There was no mistaking that deep voice. It wasn’t so much the voice, though. It was the monotone way that the voice communicated. Prim turned and saw the Duke of Greyhaven standing there, his hands behind his back.
The moment her sisters saw the Duke, they mumbled some excuse and made themselves scarce. They were totally intimidated by the Duke. Another reason that their parents’ plan would totally fail.
“Your Grace,” Prim curtsied.
“I see you are wearing my necklace. I trust it is adequate?”
“It is very beautiful, thank you.”
“Beauty is subjective, but I understand the notion.”
“Don’t you think we can also find beauty in symmetry?”
“I haven’t thought about that. It is an interesting observation.”
The Duke looked at her as if appraising an asset. It was clinical and methodical.
“Miss Primrose, the fact that you are in possession of intellect as well, makes you one step higher than the ladies of the ton.”
“Your Grace, I think you are being too harsh,” Prim tried.
“I beg to differ,” he deadpanned. “But I will indulge you.”
“Uhm…” Prim was lost. “How do you like the party so far? I just got here.”
“I know. I observed you.”
Prim found his sincerity refreshing.
“Still haven’t answered the question,” Prim teased.
“I was attempting to avoid answering. You might call meharshtwice in such a short span of time. I tend to avoid that.”
Prim chuckled. She knew that many thought of the Duke as boring, but they failed to see the veiled humor behind the cold mask.
“But not always quite succeeding, right, Greyhaven?”
Prim stood absolutely still. Leo was here, his impeccable timing in full use. It was the second time she found herself caught between the two men, and it was a cold, cold place to be. She looked at Leo first, but he was fixated on how close the Duke of Greyhaven was standing.
“Mildenhall,” the Duke acknowledged.
Prim saw that there was more Leo wanted to say, but he managed to tame his impulse and turned to her. He bowed and then saw the precious jewel around her neck.
What could possibly have gotten into him? He seemed to lose all his levity around Nathaniel. Then a thought came over her. Leo was the reason she was dragged in this mess and he was many things but he was also an honorable man. he must have felt responsible for her, not wanting her to have a bad match in marriage.
“Miss Primrose,” Leo smiled. “This piece is certainly not you.”
“What can you possibly mean?” Prim sent him a warning look.
“I simply mean that the stones are precious, yet it doesn’t suit you. It is too heavy for your delicate neck, the colors don’t complement your skin color, and it is too flashy for your personality.”
Prim ground her jaw and swallowed. Still, his scrutiny made her blush, the look of his taking all of her face in too much for her to bear.
“In fact, Miss Primrose, I think a completely different set of adornment would make your beauty stand out more.”
Prim knew it was all a show for a one-man audience, but she couldn’t hold back the little smile that curved her lips at hearing him call her beautiful.
“I see,” the Duke said dryly. “Then I take it, Mildenhall, you don’t like my taste.”
