“His Grace, the Duke of Darrington.” The butler said and looked flushed.
Lady Eleanor rose to her feet and Rowena did the same. As the Baroness inclined her head graciously and began to speak to the Duke, Rowena stared in horror at the man before her.
He paid little heed to her mother, instead fixing Rowena with a relentless stare that, after a moment or two, traveled up and down her entire body without any hint that he was trying to study her surreptitiously.
In that awful moment, everything became horribly clear to Rowena. So clear, in fact, that she could hardly hear her mother’s words at all.
“And please allow me to introduce my daughter, Your Grace. This is Rowena.” Eleanor turned towards her daughter and waved a thin arm in her direction as if she were a merchant trying to entice a potential buyer with fine wares.
“Well, well, well.” The Duke said and Rowena felt her mouth fall open. “So, you are Rowena Lockhart, are you? Yes. Very good.” He looked her up and down once more and Rowena felt her flesh go cold. “Very good.” He said again and ran his tongue over thick, ugly lips.
“I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, Your Grace.” She said hurriedly when, after some moments of stunned silence, she had become aware of her mother’s intent glare.
“As I am your’s, my dear. Very pleased indeed.” Still, he did not take his eyes off her and Rowena could feel her cheeks blushing.
Worse still, she realized the Duke had seen it too and he looked gratified, as if he truly thought that she might be behaving coyly just for him.
“Please do take a seat, Your Grace,” Eleanor said and waved her thin arm once more. “Tea shall be with us shortly.”
As they all took their seats, Rowena caught her mother’s eye. Lady Eleanor had the good grace to look just a little embarrassed and that in itself was enough to make Rowena want to run away and never come back.
If Eleanor Lockhart looked embarrassed, then Rowena must have been right in her initial estimation of the situation. The Duke of Darrington was not at Frinton Manor for a simple visit. Rowena knew, with certainty, that her mother and father had made a promise and that the Duke, old and savage to look at, had come to have a look at his prize.
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The Duke's Christmas Mystery: A Regency Romance Christmas Mystery Page 11
