Page 8 of Winning Her Duke

“We don’t have time to puzzle out his intent now. The easiest way to know what he’s about is to meet him and find out.”

“And if his intent is dishonorable, I can punch him?” Gia confirmed.

“We’ll see.” Lydia was the one to roll her eyes this time, as if she hadn’t told Gia how unladylike it was every day since Gia arrived. “Right now, you must get ready. Bess, put her in blue, she looks lovely in it. And Jessie, get the paint out of her hair. I’ll go prepare the kitchens with instructions to bring tea.”

Lydia scurried off as Bess and Jessie set to work on transforming Gia into a grand beauty in the shortest time possible. By the time Lydia returned, Gia was presentable and ready to meet the duke. Really? A duke?

She wasn’t looking to land a husband at all, content to keep to her horses, but even she was impressed that she’d managed to earn the attentions of a duke. So long as his intentions were honorable. She didn’t bother to get her hopes up on that possibility. Men feigned being honorable; few truly were.

She clenched her fingers into a fist. Donald, the stable boy, had taught her how to throw a punch and she was ready to defend her honor if called up to do so.

“Be sure to employ ladylike decorum during the visit. No eye-rolling, shrugging, or speaking of the stables,” Lydia reminded her.

“Of course.” She didn’t want to ruin Lydia’s excitement, but the closer Gia got to the drawing room where the duke waited, the more Gia was convinced it was some kind of mistake.

When they entered and Gia saw the surprise on the man’s face, she was all the more certain the tall, blond Scot—the one who had intrigued her at the ball the night before—had not meant to call on her.

*

Hale lounged on the sturdiest-looking piece of furniture in the elegant drawing room where he was taken to wait for Giovanni Landon. He was surprised to be brought to a room like this instead of a study where men conducted business.

He turned when people entered the room, though neither of them were the person he’d come to see.

Two women bowed before him. Neither a debutante or a mama based on their ages but disconcerting all the same. He glanced at the door behind him that led out to the garden. It would make a suitable escape if necessary.

“Good day, Your Grace. It is so nice of you to visit us today,” the older of the two women said. She looked rather familiar. He had probably met her in the past. Then he remembered the house he was in.

“Lady Tomison. It is nice to see you again.” The woman smiled as if pleased he’d remembered her. He remembered her late husband who had been much older than his wife.

The countess looked the opposite of the other woman in every way. Tiny with pale skin, hair, and eyes, she seemed almost a ghost compared to the dark-haired, obsidian-eyed beauty he’d noticed the night before at the ball.

Though he kept his gaze on their faces, something about the younger woman made him feel like she would put him in his place if he were ill-mannered.

He had no idea why they were here in the drawing room. But if he were to be foisted into a frilly room like some awkward gentleman caller, at least it was with someone as lovely as her.

Still, he had no intention of being set upon by this woman or any other.

He turned to the younger woman who was clearly no simpering miss. In fact, she looked only slightly more interested now than she had at the ball last night.

When Lady Tomison offered to order tea, he worried she thought this was a social call.

“I believe we’ve met at other functions,” Lady Tomison said.

“Aye. I knew your husband.” Just from his club, but still it was an association and people clung to those in these situations. Heaven forbid, two people who never met simply start speaking to one another.

“Please allow me to introduce you to my dear friend, Miss Gia Landon. Should we sit?” She gestured to the room.

He waited for the ladies to settle next to each other across from the single chair he’d chosen. Miss Gia Landon tilted her head as if she were studying him. He assumed by her name she must be the daughter or sister to the man Hale had come to see about the horse.

“It is a lovely day, is it not, Your Grace?” Lady Tomison nudged Miss Gia as if prompting her to speak.

“Yes. The day is…” She quickly glanced toward the window and back to him. “Filled with daylight.” She blinked slowly before going on. “As opposed to the night which has no daylight at all.”

“Aye,” he agreed. Clearing his throat, he sat closer to the edge of his seat, ready to put an end to this. For all of their sakes. “I’m afraid there’s been some confusion.”

He was certain he heard Miss Gia, murmur something that sounded like, “Oh, thank God.”

“I’ve actually come today to speak to Giovanni Landon about a horse. Is he at home?”