Free Wolfishly Yours by Lydia Dare

sprightly about it, Sophia Cole! I’m not as young as I used to be.”
    Finally Sophie crossed the floor toward the old woman, with Livi in tow. “I didn’t want to intrude, Your Grace.”
    “Bah! You haven’t changed a bit.” The duchess snorted, and then she turned her gaze to a nearby table. “Herondale!” she barked. “Be a gentleman. Give your chair to Lady Sophia and find one for her friend.”
    A middle-aged fellow bolted from his seat in his apparent haste to do the woman’s bidding. Livi might normally have found the situation amusing if it wasn’t for the pained expression on Sophie’s face. The tutor had warned Livi the duchess was a dragon.
    In no time, Herondale, whoever he was, had swiftly brought two chairs to the duchess’ table and then made a hasty retreat as though afraid the old woman would ask him to do something else.
    “Thank you, sir,” Sophie called out to his retreating back.
    “Pay the man no mind,” the duchess directed. “Now sit, Sophia. I want to hear how you’re getting along in your new position.”
    With no possible escape in sight, Sophie and Livi both sat. Sophie gestured to Livi as she feigned a smile. “Your Grace, I’d like you to meet Miss Mayeux. She’s—”
    The duchess waved a breezy and dismissive hand in the air. “Yes, yes, I know who she is. Holmesfield’s recalcitrant granddaughter. When did you arrive, gel?” She turned her icy eyes on Livi.
    But before Livi could answer, the duchess motioned, well… barked was more like it… for a footman to bring her another biscuit. While she did so, Sophia leaned close to Livi’s ear and murmured, “The Duchess of Hythe gets away with more than most. Don’t let her scare you. And don’t let her outspoken nature worry you.”
    On the contrary, Livi found the duchess to be a refreshing change.
    The duchess wore an eyeglass that hung around her neck and, at the moment, it was tucked directly between her breasts. With a mighty heave, she retrieved it and held it up to her left eye. The eye grew about ten times in size as her light blue orb blinked at Livi. “Pretty little thing,” she said. Then she lowered her eyepiece slowly and cocked her head at Sophie. “Doesn’t look like a banshee. She looks like her mother but a bit darker. Must be the French in her.”
    Livi did wish people would stop saying that as though it was an insult.
    “I’m certain Lady Grace was just as delightful as Miss Mayeux is,” Sophie replied and kicked Livi under the table. Blast, she must have been scowling.
    Livi sat up straighter. “Lovely to meet you, Your Grace.”
    “Lovely?” the woman crowed. “It’s never lovely to meet old ladies.” Then she turned her eyes back to Sophie. “Madeline is worried about you.”
    Sophie shook her head. “She is sweet to do so, but there is no reason.”
    “So Violet Radbourne is treating you well?”
    “Of course.”
    “And what of her scurrilous sons?”
    “I see very little of them to be honest, Your Grace.”
    The old woman harrumphed. “Did you know they are opening a gambling establishment?” She lowered her voice to an annoyed hiss. “ My granddaughter married to the proprietor of a gambling establishment.”
    An expression of sympathy settled on Sophie’s face. “You know she loves him.”
    Finally a smile cracked the duchess’ lips. “And that is why he continues to breathe.” Then she winked at Sophie before turning her attention to Livi. “How are you enjoying the Pump Room, Miss Mayeux?”
    “To be quite honest,” Livi said, leaning closer to the duchess, “I’d rather be anywhere than here, smelling these foul waters.”
    Sophie stiffened in her seat. “But we’re happy to be here taking advantage of the healing waters,” her tutor added.
    The duchess interrupted her with a harsh snort. “Healing waters. It’s more like social hour. Seeing and being seen.” She narrowed an eye at Livi again. “Wouldn’t you agree, Miss Mayeux?”
    “There must be