A Night With the Bride

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Huge thanks to my editor, Lauren Plude, for her keen eye and kind words, and to my agents, Nancy Yost and Sarah Younger, for their thoughtful and encouraging guidance.

And, as always, special thanks to my writing sisters, Brenna Aubrey, Jennifer Haymore, and Maria Powers. Thank you for your tough love, encouragement, and unfailing friendship.

And thanks to my parents, husband, and children, for being so amazing.

N
othing livened up a house party like the arrival of a duke. Indeed, every unattached female between the ages of sixteen and thirty were instantly on alert, tripping all over themselves to gain the duke’s notice.

Gabriella Weatherfield stood with Julia and Mary, her dearest friends, in the Leventhorpes’ parlor and watched Nicholas Montgomery, the infamous Duke of Somerset, with interest. He was younger than she’d envisioned, and tall with broad shoulders, sandy-colored hair, startling blue eyes, and a glare that could subdue an army.

He and his sister had arrived this morning in a flurry of coaches, trunks, and servants. They’d descended on the already raging house party like an invading army, causing a general sense of confusion and mayhem throughout the house.

“The ‘Unseducible’ Duke of Somerset,” Julia said in an excited whisper. “He hasn’t been out in society since his intended cried off in the middle of their engagement ball three years ago. She left in tears and he is said to have gone mad.”

“Curious.” Gabriella flicked a glance his way. “I wonder what drew him out into society after all this time.”

Julia shrugged. “Whatever the reason, every woman present will be vying for his particular attention.”

Mary gave Julia a blank stare. “They can clamor for his attention all they like, but they call him the ‘unseducible duke’ for a reason. Look at him; he hasn’t moved from that spot all night, and no one besides Mr. Leventhorpe has dared speak to him.”

“If he’s breathing, then he can be seduced.” Gabriella flicked her gaze over his powerful frame and devilishly handsome features. “I’d wager my fortune on it.”

Gabriella had never
intentionally
seduced a man, but after three years on the marriage mart and half a dozen proposals, she had enough experience with them to know just how tiresome and predictable they could be—especially when it came to the fairer sex.

“You sound awfully confident,” Julia said.

“You couldn’t possibly seduce the duke,” Mary said, haughty. “Let’s forget, for a moment, that he is clearly unsociable. There is still the fact that your father is in
trade
and you aren’t likely to attract the attention of a peer. For men of his station, beauty and wealth are nothing without breeding.”

Gabriella might have been offended by the way Mary whispered
trade
, as though it were a filthy secret, if Mary weren’t also a tradesman’s daughter. The fact was, Gabriella’s father had accumulated a great deal of wealth through dedication and hard work—which was something to be admired in Gabriella’s view. She refused to feel ashamed.

“Not every aristocrat is a shortsighted cur, Mary. I do believe even someone like me could tempt a peer.”

Mary pursed her lips, her brown curls glinting in the candlelight. She hated being wrong. The woman could talk a point to death, even when she was clearly in error. For two weeks, she’d once insisted the sky was not blue, as popularly thought, but a very distinct shade of azure, which was somehow different. “Then prove it. We have three days left of the party. If you can win a kiss from the duke by the ball on the last evening, then I will admit I am wrong.”

A thrill of excitement washed over Gabriella. Every year the Leventhorpes had a house party, and every year, on the last night, they held a grand soiree, inviting every family of distinction within twenty miles. It was one of the most anticipated events in the entire county, and the perfect backdrop for something exhilarating and all together improper to take place.

Julia clapped her hands together in excitement. “Oh, this I
must
see. Do accept the dare, Gabriella, if only for the amusement of hearing Mary admit she is wrong about something. Consider it my early birthday present.”

“Your birthday isn’t for six months yet,” Gabriella said. “And if I’m doing this at all, it’s to prove that even tradesmen’s daughters are worthy of a duke’s attentions.”

A point simply
must
be made on the subject. And if she had to kiss a duke to prove that point, well, that was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

Gabriella swallowed and glanced at Somerset, who stood just a short distance away. A wave of doubt suddenly struck her. Could she convince him to fancy her in just three days? It seemed like such an infinitesimal amount of time. The task seemed momentous, especially given his propensity to scowl at any given female who stepped into his line of vision.

For the first time, she questioned herself. Perhaps he
wouldn’t
find her desirable. Perhaps he would turn her away, just as Mary said he would.

Mary must have read the uncertainty on Gabriella’s face. Flipping her fan open, she sighed. “We must accept that women of our kind aren’t likely to attract men of his distinction.”

“Women of our
kind
? My God, Mary, you speak as though we are another species entirely—like rabbits or kangaroos!” She released a heavy sigh. Mary’s grim outlook could not be borne. It simply couldn’t. Gabriella’s pride wouldn’t allow it. “Very well, I will take you up on your challenge. But when I win, I will not hear another disparaging word about our
kind
again, is that clear?”

“Quite,” Mary said.

“Excellent.” Gabriella let out a breath and glanced at the duke. He hadn’t moved, which was no great surprise. If she didn’t know better, she’d have thought his boots were nailed to the floorboards. “I shall get on with it then.”

Three days. Good heavens, what had she agreed to?

“Wait,” she said, whirling back on her friends. “We haven’t been introduced.”

“Oh,” Julia said. “Yes, you are quite right. Well, that is a predicament indeed.”

Working hard to conceal her relief, Gabriella shook her head bleakly. “And he would have been such a jolly conquest. What a pity.”

“Ask Mr. Leventhorpe to introduce you,” Mary said.

Both Gabriella and Julia gaped at her in horror.

“The lady introduced to the gentleman?” Julia laughed, as though it were all a great joke. “Really, Mary, the idea!”

“Well.” Mary shrugged. “If Gabriella can’t manage it, then I suppose she must admit defeat.”

“That is hardly fair.” Gabriella stopped just short of stomping her foot. “It isn’t my fault we haven’t been introduced.”

“If he hasn’t asked for an introduction, then we can only presume that you haven’t captured his notice, and you are therefore unsuitable.”

Gabriella glared. To lose before the challenge had even begun was not an option worth considering. Stubbornness was in her blood. Her father had not accumulated his vast fortune by admitting defeat easily. She
would
persevere.

With a tight smile, Gabriella said, “You are wrong, and it will give me great pleasure to prove it. Mark my words, his grace will be eating out of my palm by breakfast.”

Mary pursed her lips. “We shall see.”

Straightening her spine, Gabriella brushed past her friends and strode confidently toward James Leventhorpe, their host and a close friend. She tapped him on the shoulder, and when he turned around to face her, she flashed him a sunny smile. “I need a favor.”

“You need only ask,” he said with his usual lazy charm.

“Introduce me to His Grace.”

The moment the words left her mouth, his lips quirked. “That, my dear, is impossible. He isn’t moving from that spot, I can assure you. You might as well ask me to fetch you the moon.”

She frowned. “Well, if he will not come to me, then take
me
to
him
.”

“That would be highly improper.”

Gabriella scoffed. “And when have you ever done the
proper
thing? Just last month I heard you were scolded for dancing a waltz with a footman…and at Almack’s, no less!”

The prestigious club had revoked his membership forthwith for his déclassé behavior.

“That was
not
my fault,” he said defensively. “The wine was unusually potent, and the footman had excessively feminine features. Anyone could have made the same mistake.”

“He was a head taller than you,” Gabriella said flatly. “And he was wearing livery.”

“Good God, I can’t be expected to keep up with all the latest fashions.” He let out a harsh breath and glanced over her shoulder, to where the duke stood. “You are in luck. His sister has just joined him. Wait here.”

Gabriella stood patiently amid a group of guests, until James came back to fetch her. He tapped her nose. “
You
are in my debt.”

Gabriella smiled victoriously, curling her hand around James’s proffered arm as he led her to the duke and his sister. As they approached, Lady Emmeline turned to them and smiled.

“Lady Emmeline Montgomery, may I introduce Miss Gabriella Weatherfield?”

They curtsied, and after the necessary pleasantries, Lady Emmeline said, “May I introduce my brother, Nicholas Montgomery, the Duke of Somerset?”

The moment his assessing eyes settled on her, she sucked in a sharp, involuntary breath. Up close, he was deliciously handsome, with thick lashes, a square jaw, and lips that promised wicked, sinful delights. The urge to taste those lips tugged at her, but it was his eyes that intrigued her most. They were a vivid ice blue, and they raked over her with a lazy, calculating perusal.

After a long, awkward pause, he bowed stiffly. “I am honored to make your acquaintance, Miss Weatherfield.” Her name rolled off his tongue like a wicked promise, intimate and sinful…

So far, he’d lived up to his roguish reputation beautifully. Gabriella glanced over her shoulder at Julia and Mary, who watched from a distance, fans clutched to their chests in suspended anticipation. Gabriella smiled with all the self-assurance she
didn’t
feel. Truth be told, she felt slightly out of her depth. No, more than slightly. Enormously.

She let out a breath. She had better get this over with, and quickly, if she had any chance of success at all. With any luck, she could get the duke alone, launch herself at him, and catch him by surprise. The whole wretched thing could be over with in a matter of seconds.

Eyes wide to express urgency, Gabriella mouthed the words
the pianoforte
to Julia. A confused look passed over the girl’s face as she tried, in vain apparently, to read Gabriella’s lips.

The. Piano. Forte
, Gabriella mouthed again, slower.

Julia’s lips formed an O as she finally grasped Gabriella’s meaning. She rushed toward the vacant pianoforte and immediately began playing a country-dance.

Turning back to James, Somerset, and his sister, Gabriella smiled tightly. “Oh, how very fortuitous,” she said with false astonishment. “It’s your favorite song, Mr. Leventhorpe.”

He frowned. “Music is vile, in all its forms.”

Gabriella elbowed him in the side subtly. “Yes,
except this song
.” She emphasized the last through gritted teeth. “I’m sure Lady Emmeline would be honored to stand up with you.”

James glanced at Gabriella with a mixture of concern and amusement. “Are you all right? You appear quite agitated.”

Gabriella laughed. “Too much wine, I suppose.” She gestured toward the couples now dancing in the center of the room. “Go, dance. I will keep His Grace company in your absence.” She stared at James pointedly, lips pursed.

He seemed to understand then. Clearing his throat, he offered Lady Emmeline his hand. “Would you do me the honor?”

Lady Emmeline flashed a sidelong glance at Somerset and then took James’s hand. “I would indeed. Thank you.”

When they stepped away to join the other dancers in the center of the room, Gabriella turned to Somerset and flashed her most brilliant smile. “You’re enjoying yourself, I hope.”

Somerset’s mouth curled up into a half smile. He shook his head and walked away without a word.

Gabriella just stood there, stunned. Had he truly just walked away?

She glanced over her shoulder at Mary, who was laughing behind her white lace fan.
Laughing!
The humiliation was too great to bear.

With her temper threatening to boil over, she followed him out onto the terrace. Cool night air brushed her uncovered arms and made her shiver. The terrace was all but deserted, save Somerset, who stood at the granite banister, gazing out over the darkened garden.

“Well.” Hands on her hips, she glared at his back. “It appears we have dispensed with civilities. And when I say ‘we,’ I mean ‘you.’”

He turned to her, and a low chuckle issued from deep in his chest. “Have you no scruples, Miss Weatherfield?”

“Very few,” she answered honestly. “I believe in getting straight to the point.”

“Then perhaps you’ll enlighten me. Why did you orchestrate that introduction? What are you after?”

She shrugged and clasped her hands behind her back. “I’m curious about you—is that so wrong? You are a young, titled, handsome bachelor who has all but removed himself from society, only to reappear at
this
house party. The situation simply drips with intrigue. I’m determined to get to the bottom of your motivation.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Miss Weatherfield, but the truth is far from interesting. My sister wished to come, and I am loath to let her out of my sight.” He lifted his hands. “So here we are.”

Gabriella pursed her lips. There was more to it than that, she was certain. Just how much more…well,
that
was the question. The man was positively steeped in mystery, and for the first time in a very long while, she was genuinely intrigued.

“You seem like a very devoted brother.”

He smirked, as though he found her observation amusing. “
Devotion
is one word for it.”

“What would you call it?”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he glanced away, then looked back at her, his face impassive.

Well, perhaps she could engage his interests with a subject closer to the heart. “There is rumor that you are looking for a wife. Is that true?”

His gaze turned wicked. “Indeed, I am. Are you volunteering, Miss Weatherfield?”

Oh! Is that what he thought—that she had designs to become his wife? “No, no,” she said quickly. “No.” She shook her head. “I am most certainly not volunteering. No.”