Felicity currently managed their homes, but of course would not be there forever. While nothing could replace his sister, Cole was certain Diana would make quick work of taking over a household. In fact, hadn’t Thaddeus said that Diana’s first act upon becoming his ward had been to reorganize his home in order to maximize efficiency?
Cole could not imagine a more Diana-ish reaction.
As for her secret life… what if it didn’t have to be secret? The Duchess of Colehaven would command more deference than the mousy under-secretary of an imaginary barrister. Perhaps they could even go on such missions together.
Not that they’d need to do so for long. Cole had successfully pushed weights and measures reform once before. He had no doubt he could do so again. Perhaps not the exact way Diana envisioned, but their aims were the same. Improving the everyday lives of fellow citizens.
“And now Your Grace,” said the attendant, sweeping toward Cole with reams of fabric in his hands.
Cole stared at him. “How can you possibly be done selecting every button and material necessary for a complete season’s worth of gowns?”
The attendant’s eyes widened with awe. “Your friend is remarkably efficient.”
Chapter 13
Friend. That was how the shopkeeper had referred to Cole’s relationship with Diana.
Cole supposed it was true enough. But it was far from all he wanted.
When he dropped Diana back at her town house, he invited her to dine at his ducal residence later that evening. Cole’s sister—and an army of servants—would be there to play chaperone, but he encouraged her to bring her cousin and as many maids as she pleased all the same.
He wanted to do this right.
But there was the small matter of a certain wager to dispense with first. He left a note for Thaddeus to call upon him at his earliest convenience, then directed his driver straight to the Wicked Duke.
“Colehaven!” came the familiar chorus as he stepped in from the cold. Clinking glasses and smiling faces surrounded him.
He made his way to his usual spot alongside Eastleigh.
“I resign from the wager,” Cole announced.
“You can’t resign from a wager,” Eastleigh admonished him.
“He can lose, though!” someone else called out.
Laughter mixed with the sound of clinking glasses.
“He can’t havelost,” Eastleigh said.
“Because of his winning streak?” someone asked.
“Ten years isn’t forever,” someone else agreed.
“You have until the end of the season,” Eastleigh said in surprise. “I have never witnessed you giving up, much less four months early.”
“This isn’t surrender,” Cole assured him. “This is the eve of battle.”
As skilled a chess player as Diana might be, he doubted she anticipated his next move. But if Cole was in, he wasin. He would convince her their union was the best possible future.
“Fetch me the betting book,” Eastleigh called out, then lowered his voice toward Cole. “Does Thad know?”
Cole shook his head. “I’ve requested an audience this afternoon.”
Something in his voice or face must have caused suspicion, because Eastleigh’s green eyes narrowed.
“Does theladyknow?” he asked dryly.
“I’m not certain she suspects,” Cole admitted. “But I owe her both honesty and respect. I cannot ask for her hand whilst my friends all have money riding on the outcome.”
