“I have heard things though I am not entirely sure of them,” Daphne continued. “People say that he was not born into his title. The late Duke of Giltburg had no heirs, and after some rather scandalous circumstances, Evan Marwood—who had no noble blood whatsoever—was granted the title by special decree.”
Isadora’s brows lifted in mild surprise.A man not of noble birth rising to the status of a duke? Unusual, at the very least.
“He was raised a commoner?” she asked, unable to keep the curiosity from her voice.
Violet nodded. “Yes, and unlike most men who suddenly find themselves thrust into wealth, he has never quite learned the art of smoothing his edges. He can be…” She hesitated then said delicately, “Rough.”
Daphne smirked. “That is a generous way of putting it. He does not care for the rules of society, nor does he go out of his way to follow them.”
Violet shot her a look. “That does not mean he is a bad man.”
Daphne waved a hand. “I never said he was. I only said he was… unconventional.”
Violet turned to Isadora, her expression more serious. “I have met him a few times. He is improper, yes. Inappropriate, sometimes. But he is also… kind.”
Isadora frowned slightly. “Then why does society seem to loathe him?”
Daphne let out an unladylike snort. “Because he is everything they are not. He was not born among them, yet he is more powerful than most of them. He does not bend to their rules, yet they must acknowledge him. And most of all, he is ruthless in business.”
Violet nodded. “That, and he never lets anyone forget that he made himself. The other nobles—they inherited their power. He took his.”
Isadora pondered this. It was not often that someone outside of the nobility found their way into the upper echelons of society. No wonder he unsettled them. He was a man who did not belong to their world, and yet he had mastered it.
And now, she was in his debt.
She exhaled. “Is there anything else I should know?”
Violet hesitated then nodded. “Yes. He is currently looking for a wife.”
Isadora nearly stumbled in her step. “What?”
Daphne grinned. “Oh, yes. The papers say he has been seen at several balls in search of a suitable duchess.”
“Though I suspect his definition ofsuitableis quite different from what the ton expects,” Violet added.
Isadora hardly knew what to make of that.
Daphne smirked. “You look rather pale, Isadora.”
She forced herself to breathe. “I do not know what you mean.”
Violet sighed dramatically. “Perhaps the dear duke will ask you to help him find a bride as payment.”
Daphne gasped in mock horror. “Or worse—perhaps he will decide you will do.”
Isadora shot them both a deadly glare.
She hated how, despite herself, her thoughts had suddenly turned back to the way his voice had dipped low at her ear, to the quiet promise in his words.
Expect my visit.
She shook herself.
Nonsense.
A man like that would have no interest in her.
And she did not have any interest in him.
