Her Sisters Challenged Her To Sit Beside The Duke Whom Everyone Feared — But His Treatment Of Her Astonished Everyone

CHAPTER THREE: THE DARE RETURNS HOME

The Montley carriage was cold despite the warm evening.
Blanche sat opposite Selena, crushing her gloves between her fingers.
Verity watched the streetlamps slide past the window.
“You made a fool of us,” Blanche announced.
Selena kept the little wooden bird in her reticule.
Clara had asked her to take it home for repairs and return it the following afternoon.
“I sat in a chair,” Selena replied.
“You sat in the late duchess’s chair.”
“The duke invited me.”
“He invited you because he knew we were watching.”
Selena looked at her sister.
“Then perhaps you should not have watched so closely.

”
Verity gave an unwilling snort.
Blanche turned on her.
“Do not encourage her.”
Their father was waiting in the drawing room when they returned.
Sir Lionel Montley was a handsome man whose handsome appearance had survived the disappearance of nearly everything else he owned.
He listened to Blanche’s account with growing interest.
“The duke spoke to Selena for an entire hour?” he asked.
“He made a spectacle of her,” Blanche insisted.
“That was not the question.”
“Yes,” Selena said.
Sir Lionel leaned back.
“And he expects to see you again?”
“His niece asked me to repair a toy.”
“His niece?”
Selena nodded.

Her father’s expression sharpened.
“Then you will return it personally.”
“I intended to.”
“You will wear your green dress.”
“The green dress belongs to Blanche.”
“Then Blanche will lend it.”
Blanche rose.
“Father, absolutely not.”
“You wanted your sister to meet the duke,” Sir Lionel said.
“I am merely encouraging the acquaintance you arranged.”
Selena recognized the calculation behind his smile.
Her father had spent the winter trying to persuade a wealthy relative to rescue the family’s dwindling estate.
Now he imagined a duke might be easier to persuade than a cousin.
“I will return the bird,” Selena said.
“I will not ask His Grace for money.

”
Sir Lionel’s face hardened.
“You will do as I tell you.”
“I will behave respectfully,” Selena answered.
“That is all I can promise.”
He dismissed her with a gesture.
As she reached the stairs, Verity caught her arm.
“Did the duke really laugh?” she whispered.
“Yes.”
“At you?”
Selena considered the question.
“I do not think so.”
Verity glanced toward the drawing room.
“Blanche has already told three people that he intends to marry you.”
“That is absurd.”
“Of course it is,” Verity said.
But she did not sound entirely certain.