Page 66 of No Duke of Mine

Maggie paled.

Algernon gave her a long, proper kiss to bring some color back to her cheeks and made her promise to join him downstairs soon. He would start small, introducing her to a few of his friends so she wasn’t overwhelmed.

He hurried to his bedchamber, closing the door behind him to give Maggie privacy, and discovered Sims was already there, waiting with news of their visitor. He ignored Algernon’s nakedness, but his gaze darted to the duchess’ bedchamber door.

“Sims,” Algernon called, and the man hurried into his dressing closet after him. But the look on his face clearly revealed his disapproval.

“Make sure Miss Black has the help of a maid this morning to dress in those new gowns I bought for her. When she’s ready, escort her downstairs to the library with the maid as chaperone to meet with me and Varley.”

“It’s a little late for a chaperone, don’t you think?” Sims muttered under his breath.

Algernon faced his valet after he’d thrown a shirt over his head. “Maggie will have no choice but to accept the help of a maid now. We are to marry.”

Sims’ face burst into a huge smile at the news. “About time!”

“Indeed, it is, but keep it to yourself for now,” Algernon managed to control his grin.

“Congratulations, Your Grace. She’ll make a remarkable duchess.”

“Thank you.”

Algernon finished dressing and hurried downstairs to meet Varley and found him using Maggie’s eyeglasses to try to read the book she’d been holding last night, when Algernon had come home. “I had no idea your eyesight had grown so bad, Ravenswood. We used to be able to share eyeglasses, but these are impossible.”

Algernon quickly took Maggie’s eyeglasses away from him and put them in his pocket. “Your note sounded urgent, but not this bad.”

“Oh, it is. My mama-in-law put a foolish notion in my eldest daughter’s head that she could make her debut next season.”

Algernon frowned. “Isn’t she too young for that?”

“By two years at least!” Varley exclaimed. “And because my wife refused to consider the idea of an early season, the other girls are all in an uproar in support of their elder sibling. My wife has become the enemy at home and was in tears again this morning. I will not have that.”

Algernon nodded. “A separation of mother and daughter is definitely in order.”

Varley came closer. “So about the town house…”

“My only question is if it’s far enough away?”

Varley huffed. “It will do for the immediate future.”

Algernon named a monthly figure he hoped was not too high to be unacceptable.

Varley agreed without a qualm, and they shook hands.

A scuff of a shoe alerted Algernon that someone had arrived. He smiled and turned around, but he was not prepared fully for Maggie’s arrival.

She wore a stunning new gown of deep blue, and her hair had been dressed, piled on top of her head with pearls. His heart started beating faster because of the smile on her lips.

Algernon fully approved of her appearance. He went to her and took up her hand. “Perfection.”

He brought her into the room and presented her to Varley. “Maggie, this is Lord Varley. Varley, may I present Margaret Black, my betrothed.”

Varley opened his mouth as he stared at them, but no sound came out. And then he started to laugh. “You devil! You could have told me last night you were engaged, but I see now why you looked so deuced smug. If I were in your position again, I wouldn’t tell anyone I’d found such a beauty until after the wedding day was long over, too.”

Varley came over and bowed to Maggie.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Black. My wife will be thrilled to learn I will win that wager at White’s, as it is clear this will be the love match of the year, given the twinkle in my friend’s eye.”

Maggie curtsied to him. “My lord.”