The Duke's Undoing (Three Rogues and Their Ladies) by G.G. Vandagriff

likely to be distracted by Miss Edward’s considerable charms.”
    “But you’ve an injured leg!” Chessingden protested. “And what of the ton ? They know you for a degenerate rascal. I will not have you sullying the name of my fiancée by moving into her home with nothing but two scatterbrained women for protection!”
    “Really, Gregory! Aunt Clarice saved me with a poker last time. She is not scatterbrained. Sukey is a well-respected entomologist. And I will remind you once again that you are not my fiancé. Not now. Not ever.”
    The duke treated Chessingden to a one-sided smile. Walking over to Elise, he went down on one knee and took her hand. “Your vast charms and keen mind have made me yours ’til death. Say you will add me to your list of fiancés!”
    Laughing at his antics, she said, “Your Grace, this is so sudden! I hear you are a shocking rake. And didn’t you just disclaim any interest in my vast charms?”
    He smiled and reiterated, “I am a far better choice for your protection. And if Chessingden thinks my reputation will sully you, we must have a pro forma engagement. But I shan’t dangle after you. Think of me as a friend.”
    “I cannot approve of you, you know,” she said and grinned. “Not only are you a rogue but a Tory! However, it will be a famous masquerade. I have only one small question. Why would you do this for me?”
    His face grew solemn. “I owe it to another.”
    “To whom?” Chessingden asked as the duke rose to his feet.
    “No one in your sphere, my dear viscount. A little mystery is good for those who tend to be too sure of themselves.”
    “I say! If that’s not the pot calling the kettle black . . .”
    “Chessingden, will you kindly disappear? You’re de trops ,” the duke said off-handedly, taking the basket of roses.
    Through this exchange, Elise had stood, transfixed. What am I to make of this?
    “I will talk with your aunt,” the duke said. “We will put the announcement in tomorrow’s paper. That should shock the ton . I’ve never been engaged before. Not even as part of a hoax.”
    Suddenly panicked, she thought of her mother. “Your Grace, if you do that, you will be sorry. I must tell you that you don’t know my mother. Her soubriquet is Lady Hatchet, and she will sue you for breach of promise when this is over.” She put her fingers up to her lips.
    He smiled calmly, “Not if it is you who cry off, my dearest.”
    Turning, he went into the house. “The nerve of the man!” Gregory exploded. “Who does he think he is? By gad, if your aunt goes along with this drivel, I will challenge him!”
    Although she knew Gregory was serious, he suddenly seemed like a bantam rooster posing in the barnyard. She was almost tempted to laugh. And this was the man over whom she had been so fraught with grief? Hah!
    As though divining her feelings, Viscount Chessingden stomped off. Elise stood, aware that a wind had sprung up, dissipating the humidity and lifting her curls until they blew about like something wild. She sighed deeply, and stretching her arms out as though she would embrace the world, she twirled around on one foot, aware of a tremendous feeling of well-being. Free! She was free of cloying emotion and cads, and soon she would be free of Robert. Perhaps Aunt Clarice would consent to taking a rest cure at some watering place where she could begin an entirely new novel, featuring a complicated rogue who had an intriguing secret life.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    IN WHICH THE DUKE PLAYS HIS PART

    Ruisdell had an unexpectedly difficult time with Elise’s Aunt Clarice. For one thing her Siamese cat didn’t like him and insisted on interrupting him with yowls. Finally, he thought of appealing to her imagination. “Fix this in your mind, my dear lady. I will appear to reform my ways so that I will not harm your niece’s prospects. Any woman who could reform me and then drop me like a hot coal is certain to increase her stature in society. After all, I am a