The wicked countess had remained beside him, no doubt curious to see what he would do as she passed. Goodness, this woman was crafty and manipulative.
In the next moment, the evil woman stuck her foot out and tripped Cherish. She cried out, finding herself about to fall.
“Cherish!” The duke caught her before she tumbled. “Are you all right?”
She nodded, having safely landed in his arms. “Yes, how clumsy of me,” she said, her heart racing at the near disaster. “I…I must have tripped on something.”
How could she tell him that his first love had purposely stuck out her foot to send her toppling? Would he believe her?
His arms remained circled around her. “You look a bit unsteady on your feet. Fiona’s cook put a little extra spirits in everything tonight. Take a moment to catch your breath. I have you.”
She nodded again, just wanting to stay in his embrace all night.
“You look exceptionally pretty, by the way. What have you done differently?”
“Fiona had her maid help me with my hair, and she chose my gown. Otherwise, I would have looked like my usual country mouse self.”
He frowned. “You have never looked like a mouse. But tonight”—his frown melted away and he grinned—“you are a breathtaking angel.”
Truly? Did he think so?
She laughed. “Fiona will be pleased her efforts were a success.”
“Top marks for her,” he said in a husky whisper, and then released her.
She walked off to the parlor, knowing she had made an enemy of the countess, who now followed closely behind.Cherish felt the icy feline gaze at her back. The woman’s scheme to trip her had worked to throw her into the duke’s arms instead. Not at all what that evil woman had intended.
Lady Margaret approached Cherish as she entered the parlor. The girl was frowning and appeared worried. “Lady Cherish, may I have a word with you?”
Cherish nodded. “Of course. What is wrong?”
Margaret led her aside so they could speak in private. “My parents are pushing me toward the Duke of Bromleigh, but he is too old for me and I do not want him.”
Cherish smothered a chortle. “Well, he is not all that old.”
“He is almost my father’s age, and… Well, he is always scowling, and he frightens me. I rather like his nephew, Lord Burton. He is fun and cheerful, but he enjoys your company far more than he does mine because you are so clever and I am not. He likes intelligent women, and I shall never be that. In truth, I have never felt more stupid than at supper tonight.”
Cherish put her hand lightly over Lady Margaret’s. “No, you were pleasant and charming. Everyone thought you were delightful.”
“I was a dolt and everyone knew it. I could hardly follow any of the conversations until you turned the topic to my opal and my uncle’s travels. Thank you for that. It was a much easier topic for me to follow, and I could actually speak on the subject without sounding like the peahen they all think I am.” Margaret emitted a ragged sigh and continued. “You are so very smart, and I much admire you. Can you teach me to be clever?”
“So that you can impress Lord Burton?”
She blushed. “Yes, but do you mind? I know he likes you. Even if he did not, I would not interfere if you liked him. He deserves someone as wonderful as you.”
“Oh, Margaret, I do not think I am all that wonderful. But I do hope you and I shall become friends.”
The girl nodded enthusiastically. “I would love that.”
“As for Lord Burton, he and I are friends and that is all. If you care for him, then by all means, go after him.”
Margaret’s eyes rounded in obvious surprise. “Then I have your permission?”
Cherish had noticed Reggie’s growing attraction to Margaret as well. But the girl was right in believing he did not take her seriously enough yet. He thought she was fun and quite pretty, but he was used to smart women like Fiona, so it was very possible he would dismiss Margaret as a frivolous bauble unless Cherish and Fiona helped her out.
On top of that, Reggie was distracted with their scheme to lure the duke into marryingher. The ups and downs of that subterfuge confused even her, and she knew what was going on. How was Margaret ever to compete with that?
Not that Cherish approved of Fiona’s schemes or Reggie’s eagerness to participate in them. She was participating as well, she supposed. But only because she truly believed she had fallen in love with the duke.
