To Challenge a Duke: Dangerous Dukes by Wendy Soliman

Author:Wendy Soliman [Soliman, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Lady Selby was in an exceptionally sour mood, casting constant accusatory glowers at Portia as the three ladies journeyed into the village that afternoon in one of the duke’s open landaus conveyed by two matching greys. The weather continued to cooperate, and Portia would have enjoyed the luxury of the carriage and the curious, respectful glances cast their way as they entered the village itself but for her ladyship’s fit of pique. She wondered what she had done this time to create so much hostility.

Portia glanced at Emily, who rolled her eyes and sighed when her mother’s attention was diverted. When a dark mood took her ladyship, Emily and Portia had learned to steer clear of her. But there was no possibility of doing so on this occasion, and an excursion that would ordinarily have consumed Portia’s charge with excitement would instead be spoiled by her mother’s sullenness. New clothing had been in short supply due to lack of funds up to now, and the prospect of an entirely new wardrobe was, Portia knew, about the only aspect of Emily’s forthcoming season that did not fill her with dread.

Portia wondered why the duchess hadn’t accompanied them. Had she done so, the account would presumably have been sent to Hamilton Hall as a matter of course. Portia had admired the duchess’s manner of outwitting her sister without giving offence. Being relegated to a country modiste rather than consulting with the fashionable French London-based lady — the modiste of choice to the aristocracy — whom she had set her heart on, confidently expecting her sister to foot the bill, was probably the underlying reason for Lady Selby’s dissatisfaction. She would not now be able to boast to her friends that her daughter had been dressed by the best of the best. However, Portia reasoned, if she had her way and Emily married the duke then the expense of an entire new wardrobe for just one season would have been unnecessary.

‘It really is a lovely part of the world,’ Portia said, attempting to ease the heavy tension that prevailed within the carriage despite the roof being folded down. ‘We must definitely explore it on horseback tomorrow, Emily, if you do not have other plans.’

‘I should love that above all things.’

‘I cannot permit it if the weather is still this warm,’ Lady Selby declared. ‘Miss Heston may do as she sees fit, but I will not have you risk your delicate complexion, my love.’

The implication that Portia’s complexion was beyond redemption amused rather than offended her. ‘If we ride before the sun is fully up then we should avoid that unfortunate possibility,’ she said calmly.

‘Emily needs her rest. I will not have her gallivanting around like a common peasant before the sun has even risen.’

Emily sent Portia an apologetic look. She would not argue with her mama, Portia knew, even though she disagreed with her. Portia didn’t press the issue. She had arranged to ride with the duke at daybreak and was looking forward to the engagement far more than she had any right to.

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