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Eleanor retraced his figure in her mind. He was tall. That much was easy to remember. And broad. Shoulders wide and thick. Both gave him presence, but not as much as his character did. Eleanor didn’t know what she saw in his eyes, but she was spellbound by him, and if he asked her to⁠—

“Seven,” Nathaniel repeated.

Eleanor spun and put the man out of her field of view, looking only at her brother.

“Yes, of course,” she gasped. “Seven, Nate. Which is why I am here at precisely seven. What is it you wanted to see me about?”

Is it the fine gentleman I cannot look at?

“Eleanor.” Nathaniel tilted his head forward a little as he spoke to her, and then he turned to the other man. “Your Grace, may I present my sister, Lady Eleanor.”

Eleanor had no option but to turn and face the duke, or she would be showing bad manners. When she did, she kept her eyes down and looked at his mouth as he spoke.

“Good evening, Lady Eleanor,” the duke greeted.

“Eleanor, this is the Duke of Ravenshire,” Nathaniel continued.

Of course! But why is he here? This is my first Season, and he brings me up here to meet his best friend? A man who is notoriously single! He can’t think that⁠—

“Eleanor!” Nathaniel hissed.

“Your Grace,” Eleanor said quickly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I have heard a lot about you from my brother.”

Gabriel Devereux. She knew him well from mentions and gossip around London, and from what her brother had told her. He was an imposing man who was often feared. Eleanor hadn’t gotten a good enough look at him yet to decide for herself whether that was true or not, and she wasn’t about to be caught staring at him.

“And I have heard a lot about you,” the duke replied. His hand touched his trouser pocket as if he had secret information stowed away in there.

“Well, this is far more awkward than I expected,” Nathaniel said. He cleared his throat. “As you both now know, I will be leaving the country on a diplomatic mission in the coming days, and that is rather unfortunate timing, given your debut this London Season. So, arrangements have been made.”

Please don’t say it! Please don’t say it! Please don’t tell me that you have promised me to your friend because you can’t be here to supervise me!

“While I am away,” Nathaniel continued, “His Grace has agreed to oversee your Season.”

Eleanor let out a sigh of relief and smiled easily. That smile quickly left her face as she considered the implication. She was not to be married to the man; she was to be watched by him.

She turned to her brother once more. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“You don’t,” Nathaniel agreed. “You need someone to chaperone you.”

“Mother can do that,” Eleanor complained.

Nathaniel shook his head. “Mother has her own set of problems right now.”

“So, that is what I am? A problem?”

Nathaniel smirked and leaned back against the wall. “Do you want me to answer that?”

Eleanor folded her arms across her chest and rolled her eyes. “I can look after myself.”

“That is not in doubt, Ellie,” Nathaniel countered. “What you do need is someone you can trust to guide you and to keep unwanted men from you. His Grace has very graciously agreed to assist with that, and he is a very busy man, which means we take that as a great compliment.”

Eleanor considered that new information. Perhaps she could use the duke to her advantage. She had no problem rebuffing advances, but it would look far better for her if the rejection came from him. No man would question or argue against him. It would simplify choosing an adequate match.

Eleanor took a breath and looked back at the duke. Now that she knew why he was there, she was able to hold his gaze once more. There was no denying how handsome the man was, but he was not the match she was looking for.

He would be fun, no doubt, and perhaps she could even bring a smile to his lips with her mischievous nature, but he was more valuable now as an asset to her courtships.

Perhaps she would suit a man like him? In looks, of course, but not in nature.