A few people laughed, while Lord and Lady Brayson looked a little scandalized, perhaps at such a bald reference to their daughter giving birth.
“Where are the chocolates?” Charlotte hissed in Amity’s ear.
“Just wait.”
Someone near them frowned at their talking during the duke’s speech, and Amity squeezed her sister’s hand again to silence her. He continued to praise Lady Madeleine’s beauty while having very little else to say about her. Thus, the speech was rather short before he asked, “Does everyone have a glass?”
They all held up their champagne.
“Good. I plan to ask the lady a very important question in front of all of you tonight. But first, I thought it best to ply her with something as sweet as she is. Something so impossibly delicious, if I promise to provide them to her for a lifetime, she can hardly refuse my request.”
Again, people laughed. By this time, the guests all realized they were there to witness an engagement. They also knew it was basically a grand stunt, for no woman on earth would deny the hand of a duke even if he proposed over a piece of overcooked mutton with a glass of water.
Suddenly, two servants entered, and those behind Amity parted to let them pass. Right between her and Charlotte went two maids carrying trays of chocolates, which they set upon the table now nearly devoid of champagne glasses. As they set the silver trays down, Amity wished she’d remembered in her nervousness upon arrival to suggest porcelain.
Standing on tiptoe, she looked at the confectionery, blinked, and looked again. Horror of horrors, she realized a terrible error had been made.
Chapter Eighteen
Gasping, Amity drewthe attention of those around her and even the duke a few feet away, who turned in her direction and gave her his familiar smile.
“What’s the matter?” Charlotte asked softly.
“They’ve put outallthe chocolates, including those meant for His Grace alone.”
“I didn’t know about—” her sister started, but the duke began speaking again.
“There she is.” He gestured toward Amity and every head turned toward her. “The chocolatier, herself. If you haven’t been introduced to her as yet, my friends, this is Miss Rare-Foure of Rare Confectionery on New Bond Street, and her sister, Miss Charlotte.”
Amity’s hands were clenched, wondering if she should speak up and tell the duke. How humiliating it would be, having to go in front of everyone and pick through the trays to separate the round cocoa-dusted balls she’d made for him from the flower-shapedBraysons. Regardless, the duke wouldn’t want her to be at the table, next to Lady Madeleine. This wastheirspecial moment, and Amity’s presence would ruin it!
Meanwhile, her sister gave a little wave of acknowledgment, looking happy.
“I make marzipan confectionery,” Charlotte told the crowd proudly before offering her sweet smile.
Someone nearby snickered. Amity’s head whipped around to locate the offending person, outraged on her sister’s behalf. Most of the people around them, however, murmured kind words or said nothing, waiting for the duke to continue.
