Read Online The Duchess of Love by Sally Mackenzie - Free Book Online Page A

teeth. True, her dress was a shade of green popular last year—well, perhaps the year before last—but it was still serviceable. And Esmeralda was hardly a pattern card of fashion. Her insipid pink gown was so covered with knots of ribbons and bits of lace, she looked like a walking haberdashery. She would just tell her—
    â€œWho are these people, Mrs. Higgins?” The older of the two stylish women peered disapprovingly at Venus through her lorgnette. Venus had an almost overwhelming urge to grab the dratted spectacles out of her hand and ram them through her ridiculously elaborate hairstyle.
    â€œJust Mrs. Fedderly and the vicar’s daughters, Mrs. Blackburn.”
    Venus was quite, quite tired of being talked about as if she were deaf and dumb. “Yes, I am Venus Collingswood. This is my sister, Aphrodite. And you are …?”
    â€œMrs. Blackburn,” the woman said, “and Lady Mary Detluck”—she indicated the younger woman—“the Duke of Cranmore’s daughter.”
    Lady Mary sniffed. “So tell me where my betrothed is, if you will. I came all the way from London to see him.”
    â€œYour betrothed?” Venus bit her lip. Damn it, she hadn’t meant to say that, but shock had got the better of her. Mr. Valentine had said nothing of a betrothed lurking about. Surely he would have said something if the duke … But would he have mentioned a betrothal of his own?
    Her stomach dropped to her toes.
    â€œBetrothed?” Mrs. Fedderly laughed. “I didn’t see any men who looked betrothed.”
    Lady Mary scowled. “Perhaps your vision is defective. I assure you Greycliffe is promised to me, and Mr. Valentine is affianced to Mrs. Blackburn.”
    â€œMy vision is fine,” Mrs. Fedderly lied, “and I assure you the duke and his cousin looked quite smitten when they were walking and talking with Miss Aphrodite and Miss Venus.”
    Mrs. Blackburn’s eyes were as hard as stones. “Oh, well, a little flirting is to be expected. They are men, after all.” She looked from Venus to Aphrodite and back. “I hope no one misunderstood their intentions.”
    Lady Mary snorted. “Really, can you imagine Greycliffe or Mr. Valentine showing any serious interest in such rustics?”
    Mrs. Higgins and Esmeralda sniggered, but Venus would wager all her pin money Lady Mary considered them just as rustic as her and Ditee.
    Mrs. Fedderly sniffed. “Mr. Fedderly, God rest his soul, used to say the air—and the women—were cleaner in the country.”
    The ensuing shocked silence gave Venus her opening. “I believe the duke and Mr. Valentine returned to Hyndon House, ladies. At least, that seemed to be their intention; I can’t claim to be in their confidence.” Ha! She was most obviously not in their confidence. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ve been gone far longer than we intended. Are you ready to leave, Ditee?”
    â€œOh, yes,” Ditee said.
    â€œGood day, then.” Venus smiled as pleasantly as she could. “And welcome to the neighborhood, Mrs. Blackburn, Lady Mary. I hope you have a”— dreadful, hideous, horrible —“nice visit.”
    â€œThank you. We don’t intend to stay long, of course,” Lady Mary said. “The country is so boring, don’t you know?”
    â€œBut I’m sure your presence will enliven it.” Venus strode off up High Street before she could say more.
    â€œThose women were unbearably rude,” Ditee said, falling into step beside her. Her book remained closed.
    â€œYes, they were.”
    They walked a few moments in silence.
    â€œDo you think they really are betrothed to the duke and Mr. Valentine?” Ditee’s voice sounded uncharacteristically small and sad.
    Damn it all, how dare those miserable men hurt Ditee? Venus was so angry she’d like to kick something. No, someone , and in a very