Read Online The Duke's Quandary by Callie Hutton - Free Book Online

duty.
    He recalled how she had felt in his arms when she had stumbled on the steps and had fallen into him. The shock at her warmth, and the enticing curves hidden beneath her gown, rattled him more than he cared to consider. When she had landed against him, her hands firmly gripped his shoulders; a couple of inches more and their lips would have been locked together right there in the entrance hall in front of everyone.
    Nonsense. Nothing would ever come from those thoughts. She was an innocent, and so far removed from what he considered acceptable, it was ludicrous. Some nice young country gent would sweep her off her feet and be happy to have her as his wife, while she dabbled in the garden at his country home.
    He shook his head as he saw her attempting to hide behind a large footman holding a tray of glasses when a young man approached her. Why the girl was so shy baffled him. She was certainly pretty enough.
    The last dance ended, and the next on the list was the supper waltz. Drake excused himself from the circle of friends he stood with, and headed for Lady Daphne. She caught his eye, and immediately turned to Lord Shaffer next to her, said something that made him lean down. He made a comment, and she threw her head back, exposing the lovely white skin of her slender neck, and laughed.
    “My lady, I believe I have claimed the supper waltz?”
    Lady Daphne made a great show of checking her dance card, then smiled up at him. “Why yes, Your Grace, I believe you have.”
    “Then shall we?” He extended his arm, leaving behind grumblings from her admirers, and a dark look from Shaffer.
    “Oh, dear.” Lady Daphne chewed her bottom lip, apparently attempting to quell a smile.
    Drake glanced over his shoulder to see Penelope picking up pieces of glass from the floor. A footman stopped her and after a brief conversation, she backed away from the mess and stepped on the foot of the gentleman behind her. Flustered, she turned to apologize, her face a bright red.
    “Isn’t she your mother’s houseguest?” Lady Daphne lost her fight, her lips in a full smile.
    “Yes. That’s Miss Penelope Clayton. She’s making her coming out with my sister, Lady Mary.”
    “She seems very sweet, but a bit on the clumsy side.” When his brows furrowed, she continued. “I saw her at Mme. Babineau’s parlor last week. She walked into a table.”
    For some unexplained reason, Drake bristled at her comment. Of course he’d noticed Penelope’s clumsiness, but he felt as uneasy as he would if the comment were made about one of his sisters. That was probably the reason. He thought of her as he would a sister.
    “I believe she’s a bit unused to Society,” he said. Thankfully, the music started up, and thoughts of their houseguest fled as he took Lady Daphne into his arms and began their waltz.
    She was truly perfect. Never missing a step, she glided across the floor with him, a smile teasing her full lips. “I imagine Lady Mary is quite excited about her come out.”
    “Yes. It’s to be a week, come Saturday, but then I’m sure you’ve received your invitation.”
    Lady Daphne tilted her chin and gave a perceptible nod. “Indeed. Mother was quite expeditious in her acceptance.” She gazed at him from under lowered eyelashes. “We put aside numerous other requests for attendance, because mother was adamant that we were not to miss Lady Mary’s come out.”
    “And Miss Clayton’s, too.”
    Now why in heavens name did I say that?
    His partner dipped her head graciously. “Of course. Miss Clayton as well. I am so looking forward to getting to know your houseguest better.”

Chapter Seven
    As the evening dragged on, Penelope tried her best to remain cheerful, but each time another gentlemen claimed her for a dance, her stomach tightened and she had to fight the bile rising in her throat. Would this nightmare never end?
    As couples gathered for the next dance, she glanced at her card and sighed with relief to see a blank