Free What the Duke Wants by Amy Quinton Page B

lord,” she replied with a gracious smile. Unlike the duke, this man’s open and welcoming countenance put her immediately at ease, as if she had known him for years. Strange, but true.
    “Would you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to dinner?”
    “Is that proper, my lord? I mean I am…” her voice trailed off, unsure of what to say, really, without sounding gauche.
    “Oh, I’ve known Stonebridge too long to care what he thinks about my manners and I certainly couldn’t care less about anyone else’s here with the exception of my aunt, but then she’s never been one to play by the rules herself and she knows me far too well. No. I am simply here to enjoy a week with my closest friend and it would be infinitely more enjoyable with the company of a beautiful lady, such as yourself, beside me at what is sure to be an otherwise tedious dinner. Besides, apart from my Aunt Harriett, the impish looking lady in the brightly colored shawl just rising from the settee over there, the remaining old biddies here can take a…”
    She interrupted him with a laugh. She couldn’t help it. He truly did not seem to care about the rules and his pleasant demeanor was just what she needed at the moment. Clearly, the colorful lady with the wink was this man’s aunt, and they were obviously two of a kind.
    “Not that my aunt is an old biddy,” he added.
    “Oh? And what would your call her then?”
    He looked across the room at his aunt as she rose from the settee with her escort in hand—as if giving the matter serious thought before saying, “A dragon. A rascally, harmless, colorful dragon. But a dragon, nonetheless. Now, how about our walk into dinner? Shall we rattle the duke’s cage and set the biddies’ tongues to wagging?”
    “I’m sure I’m supposed to walk in with…”
    “Oh, I already spoke to your escort and assured him that Lady Beatryce would be delighted if he would escort her to dinner.”
    Grace nearly exploded with laughter. She could just imagine how Beatryce felt about that. And his mischievousness must be contagious for Grace surprised herself by saying, “Well, when you put it that way…why not, my lord?”
    “Please, call me Dansbury. When you say ‘my lord’, I have the sudden urge to look over my shoulder for my father.”
    “Well, if you insist, my…er Dansbury,” she answered with a wide grin.
    “Right, now that we have that sorted, let us proceed to dinner, shall we? I suspect we’re in for a marvelous time of it.”
    And as she put her hand on his arm, Grace thought that perhaps this week might not be so bad after all.
    * * * *
    Grace was laughing at one of Dansbury’s jokes as they entered into the dining room, her hand on his arm. She stopped laughing when she realized everyone in the room, save for the duke and Beatryce, were seated, and all were watching her as if she were some obscene picture on display. Or perhaps some foul offal one picked off from under one’s shoe. No one uttered a word.
    She dipped her head to hide her face from the curious stares and tried to ignore the tinge of heat she felt creeping up her neck and filling her cheeks. It wouldn’t do to faint from embarrassment. Not that she had ever fainted in her life. It bothered her that she was so prone to blushing and hadn’t mastered the skill of maintaining a calm, cool façade while under scrutiny. Papa had always said her blushing was a sign of innocence and a heart filled with love and passion. Besides her mother and Bessie, no one else ever appeared to return that sentiment.
    Eventually, conversation resumed as the footman entered with the first course. Grace was delighted to find herself seated next to the marquess and far away from His Boorishness, the duke. Not that there was a chance in hell she would have been seated by him. In fact, the more she considered it, she realized it was odd that Dansbury was not nearer to his friend, or that he was even sitting by her at all.
    She looked at