How to Seduce a Duke by Kathryn Caskie Page A

about opening it? Did he fear the card might contain instructions to refrain from seeing her again? After all, to her it might have appeared that Quinn, a war hero and all, had done nothing to stop his roguish brother from attacking her. Or, more likely, she’d found another deep-pocketed target later on at the rout.
    Yes, yes. Fanciful thoughts. But the prospect of hearing an end to Miss Royle’s campaign to snare his brother’s ring made Rogan nearly giddy.
    Still Quinn made no move to open the letter.
    Bloody hell, Rogan could endure no longer. He had to know what was inside that letter. “I have eaten all I can manage this morn,” Rogan began, hoping Quinn would not notice his nearly full plate of food. “I shall read it aloud for you while you eat. After all, we have no secrets, do we, Brother?”
    Before Quinn could reply, Rogan stole the card from the tray. He broke the gold wax wafer, unfolded the letter, glanced down the page and— damn.
    Not from Miss Royle .
    “’Tis from Lady Tidwell.” Ah yes, his contingency scheme. But so soon? Now this was interesting. Rogan held the letter out to Quinn. “Surely you wish to read it.”
    “Oh, very well. Give it to me.” Quinn brought the letter to his eyes and silently read for several seconds.
    What was that he just saw? Rogan watched his brother intently for a reaction. Could it be a hint of a smile? A glimmer of interest?
    “How does Lady Tidwell?” Rogan asked. “I scarcely had two words with her. And it was her first venture into society after her mourning period ended, too. You spoke with her, didn’t you, Quinn?”
    “I did.” He seemed quite distracted at the moment, which Rogan took to be a good omen. “Her brother, Lieutenant Spinner, has accepted a commission with another regiment. Only in Town for a short while. Seems he’s heading off to India in the morning. Good man, Spinner.”
    Quinn looked up at Rogan, his face no longer cinched with worry but instead suffused with brightness and cheer. “We, uh, served together in Toulouse , you know.”
    “Oh, did you? I hadn’t been aware.” But of course Rogan had been. In fact, it was Quinn’s close association with Lady Tidwell’s brother that made her the perfect choice as a distraction for Quinn.
    “She has extended an invitation to me to dine with the two of them this afternoon... before he leaves.” Quinn lowered the letter to his lap, his eyes suddenly astray in thought. “I do so wish to accept, but—”
    “But nothing!” Rogan took a step closer and slapped his brother’s back hard but good-naturedly, to snap him from his thoughts of calling upon Miss Royle instead. “I know where your mind is lingering. Look here. Accept Lady Tidwell’s invitation. You, yourself, commented on how short life can be, especially for a soldier.”
    Quinn turned his gaze upward. Rogan’s point had been taken. “But after last night... I should—”
    “Bloody hell, Quinn. If you must, if you absolutely must call on Miss Royle and Lady Upperton , you can do so after dinner—or better yet, tomorrow, when Miss Royle has had a chance to calm herself properly after my... indiscretion. ”
    “Yes, I suppose you could be right.” Quinn happily popped an apple wedge into his mouth and began to chew.
    “That’s my man.” Rogan patted Quinn’s shoulder again, then quit the room and headed above stairs for his chamber.
    He snapped his fingers at a nearby footman and asked him to summon his valet at once. He needed to look his best, for he had two very important calls to make right away.
    First to Lady Upperton .
    And then to the gel with the gleam of gold guineas in her eyes.
    Miss Royle .
     
    Mary lowered the spout of the chocolate pot over Elizabeth ’s chipped, but perfectly serviceable, cup and began to pour.
    Last night had certainly been the worst of her life. Never before had she been so humiliated. The Duke of Blackstone was a blackguard and should be locked away for the good of all