Free The Unexpected Duchess by Valerie Bowman Page A

bets?”
    Garrett whistled. “High enough to buy a new carriage. And I’ll ignore the fact that you just called me dissolute.”
    Jane smirked at him.
    Cass worried her hands. “I think it is disastrous, simply disastrous.”
    Lucy reached over and patted Cass’s knee. “Don’t worry, Cass. I’m certain to win.”
    “I know that, Lucy. I’m just worried that it’ll harm your reputation and … Making a bet with a duke, the Duke of Claringdon of all people, cannot be good for your reputation. I’m certain of it.”
    “Reputations are highly overrated if you ask me,” Jane said from behind her book.
    Garrett’s eyebrow shot up. “Really?” he asked, his voice dripping sarcasm.
    Jane pulled the book down to the tip of her nose and eyed him over its edge. “Yes, are you surprised I think that, Upton?”
    Garrett shrugged. “No. Not particularly. Perhaps I’m only surprised that you admitted it.”
    “I’m a bluestocking, Upton. If I gave a toss about my own reputation, I’d study far less and spend far more time worrying about things like hair ribbons and frocks.”
    He blinked at her innocently. “Bluestockings don’t wear hair ribbons, Miss Lowndes?”
    Jane pushed up the book to hide her face again. “We wear them, Upton. We just don’t care about them.”
    “I’m truly worried for Lucy tonight,” Cass continued, interrupting them.
    Jane dropped her book again. “I’m not worried. I’m looking forward to it, actually. I can see tomorrow’s headline in the Times , ‘Lady Lucy Crushes Claringdon.’”
    Lucy raised her chin and smiled. “Thank you for your faith in me, Janie.”
    “And I, for one, want a front-row seat tonight,” Jane added with a sly smile.
    Cass waved her hand. “I’m worried. What if the headline ends up being, ‘Duke of Claringdon Wins Yet Another Battle’?”
    “Do you really think our Lucy will let him win?” Garrett asked.
    “Thank you, Garrett,” Lucy replied.
    “I just think the duke is quite clever, and he’s seen a lot of the world,” Cass said. “I would hate for you to be humiliated, Lucy.”
    Lucy regarded her friend closely. “Don’t worry, Cass. I’ll be fine. Have some faith.” Truth be told, she’d had her own moment of doubt in the middle of last night. Confronting the duke in public? Why, she wouldn’t be human if she didn’t have a moment’s doubt, would she? Would the arrogant duke consider for a moment if he would lose to her? She’d quickly got over it, however.
    Lucy had few talents. Charming people, dancing, playing the pianoforte—those skills had eluded her for her entire life, but cutting people to shreds with her tongue? That was a gift the universe had seen fit to bestow upon her and she never doubted it. Well, perhaps for one brief little minute last night, but in the end, she knew she’d win. She had to.
    When Lucy’s little group entered the ballroom, tension crackled in the air. It was as if one hundred pairs of eyes turned immediately to watch them.
    “I wonder if the duke is here already,” Cass whispered from her right.
    The answer to that question quickly materialized in the form of their hostess, Lady Haverty. The woman glided up to them with a sly smile on her face. “Lady Lucy, good to see you. The Duke of Claringdon has yet to arrive.”
    Lucy let out her breath. Why did that reprieve give her a bit of peace?
    “Thank you so much for your kind invitation this evening,” Lucy replied. Her friends also greeted their hostess warmly.
    “My pleasure,” Lady Haverty said. Lucy got the distinct impression that that lady was ever so glad to be the hostess of what was sure to be one of the most talked-about dinner parties of the Season.
    “Yes, well, be certain to let me know when the duke arrives,” Lucy said in what she hoped was a casual voice.
    She did not have long to wait. It seemed mere minutes later that a commotion at the door caused everyone to glance up while the butler intoned the name of the Duke