awkwardness as they rolled toward Hyde Park.

Violet rolled her eyes and huffed.

“Speak your peace, Miss Violet,” Fallon chuckled. He was determined to get to know his soon-to-be family. Hopefully, that would help him reach Heather again.

“This seems a bit moronic.” Violet shivered. “It’s too cold to be out like this for the sake of being seen.”

“I agree,” Prim said mutinously.

“Such delicate little flowers. Shall we put the top up?” Fallon teased.

“Let’s return home,” Prim begged.

Fallon looked around the group of ladies. Heather may as well have been carved from stone, Lady Everly looked as rigid as an icicle, and the younger Everlys looked fit to freeze, even if only for dramatic effect.

“What would you like to do, Miss Everly? Shall we abandon the park?”

Heather only shrugged.

Fallon withheld a beleaguered sigh. “You know, where I live in Scotland, it gets so cold that a bubble will freeze in the air.”

“That’s preposterous!” Prim giggled.

“Are you calling me a liar?” Fallon growled in mock anger.

“I will believe it when I see it.”

“I swear, here and now, that I will show you a bubble can freeze in midair, Miss Prim.”

“Where do you live?” Violet asked.

“Aberdeenshire.”

“What’s it like?” Prim asked with excitement.

“It’s a tad medieval. For a boy growing up, its paradise.”

“You grew up in Scotland?” This came from Lady Everly.

Fallon smiled. He felt the touch of Heather’s eyes on his face, but he didn’t look her way. “Up until the moment I entered England to attend the Endervale house party. I’ve never had a reason to leave until now.” That was met with silence.

“But you don’t have a Scottish burr,” Violet said skeptically.

Fallon grinned, and in the comforting burr that was so natural to him, he replied, “I had a very English tutor.”

There were gasps of delight from the younger Everlys.

“It will be up to us to show His Grace the delights of London. Where should we begin?” Lady Everly smiled.

“Gunter’s,” Violet decreed

“It’s too cold for ices,” Prim argued.

“But not for tea and scones, and we will be seen, and more importantly, warm.”

“That is a wonderful idea, Violet,” Lady Everly agreed. “Driver? Take us to Gunter’s.”

The younger Everlys clapped in approval as the landau changed direction. Fallon glanced at Heather from the corner of his eye, but she was studiously looking in the opposite direction. A thick blanket covered her legs and kept them from touching. As the carriage turned a corner, Fallon pressed his thigh against hers.

“My apologies.” He smiled at her when she sharply turned to look at him. He retreated, giving her space, as she turned away from him again. He almost sighed in defeat, but upon closer inspection, he saw the flush of red spread up her neck and ears. So, she wasn’t immune to him. He had something on which to rebuild their relationship.

They arrived at Berkeley Square and entered Gunter’s Tea Shop. The aroma of

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