The Duke and the Spinster_Clean Regency Romance by Arietta Richmond

Author:Arietta Richmond [Richmond, Arietta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamstone Publishing
Published: 2018-07-18T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Juliana breathed a sigh of relief when she slipped unnoticed back into the parlour. She stepped to the side, where she was sheltered by a convenient potted palm, and searched out her mother and sister. They were in a group of women on the other side of the room, obviously completely absorbed in the conversation. She wondered if they had even noticed her absence at all.

Sighing, she moved quietly across the room towards them, conscious, as she did so, of the faint sound of the door behind her. A small smile crossed her lips. The Duke was true to his word. Now that she considered it, after seeing the disgust on his face when she had explained Lady Prudence’s words about him, she wondered how she could ever have doubted him.

She reached her mother, and nothing changed – no acknowledgement of her presence. Perhaps that was for the better. The conversation around her was all of fashion, and of the eligible gentlemen that the younger women thought worthy of consideration. From Juliana’s point of view, totally boring.

Still, boredom was better than being trapped by such as Lord Fondleton. She had no wish to ever be in such a situation again. After a short while, the Duke approached the group of ladies, greeting those he knew, and finding himself rapidly introduced to the rest. The degree to which the girls almost fell over themselves to stand before him was rather pathetic.

Juliana’s eyes met his, and she suddenly felt overheated, her cheeks flushed. There was such warmth in his eyes. She looked away. She was being foolish again. Just because he had rescued her, did not mean that he cared for her. She was in no way a suitable match for a Duke. The next hour or more was rather torture, for he stayed talking to them, or close by, the whole time. Her eyes followed him, despite her best intention to look away. She was grateful that he was doing as he had promised, yet wished herself away, for watching him without being able to truly speak with him was far harder than she had expected.

Finally, the evening was drawing to a close. Juliana realised that she needed the ladies retiring room, before they set off back to Hardcastle House, or she would be extremely uncomfortable in the carriage. She excused herself, and went through the connecting rooms to the correct room. It was empty, and the moment of quiet was a relief after the chatter outside. She quickly did what she needed to, and was about to leave the room when the door opened.

Lady Prudence. Juliana stiffened, and went to brush past her, but the woman put out a hand to stop her.

“Lady Juliana. I wanted to speak to you. It appears to me that you did not take my friendly warning seriously. You really should have done so.”

There was an edge to the woman’s voice that made Juliana shiver. When Juliana did not respond, Lady Prudence went on.

“If

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