Lord Love a Duke by Renee Reynolds

a small groan at the sight of the
audience just outside her chamber. "Get rid of everyone" she hissed
to Miranda.

    "Juliet is fine, Lady Lansdowne. I came in
her room without knocking and caused her to have a small fit. I'll
ring for more chocolate and help settle her nerves. It was my fault
she screamed."

    Lady Lansdowne stretched to look over
Miranda's shoulder and Juliet gave her a little wave of
acknowledgment and dismissal. She glimpsed several unidentifiable
heads behind her mother and groaned again in embarrassment.
"There's nothing to see! I'm perfectly fine! Continue with your
morning!" Juliet yelled from behind the screen. "Blast it, Miranda,
shut the door!" she hissed again.

    Miranda gave a jaunty salute and slammed the
door on the onlookers. She turned and motioned to the maid to come
out of the dressing room and help her friend. Juliet slowly emerged
from the protection of the screen and glared at Miranda as Lily
tried to sop up the chocolate mess. The cup had hit the carpet but
the contents had thankfully spilled mostly onto the hardwood
floor.

    "Shall we start over again, with you
knocking politely and asking permission to enter my chamber?" She
picked up the silk chemise from her bed and began to dress, having
emerged from the hip bath just prior to this interruption.

    "Bugger it, I said I'm sorry! I did not know
you would be so startled."

    "You did not apologize, and you burst into
the room with the volume of cannon fire, so it's no wonder I
screamed." Juliet poked her friend in the shoulder for
emphasis.

    "Well allow me to apologize formally, my
lady," Miranda offered with a showy bow and impressive leg. "I have
good reason to be excited, and you will, too. You'll never guess
who will be here by early afternoon." Silence settled over the room
as the ladies stood staring at each other with increasingly wider
eyes and expectant expressions. Lily stopped her cleaning in
anticipation of the news.

    "Well? Are you going to tell me?"

    "I thought you were going to guess,"
returned Miranda.

    "Argh! I feel like I am in a French farce
this morning! You told me I'd never guess so I was not about to
try." Juliet blew out an exasperated breath as her maid rose from
the floor to help settle Juliet's damask silk gown over her head.
The rose color complemented her flushed cheeks and made her silver
eyes seem even more striking.

    "Oh, you're in rare form this morning, you
wench. I wouldn't tell you now except I'm too excited. This house
party is about to be improved by the addition of one Countess
Ashford, Catherine Allendale. Isn't that fantastic?"

    “Aunt Catherine is coming? Oh, that is
exciting news indeed. One never knows what my aunt will say with
each successive opening of her mouth. She is most diverting.”

    “To be sure, but I have more nefarious
motives in desiring her arrival. She will surely be against this
marriage scheme of Jonas and Mama and will likely side with me to
thwart their plans. She suffers no restraint when it comes to
voicing her opinions and I shall be delighted to hear hers
concerning my sought-after matrimony. She will do quite nicely
indeed.”

    “I hardly think my aunt will step in and
admonish your mother against seeking a husband for her only
daughter. She may not have had a happy marriage, but she is
certainly not against the institution.”

    “She has supported your plans,” accused
Miranda. “Why not mine? I am not so far removed from your family as
to prevent her from taking up my cause.”

    “True, but you will have to persuade her to
your side. She will not simply ride roughshod over your family's
plans for your future. But if you win her to your side I daresay
the battle will have been decided most assuredly in your
favor.”
    “Oh, yes. She is the ultimate weapon to
unleash on Jonas. Mayhap I will sound her out then plant the seeds
of mistrust of his motives. If she can be won to our side I pity my
brother.”

    Juliet sent Miranda an assessing look. “We
must