Free The Debonair Duke by Emilyn Hendrickson Page B

depended on it. One thing she knew for sure, her life would never be the same again.
    Even if she did not capture the interest and heart of the duke, he had opened the door to the inner realm of society, that fashionable group of young people where Pamela sensed her mother desired her daughter find a husband. One of these gentlemen was undoubtedly destined to be her mate. Who it might be really didn’t matter, she supposed. It was enough that she belonged here.
    It was a pity that she had a decided partiality for one she could not have. But there you were. Things like that happened. It was enough to have the happiness of his utterly newfound friendship; the dancing and physical closeness was lovely.
    “We must change partners now,” the duke explained. “It will assist you in becoming accustomed to several different styles of dance.”
    Another partner, a different style. Pamela strongly suspected that there was not another man in the room who could match the duke for grace and elegance. And although the dancing master had certainly done his job well, she was proven right.
     

Chapter Five
     
    She had danced the waltz with nearly every gentleman present. None of the others affected her like the duke. The amiable Sir Cecil had chatted pleasantly. The ginger-haired Algernon Thynne, Esq. was a charming waltzer and made light conversation of the sort that did not demand a great deal of attention.
    The remainder had varied between talking and concentrating on their steps. They had been quite charming. None had permitted Pamela to become so dizzy that she required a restorative.
    However, her mind kept returning to the nagging question of who the Lady Pamela might be that ought to have received the necklace. And what gentleman would defy convention to present her with such a gift?
    Pamela had been offered lovely things and had always refused them as gently as possible. Her mother would have had palpitations had she not. But Pamela had never wished to be under obligation to a gentleman she did not care for in the least. It seemed dishonest.
    Perhaps the other Lady Pamela would also have refused this offering? In her heart, Pamela felt it to be otherwise, for there was that matter of “dearest” to consider. She had noticed that the duke had a sizable listing of gentlemen with the initials of J.R. Would any of them prove guilty?
    “They have all gone,” Lady Anne declared when she returned from seeing the other guests off following the cold collation, which was enjoyed after the waltzing. Dancing tended to make one hungry. “Did you enjoy your waltzing,” she said to Pamela with a curious gleam in her pretty eyes.
    “Indeed. I did.” Pamela smiled politely at her hostess, for she had provided the opportunity for a most delightful time. Then she heard the duke coming down the hall from wherever he had gone with his host. She turned to face him.
    “Are we to resume our search?” she inquired when he joined Anne and her in the hall. “I had thought our efforts over for the day.” She doubted she could concentrate on it.
    “Since you do not look the least fatigued after a strenuous afternoon of waltzing I propose we cover a few more pages before we cease for the nonce.”
    “It goes so dreadfully slow,” Pamela protested to Lady Anne at the door to the library. “There are so many other matters demanding attention, and I, for one, find it difficult to creep away to my room to go over those fine lines of print. After awhile, it goes all hazy.”
    “I imagine it does tend to drag a bit. We shall have to consider an alternative, perhaps.” Lady Anne turned to her husband and said, “What do you think, Cecil? Shall we consider another means of finding out who the other Lady Pamela might be , as well as the man, J . R.?”
    “Give us another day before we decide that,” the duke said from over Pamela’s shoulder.
    She froze, terribly aware of his nearness. It was almost like the waltzing, only this time he pressed