Page 23 of The Duke Meets His Match

Chloe experienced a nauseating sinking of despair, and she closed the box. “I think I’ll save these for her. Maybe they will increase her appetite.”

“That’s very thoughtful. If there is anything Emily needs, please ask. Clothing, shoes, funds for the doctor.”

“Thank you. But she rarely leaves her bed, and one pair of shoes is sufficient. She has enough clothing as well, and the orphanage doctor visits weekly.”

“Do not lose hope. You were ill as a child, remember?”

How could she forget? It had been devastating, not just the illness but the consequences for her sisters. Eliza and Amelia had never complained, but they’d gone to bed cold and hungry too often because they’d sacrificed for her.

Chloe swallowed. “Yes, I won’t give up hope.” She turned to Eliza. “Now what is it you came to tell me? Or were you simply curious about the package?”

“I have good news that I hope will cheer you. We are visiting Vauxhall Gardens tonight to see the sensational Madame Saqui.”

“The French tightrope dancer?” Chloe’s interest was immediately piqued. She’d heard stories about the famous acrobat who achieved enormous acclaim at Covent Garden Theatre when she’d walked from the stage to the top gallery on a tightrope. It would be Chloe’s first visit to Vauxhall Gardens, and the knowledge that she would see Madame Saqui perform lifted her spirits.

Eliza clasped her hands. “There’s more. Huntingdon invited Lord Sefton to join us.”

Henry would be there. Chloe could thank him for the chocolates. Perhaps dance with him in front of the pavilion. But just as quickly as the thought entered her mind, another followed. If Henry came along, then there was a good chance that—

“The duke will be accompanying him as well,” Eliza said.

Unbidden images of Chloe’s erotic dream rushed back. Michael’s calloused fingers as he grasped her shoulders. The raw hunger in his dark eyes as he looked at her. His mouth claiming hers as she moaned her pleasure and need.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Eliza said.

Chloe’s eyes snapped to her sister and she felt her face flush. “You do?”

“Yes. You’re concerned that if the Duke of Cameron attends, then you won’t have a moment alone with young Henry. I didn’t miss what happened at Lady Webster’s party.”

“You didn’t?” Heavens, did her sister witness Chloe’s kiss in the gardens with the duke?

“You didn’t have a moment alone in the horticultural conservatory. The imposing duke shadowed you and Henry for the entire tour.”

Relief coursed through Chloe. Thank goodness that’s all she saw.

As for tonight, Chloe should have been concerned that Michael would prevent her from sneaking off into Vauxhall Gardens alone with Henry, but that wasn’t what she was thinking at all. She was too occupied with thoughts of Michael’s kiss…how their tongues rolled together, soft and slow…

The trouble was Henry was far from her thoughts. But Michael—she was beginning to think of him more and more by that name—had offered her a position as his mistress.

His mistress!

The offer was as humiliating as it was offending. Never had she both despised and desired someone as she did him.

It was maddening.

She’d never be duchess material to him. Any wife he took would have bloodlines traced back to King Henry VIII.

“You needn’t worry,” Eliza said, once again interrupting her thoughts. “I’ve invited a young widow, Lady Willowby, to join us. I have it on good account that she has set her sights on the duke, and I’m confident she’ll occupy him so that you will be free to spend time with Lord Sefton.”

Chloe masked her inner turmoil with a deceptive calm. She should be grateful for her sister’s aid. Then why did she feel as if all the eager anticipation of her first visit to Vauxhall Gardens had vanished?

Eliza smiled. “So you see? It will be a perfect evening.”

Chloe swallowed. “Yes, of course.” Reaching down, she gathered her resolve. Eliza was right. This was what she wanted—an evening to further cultivate Henry’s interest. She would get to walk alone with him in the sculpted gardens by moonlight and lamplight and get to know him better. She realized she knew very little about Henry. She didn’t know his ambitions or plans for the future. Here was her chance to spend time together. Perhaps even share a stolen kiss and erase the touch of another.

Michael was confusing her, making her desire what she shouldn’t. It was all a lie. A cruel, vicious lie to get her to avoid Henry and abandon her hopes and dreams. The duke cared nothing for her, other than to satisfy his base needs. He wanted her to fail and was doing his best to seduce her to ruin.

She’d best not forget it.