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under their names on the list.”
    The duchess held the letter back at arm’s length. “Their grandmother was—” She squinted. “Miss Moira MacDonald. Ah, Moira! I haven’t thought of her in years. We went to boarding school together and I always liked her.” The duchess handed the list back to Lady Charlotte and looked a little guilty. “I hope I’ve been a good godmother?”
    “Oh yes. As I said, you’ve sent them a small gift every Michaelmas, as well as on every major birthday.”
    “Charlotte, I’d be lost without you.”
    Lady Charlotte smiled serenely and carried the list back to the secretary, where she tucked it back in its pocket before she returned to her seat and collected her knitting once again. “So you think to use Miss Balfour as bait to entrap Lord Sin into coming to your house party and Winter Ball?”
    “Entrap? There’s no need to put it in such bald terms. I prefer to think of it as ‘assisting.’ ” The duchess tilted her head to one side as she leaned back.“Now, all I have to do is find a subtle way to let Sin know that this gel is my goddaughter.”
    “And then what?”
    “And then he will do the rest.”
    Lady Charlotte didn’t look convinced. “How can you be certain?”
    “Because I know enough about my great-nephew to know he cannot refuse a challenge. And this gel, whoever she is, has challenged him.”
    “And if he doesn’t?”
    Her grace’s brows lowered. “He must. He is the earl. It is his responsibility to marry well and have an heir.”
    MacDougal tried to keep his attention on his dusting, but it was difficult. Even though he understood the importance of a man of wealth and title marrying to carry on the family name, he almost felt sorry for Lord Sinclair.
    “I do hope Lord Sinclair will be amenable.” Lady Charlotte’s tone said she thought he would be anything but.
    “For the love of Zeus, Charlotte! What is all of this nay-saying?”
    “I’m sorry,” Charlotte said. “I was just thinking that Lord Sinclair and Miss Balfour might hate each other and—”
    “Lud, pray stop thinking, for it’s giving me a headache! I don’t care if Sin and Miss Balfour deal well with each other or not. All I want is to get my nephew to attend my ball. Once he’s here, hopefully one of theeligible chits I’ve invited will appeal to him and thus my sister’s problems will be solved.”
    “Oh. I thought you meant to attempt a match between Miss Balfour and Lord Sinclair.”
    “No, although if they ever chanced to meet under better circumstances, one never knows what might . . . ” Her grace’s gaze unfocused and once again she seemed to be staring at something no one else could see.
    “Margaret?” Lady Charlotte asked.
    “Yes, dear. I was just thinking. Perhaps I will amend my guest list for the house party a bit.”
    “But why? You said you’d invited the liveliest young men and women you could think of.”
    “So I did.” The duchess leaned back in her chair. “But we must do what we can.” Her gaze landed on MacDougal. “MacDougal, forget the demmed tea. Bring a decanter of port.”
    “But yer grace, ’tis only eleven in the morning and the doctor says ye should not—”
    “I know what Doctor MacCreedy says, but I need port. Lady Charlotte and I have some very important letters to write and a new guest list to draw up, and we’ll need inspiration.”
    “Yes, we will.” Lady Charlotte smoothed a knot from a strand of yarn. “A lot of inspiration.”
    MacDougal bowed and returned to the door, the pugs trotting behind him. He had to gently shove several of the more determined mutts out of the way before he could close the door.
    In the vestibule, he shook his head. “She’ll ne’er quit scheming until they put her in the ground. And mayhap no’ even then.”
    “I beg yer pardon, sir?” asked one of the footmen who’d sprung to attention when MacDougal had appeared. “Was her grace in a mood this morning?”
    “Aye, a scheming one.