Dusk With a Dangerous Duke by Alexandra Hawkins

Grace’s ear after they had paid their respects to the earl and his countess. At nine-and-twenty, the youngest child of Lord and Lady Netherley was as independent and incorrigible as her mother. She was an unrepentant spinster, much to the dismay of her family.
    Nonetheless, Grace had already deduced that the lady’s unmarried state was not due to the lack of suitors. Lady Ellen had numerous admirers. It was a subject she hoped to one day discuss in great detail with her.
    “Am I nervous? Not at all,” Grace replied as she surveyed the ballroom.
    “There is no shame in being anxious,” her new friend continued. “After all, if Mama has her way, she will have half a dozen gentlemen vying for your hand by evening’s end.”
    Grace was heartened by the news.
    “Hush, Ellen,” Lady Netherley lightly scolded her daughter. “If I proved to be so successful, I would have had you married off years ago.”
    Lady Ellen rolled her eyes, having heard this old lament on countless occasions. “If you are as clever as you appear to be, Lady Grace, you should run before my mother tosses you to the lions.”
    “Honestly, daughter.” The elderly marchioness placed her hand on Lady Ellen’s arm as they promenaded the circumference of the ballroom. “Where do you come up with such notions? If you had any sense, you would tell the dear girl that you are merely jesting.”
    Grace idly wondered if Lady Netherley was holding on to her daughter for much-needed support or if it was to prevent the young woman from dashing off.
    Lady Ellen grinned down at her mother. “But that would be a lie, would it not, Mama?”
    Lady Netherley shook her head in feigned disappointment. “You’re an insolent child.”
    Grace walked beside them when it was possible, and when it was not she trailed after them. Earlier, when the marchioness was not berating her daughter over her unfortunate unmarried state, she had announced that her son and daughter-in-law would be meeting them at the ball.
    “I do my best,” Lady Ellen said cheerfully. She turned her face toward Grace and whispered, “I wasn’t jesting. Consider yourself duly warned.”
    It was an odd statement, coming from a lady she barely knew. Then again, it was apparent within minutes of sitting in the coach with the two women that Lady Ellen found her mother’s attempts at matchmaking tiresome. Perhaps she thought Grace would react in the same manner.
    “I am looking forward to meeting all of your family and friends,” Grace said sincerely.
    Lady Ellen chuckled. “Such an innocent. Let’s see if you feel the same way on the drive home, eh?”
    “Ellen, I believe Lady Child is attempting to get your attention,” Lady Netherley said, sensing it was time to change the subject.
    The young woman glanced in the direction her mother was gesturing toward. “No she is n—” Lady Ellen bit her lower lip and raised her hand in greeting. “If I hadn’t been standing beside you, I could swear you did this deliberately.”
    Bewildered by the resignation in her companion’s voice, Grace asked, “Is something amiss?”
    Lady Ellen pouted. “Lady Child has a younger son and a nephew she would like to get rid of.”
    “Ears, my dear daughter … ears,” Lady Netherley muttered.
    “Her Ladyship does not care which one I marry. And if it was legal, she would probably insist that I marry both of them,” she confided, but softened her voice to appease her mother.
    “Oh.” Grace tipped her head to the side and noticed that Lady Child was still beckoning Lady Ellen to join her and a very sallow-colored gentleman. “You have my sympathies.”
    “Indeed.” Lady Ellen lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “Perhaps I could convince Vane to challenge the whole family. Such an insult should free me from the lady’s tender hooks.”
    “I forbid you to speak to Vane or Isabel about Lady Child or her family,” the marchioness said, stabbing her walking stick into the wooden floor to