Read Online The Orphan and the Duke by Jillian Chantal - Free Book Online

wrong, dear brother. Nearly all the ladies of our acquaintance think you more than tolerable.” Jonquil stood and poked the log on the fire almost as if she didn’t want to make eye contact with Basil during the particular topic of conversation.
    It was a difficult subject for him since he assumed the ladies who had made overtures were only interested in the title he now carried. He wasn’t sure if the same thing was hard for Jonquil. She was his more emotionally fragile sister and always had been, so he didn’t want her upset.
    “Let’s change the subject here. You two are making me blush like a maiden with all these compliments.”
    “Since we’re talking about men and swooning, when will Jonquil and I be allowed to respond to some of the invitations we’ve been receiving?”
    “I’m taking care of all that. Remember Miss Amelia Mandeville? I’ve gotten a reply from her today. She is going to be able to come.” As his sisters glanced at one another, with big smiles, Basil held his hand up to stop them from speaking. “Wait before you get too excited. There’s one small condition.”
    “What?” Jonquil’s voice quavered.
    “It’s not too bad. No need to fret.” Basil wanted to ease whatever fears Jonquil had but didn’t know if he could since the condition was a harsh one. The few minutes he had spent in the same room with Amelia’s cousin was enough for a lifetime. They would now be subjected to her on almost a daily basis.
    “Then tell us,” Saffron said.
    “Remember that other young lady in the dressmaker’s shop? The one who asked you to identify yourself?”
    “Of course we do. It wasn’t that long ago.” Saffron picked up Archimedes from his spot on her skirt and stood.
    “It seems Miss Amelia Mandeville only has permission to attend to the two of you if her duties to her cousin, Miss Susan Mandeville, aren’t interfered with. This means she will be accompanied by this cousin of hers when she’s on duty with you.”
    “Oh, no.” Jonquil turned around from facing the fireplace. “She was vile, Basil. Vile.”
    He rose from his chair and stepped over to her. “I know, my dear, but it can’t be helped. We can’t blame her uncle for being concerned. Miss Mandeville did tell me she has obligations to her family that come first. She didn’t think she would be allowed to assist at all. This is a compromise.”
    “I don’t like it,” Jonquil said.
    “I’m not sure I like it either, and there’s actually worse news.” Basil hated to tell them the next part, but he figured he may as well as long as he was already delivering bad news.
    “What could be worse?” Saffron asked.
    “Since you have to be presented to the queen by someone who has already been presented and you are the daughters of a duke, you must be sponsored by someone of equal rank—”
    “No. No. Please say you didn’t, Basil.” Jonquil put her hands over her ears as if to block out the sound of his voice when he answered her.
    “Well, I ever, Basil. You didn’t, did you?” Saffron had a horrified look on her face.
    “I haven’t yet, but I am going to have to. Can’t you see? There’s no other choice.”
    “Give us a little time to try to think of someone besides her. Please?” Saffron begged as tears pooled in her eyes.
    Jonquil sat down in the chair she’d vacated and appeared as if she were ready to burst into tears.
    “Listen to me. I will not let your aunt hurt you. Any time she is here, I will be as well. I won’t leave you alone with her.”
    “But the night of the presentation, she would be with us in the hallway as we await our turn to be announced. You can’t be there. And you can’t stop her then.” Saffron paced the small area in front of her sister’s chair.
    “We will manage somehow. I haven’t figured it out yet, but we will.”
    “Don’t write to her. We don’t need another daughter of a duke to sponsor us. Can’t you ask one of our father’s friend’s wives? What about any