Read Online Dusk With a Dangerous Duke by Alexandra Hawkins - Free Book Online Page A

one evening than she had gleaned from Mr. Porter during the last nineteen years. “And your husbands and the others do not mind being called the Lords of Vice?”
    “When you get to know them, you will see the sobriquet is wholly appropriate,” Regan added.
    Sophia tilted her head to concur. “True. Over the years, the men have become more than friends, and now that many of them have gone on to marry and beget children, we have all become family.”
    “You will feel the same, once you marry Hunter,” Regan said blithely.
    Grace bit her lower lip. She had asked Lady Netherley not to share her plans before she had confronted the duke. If Hunter had refrained from sharing his personal business with his friends, then the ladies were unaware that the duke was not interested in her or marriage.
    “Am I interrupting something?”
    Grace glanced at the handsome dark-haired gentleman who approached them with an air of familiarity. One of the ladies’ husbands, perhaps?
    “If I said yes, would you leave us?” Regan teased.
    The gentleman tapped her lightly on her nose. “On the contrary, I would have regretted not joining you sooner.”
    “I am amazed you stayed away this long,” Sophia said with a hint of a smile playing across her mouth.
    No, he was not married to either woman. There was a casual intimacy among them, but he behaved as if he were talking to annoying female relatives. Was this Regan’s brother? The one she called Frost?
    If so, it also meant that he was another one of the duke’s good friends. And she had hoped to gain the advantage over Hunter by learning more about him, but how could she best him when she was outnumbered and surrounded by his closest friends?
    Her predicament did not bode well for her.
    The gentleman continued, unaware of her increasing discomfort. “When I arrived, Juliana was the first to warn me off. Lady Netherley was the second. It was then that I knew I just had to meet your beautiful companion.”
    Suddenly Grace had become the center of attention.
    The gentleman stared at her boldly, almost as thoroughly as if he had touched her. She felt the impact of his unique turquoise-blue gaze like a warm wave sweeping from her face and spreading out over her chest. The corners of his mouth quirked as if he had guessed her reaction to his interest.
    “Perhaps you should have listened to Juliana and the marchioness,” Regan said, sounding exasperated.
    “When have I ever listened to anyone?” the gentleman countered. “Will you perform the introduction or shall I deepen that pretty blush on the lady’s cheeks by impressing her with my daring?”
    Regan rolled her eyes as she lightly touched Grace on the arm. “Forgive my brother, Lady Grace. We have tried to civilize him, but his head is as dense as granite.”
    “As is my heart, though I endeavor to find a lady who might persuade me to make an exception,” he said, the blue in his gaze darkening as he admired her from head to toe. “You may call me Frost.”
    “Oh, dear,” Sophia softly muttered to no one in particular.
    Regan noticed Grace’s wary expression, and added to ease her concern about her brazen sibling, “Lady Grace Kearly, may I present my older brother, the Earl of Chillingsworth. Forgive his boldness. He believes he is being charming.”
    “I am charming,” Frost said smoothly. “Do you not agree, Lady Grace?”
    It was probably a bad notion to encourage the earl, but she could not prevent herself from smiling at his arrogance. She inclined her head as she curtsied. “Has anyone dared to disagree with you, Lord Chillingsworth?”
    Frost drew attention with his sudden bark of laughter. “Very few are that courageous, my lady. But I occasionally enjoy the novelty of it.” He bowed gallantly. “So whom do you belong to, Lady Grace?”
    Regan and Sophia seemed displeased by the question.
    Grace was also distrustful of the gentleman’s intentions. “I belong to myself, Lord Chillingsworth.” Since that