Read Online Dusk With a Dangerous Duke by Alexandra Hawkins - Free Book Online
Authors: Alexandra Hawkins
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stood up. “I’m heading over there. There’s no harm in paying my respects to the Lovelaces. Lady Netherley won’t even know I’m there.”
Well, unless Lady Grace was also in attendance. If the lady was at the marchioness’s side, then no one could stop him from approaching her.
Sin abandoned his cards. “I’m joining you.”
“Me, too,” said Reign, willing to accept his losses.
“Fine lot of friends, you are. I’m winning,” Dare complained.
Hunter glared at his friend. “Are you coming or not?”
“Aye, I’m coming,” grumbled Dare. “My wife is attending the ball so I might as well join her. What’s more, I doubt you will be able to just observe your lady. You’re going to need us to distract Lady Netherley if you are planning to steal her from under her chaperone’s nose.”
Chapter Six
There were so many names to remember.
No one would have ever accused Grace of being shy, but after of hours of introductions, even she was feeling overwhelmed.
“Considering how many gentlemen have begged me for an introduction, you’ll need to order several new pairs of evening slippers,” Lady Netherley said after one of the gentlemen escorted her back to her circle of new friends. She could not recall his name, but he had only stepped on her toes once during the energetic country dance.
“It will be worth it,” Grace said, silently wishing they could find a place to sit.
“Slightly overwhelming, is it not?” said the petite brunette who was poised to her right. “Don’t fret. In a month, you will have committed everyone’s names to heart.”
The tall blonde beside her with the blue-green eyes laughed. “And likely know all their secrets.”
Grace nodded, struggling to match names within their small group. The brunette was Lady Pashley. The elderly marchioness explained that the lady was married to one of the duke’s friends. The blonde with the elegant walking stick was also connected to the Lords of Vice. Lady Netherley explained that the woman had suffered a grievous injury as a child, which damaged her eyesight. Though her gaze did seem a little unfocused on occasion, Grace would have never guessed the young countess was struggling with partial blindness.
“I feel foolish,” she confided to the blonde. “What was your name again?”
Understanding and something akin to sympathy flickered in her gaze. “It is unnecessary to apologize. I am Lady Rainecourt, though you may call me Sophia since we will soon be family.”
Lady Pashley brought her hand to her heart. “And I am Regan.”
Grace blushed at the word family. Although both ladies had deliberately refrained from mentioning the Duke of Huntsley’s name, marriage to him was the only way she could be connected to these women.
“How are you related to the duke?” she asked.
“Am I related to Hunter?” Regan wrinkled her nose in amusement. “No. My brother is the Earl of Chillingsworth. When Lady Netherley speaks of Frost, she is referring to my brother.”
“Juliana and Isabel, whom you met earlier, Regan, and myself are married to gentlemen who have been friends most of their lives. The ton calls them the Lords of Vice—”
“I beg your pardon,” Grace interrupted, wondering if she had misunderstood her companion. “You and Sophia are married to gentlemen who call themselves the Lords of Vice?”
Sophia responded before Regan could explain. “Several very vexed members of the ton began to call them that awful name when they were more boys than men.”
“Hunter is one of the seven,” Regan said as she held up her hand to count off the names of the remaining men. “Then there is my husband, Dare; my brother; Sophia’s Reign; Juliana’s husband, Sin; Lady Netherley’s son, Vane; and Saint. He’s married to Catherine, though I doubt the couple will be attending the Lovelaces’ ball this evening.”
“Astounding,” Grace marveled. She had learned more about the Duke of Huntsley and his friends in
Well, unless Lady Grace was also in attendance. If the lady was at the marchioness’s side, then no one could stop him from approaching her.
Sin abandoned his cards. “I’m joining you.”
“Me, too,” said Reign, willing to accept his losses.
“Fine lot of friends, you are. I’m winning,” Dare complained.
Hunter glared at his friend. “Are you coming or not?”
“Aye, I’m coming,” grumbled Dare. “My wife is attending the ball so I might as well join her. What’s more, I doubt you will be able to just observe your lady. You’re going to need us to distract Lady Netherley if you are planning to steal her from under her chaperone’s nose.”
Chapter Six
There were so many names to remember.
No one would have ever accused Grace of being shy, but after of hours of introductions, even she was feeling overwhelmed.
“Considering how many gentlemen have begged me for an introduction, you’ll need to order several new pairs of evening slippers,” Lady Netherley said after one of the gentlemen escorted her back to her circle of new friends. She could not recall his name, but he had only stepped on her toes once during the energetic country dance.
“It will be worth it,” Grace said, silently wishing they could find a place to sit.
“Slightly overwhelming, is it not?” said the petite brunette who was poised to her right. “Don’t fret. In a month, you will have committed everyone’s names to heart.”
The tall blonde beside her with the blue-green eyes laughed. “And likely know all their secrets.”
Grace nodded, struggling to match names within their small group. The brunette was Lady Pashley. The elderly marchioness explained that the lady was married to one of the duke’s friends. The blonde with the elegant walking stick was also connected to the Lords of Vice. Lady Netherley explained that the woman had suffered a grievous injury as a child, which damaged her eyesight. Though her gaze did seem a little unfocused on occasion, Grace would have never guessed the young countess was struggling with partial blindness.
“I feel foolish,” she confided to the blonde. “What was your name again?”
Understanding and something akin to sympathy flickered in her gaze. “It is unnecessary to apologize. I am Lady Rainecourt, though you may call me Sophia since we will soon be family.”
Lady Pashley brought her hand to her heart. “And I am Regan.”
Grace blushed at the word family. Although both ladies had deliberately refrained from mentioning the Duke of Huntsley’s name, marriage to him was the only way she could be connected to these women.
“How are you related to the duke?” she asked.
“Am I related to Hunter?” Regan wrinkled her nose in amusement. “No. My brother is the Earl of Chillingsworth. When Lady Netherley speaks of Frost, she is referring to my brother.”
“Juliana and Isabel, whom you met earlier, Regan, and myself are married to gentlemen who have been friends most of their lives. The ton calls them the Lords of Vice—”
“I beg your pardon,” Grace interrupted, wondering if she had misunderstood her companion. “You and Sophia are married to gentlemen who call themselves the Lords of Vice?”
Sophia responded before Regan could explain. “Several very vexed members of the ton began to call them that awful name when they were more boys than men.”
“Hunter is one of the seven,” Regan said as she held up her hand to count off the names of the remaining men. “Then there is my husband, Dare; my brother; Sophia’s Reign; Juliana’s husband, Sin; Lady Netherley’s son, Vane; and Saint. He’s married to Catherine, though I doubt the couple will be attending the Lovelaces’ ball this evening.”
“Astounding,” Grace marveled. She had learned more about the Duke of Huntsley and his friends in
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