How to Tempt a Duke
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Madeline Martin
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34
Prologue
As reported in the Lady Observer, from the evening of April the fifth, 1814, the below on-dits—following a very detailed account of lobster patties, chilled oysters and a decadent lemon syllabub.
What is a sumptuous affair without a bit of scandal?
It all began when a certain Belle of the Season danced not only a second set with a blue-eyed earl with whom we are all acquainted, but a third. As if that were not enough for the rapacious attendees to feast upon, the Earl then took the lady’s face in his hands and kissed her.
Mercy me!
Following this salacious display of affection came their official announcement of engagement, which produced a collective look of relief from the attendees. And disappointment from some, I’d wager, as there are always those who love a taste of scandal to season their tongues.
Suffice it to say the entire scene was quite riveting. Some might even say romantic.
And perhaps this Lady Observer might agree, were it not for the other person in this tale who warrants consideration. After all, before the Belle of the Season emerged in mid-March and blossomed with the enviable beauty of a summer bloom, there was another who caught the cerulean gaze of the Earl.
There was no mention of an engagement, this is true, but all believed there would be in time. Including the lady, no doubt.
While one cannot blame the Belle of the Season, to whom the burgeoning relationship was unknown, neither can one blame love, which strikes fast and without warning.
Regardless of where the blame lies, the tale has not ended happily for a lady who masks it so well she’s earned the unfortunate moniker of Ice Queen.
She has watched the entire heartbreaking scene unfold before her dry eyes with a composure tightly reined, as if she were bored. While this only perpetuates rumors of her cold nature, one cannot help but wonder at her ability to maintain such stoicism after everything she’s been through in recent years.
If her heart is truly ice, as some claim, it stands to reason that it would shatter more easily when broken...
In other observations, Lady Norrick’s gown was quite the thing. So many beads adorned her dress she had to keep sitting to alleviate its pressing weight...
And on went the article, further educating those who had been unable to attend on how very fine Lady Norrick’s gown was...
