Laura Lee Guhrke - The Wicked Ways of a Duke

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M iss Prudence Bosworths opinion of the incident in question would prove somewhat different from that of the society papers, but during the evening itself, she was unaware of what the scandal sheet scribblers would have to say and too busy to care. The goings-on of dukes, depraved or not, was of no concern to her.

For weeks now, she and the seamstresses under her at Madame Marceaus had been frantically making up gowns for the fashionable young ladies coming to London for the season, and at the moment, one of those gowns had a hem in need of repair. If Lady Alberta Denville would only stand still.

Hurry up, Bosworth! Lady Alberta jerked impatiently at her skirt, ripping the blond silk away from the seed pearl trim in Prudences fingers, tearing the fabric in the process. Must you be so slow?

Prudence sat back on her heels, staring in dismay at this new damage to the gown. And shed been nearly finished. She pushed damp hair back from her forehead and reached into her sewing basket for her spool of gold thread and her scissors. I shall try to sew faster, my lady, she murmured, striving to maintain the air of humble, apologetic deference so necessary to her position.

You had best do more than try! The Duke of St. Cyres has engaged me for the next dance, and it could be the most important event of my life. Hes just returned from Italy, and hes looking to marry, you know.

Prudence didnt know and didnt much care. This ball was the first significant social event of the season, and the preparations of the past few days had been grueling, with little time for either food or rest. Missing meals she didnt mind so much. As the lead seamstress for a fashionable London dressmaker, she was acutely conscious of her plump figure, and was always making attempts to reduce its proportions. Sleep, however, was a different matter. She longed to go home to her cozy flat in Little Russell Street and crawl into bed, but knew rest was a good twelve hours away at least. Yes, my lady. Of course.

These subservient murmurs did not seem to placate Lady Alberta. The young lady heaved an aggravated sigh, folded her arms, and tapped one satin-slippered foot on the floor, fuming. I cannot believe this is happening to me. First, Sir George Laverton treads on my lovely dress and tears it, the clumsy oaf. And then I find myself saddled with the slowest seamstress in Madame Marceaus employ.

The seamstress in question decided she was saddled with the most odious debutante. Such a pity she couldnt say so. Prudence set her jaw, reminded herself that self-restraint helped to build ones character, and sewed as fast as she could.

If your ineptness causes me to miss this waltz and lose my chance with Rhys, the girl went on, Madame Marceau shall hear of it.

A pang of alarm shot through Prudence at those words. It had taken her eleven years of hard work to be elevated to the position of lead seamstress, and with one unfavorable word from Lady Alberta, she could lose her post in an instant. Lord Denville was one of the few peers in Britain able to pay tradesmens bills promptly, and his daughters were some of Madame Marceaus most valued clients. Without pausing in her work, Prudence took as deep and steadying a breath as she could manage in her tight stays. Yes, my lady.

Another silk skirt moved into Prudences line of vision. Planning your wedding to St. Cyres, are you, Alberta? a laughing feminine voice inquired, a voice that to Prudences ears was tinged with malice. A bit precipitate, dont you think, to leap from acquaintanceship to matrimony because of one waltz?

Ive a better chance of securing him than most, Helen Munro, and you know it. Our families possess some adjoining lands and weve known each other all our lives.

All your life, you mean. Dont you think youre a bit young for St. Cyres? Hes thirty-three, my dear, and youre barely twenty. To him, you are still a child.

Im not! Its true I was only eight when he went away, but he certainly doesnt see me as a child any longer. Why, the moment he set eyes on me again, he engaged me for a waltz. It must mean something.

I daresay it does! another woman said, joining the conversation with a laugh. Home less than a week, and hes already ascertained the amount of your dowry and income!

Hell need every penny of it, too, Helen Munro assured her companions. St. Cyres likes to live well, and hes head over ears in debt, they say. The fact that hes inherited the title from his uncle wont save him from the creditors. The old dukes debts were ten times greater than his, and the estates are a shambles. Munro and I are in Derbyshire every summer to stay with Lord and Lady Tavistock, and Ive seen for myself the sorry state of St. Cyres Castle. Its a deserted ruin. God only knows what condition the other ducal estates must be in.

Winter Park looks well enough, Lady Alberta answered. Wed live there, of course, since those St. Cyres lands adjoin ours. As for his debts, most peers have those. Not my own papa, of course. He has heaps of money.

Yes, and London has heaps of pretty American heiresses whod love to snare a duke and whose fathers have far more money than yours!

Americans? Theyve no breeding at all. Rhys would never choose an American to be his duchess.

Those American girls have a great deal of charm.

Lady Alberta seemed undaunted. I am much more charming than any dreadful American. She gave Prudences knee a none-too-gentle kick with her foot. For heavens sake, Bosworth, arent you finished yet?

Nearly done, my lady, she answered, keeping a firm grip on the skirt lest the girl yank it away again.

Mind you, I expect the gown to be as flawless as it was when I first put it on. If anyone notices the repair, Ill have your head for embarrassing me

Still abusing servant girls, Alberta? an amused male voice behind Prudence said, interrupting the tirade. How refreshing to know that some things never change.

Shocked murmurs from the other ladies rippled through the room at the unexpected arrival of a man in their midst, for this alcove and the retiring room that adjoined it were reserved exclusively for women. But Lady Alberta didnt seem to notice.