To Desire a Duke: Dangerous Dukes Vol 8 by Wendy Soliman

Author:Wendy Soliman [Soliman, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-13T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Rachel had encouraged Brione to step outside when she claimed a need for fresh air. The real cause of her discontent probably had more to do with a combination of the poorly executed music assaulting their ears and the frequent speculative glances bestowed upon her by the gentlemen sauntering behind their chairs. Rachel knew that her friend would not be persuaded to take her place at the instrument. Her modesty was the first aspect of Brione’s character that had made Rachel want to get to know her better. They quickly established that they had much in common, not least the desire to laugh at the absurdities of the pretentious social elite.

Brione and Rachel were firmly and comfortably established within the ranks of the wealthy middle classes and were perfectly content with their situations. Brione occasionally remarked that she felt relieved not to have been born into an aristocratic family.

‘So many complicated rules,’ she had complained to Rachel earlier that day. ‘God forbid that I should use the wrong fork or accidentally address a person to whom I have not been introduced. Only imagine! The world would never recover.’

‘It must be exhausting for the upper classes to decide who is worthy of their attention,’ Rachel agreed, smiling. ‘At least we can converse with whomsoever we please without fear of letting the side down. There is a lot to be said for enjoying the freedom to be ourselves.’

‘What right does anyone have to decide that they are better than someone else simply due to an accident of birth?’ Brione frowned. ‘Surely it is what one does, how compassionate one instinctively feels towards the plight of the less fortunate, that defines a person’s true worth. I mean, a duke is born a duke. He has no choice in the matter. He hasn’t done anything to make himself better than the rest of us, and yet persons of that rank automatically assume they are superior to us lesser mortals, even if they turn out to be drunken despots with pockets to let.’

Rachel smiled. ‘Alford is not high in the instep,’ she said. ‘You must concede at least that much.’

‘I am barely acquainted with him,’ Brione replied, apparently reluctant to be mollified, ‘but I suppose he didn’t have me thrown out for snooping through his papers, which is a point in his favour.’

‘Of course it is,’ Rachel said, smiling. She was very curious to know what Brione really thought of the duke as a man but knew better than to press her on the point. ‘At least he fought for his king and country, leading by example, when he need not have taken the risk. That must be another point in his favour.’

‘Yes, I suppose so. Everyone says that he acted with little thought for his own safety or welfare. But even if he had stayed in a tent and issued orders through a third party, never exposing himself to danger, they would still say that he was a remarkable leader, simply to curry favour.

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