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clear that her introduction into British society was happening regardless of her wishes. Refusing to cooperate would hardly achieve the desired outcome—her family’s agreement to let her return to Sicily. They genuinely believed she could make a go of things here in England, despite all the evidence to the contrary.
    They also believed that to send her home was tantamount to a death sentence. Gillian didn’t agree. Things might be a little sticky for a while, but she’d find a way to manage the situation. She always did.
    â€œOf course I wish to be accepted into polite society.” She adopted an earnest expression as she gazed at the duke. “Is that not the wish of any right-thinking English girl?”
    â€œI’m not interested in other girls,” he said bluntly. “I want to know what you think about it.”
    Gillian waved an airy hand. “No need to worry about me, Your Grace. I am all compliance.”
    Her grandmother made a small, choking sound.
    â€œI’m thrilled to hear it,” Leverton replied. “Then shall we proceed?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œI understand that you speak several languages, and your English is excellent. That will certainly help smooth the way.”
    Gillian’s brief episode of compliance evaporated. “I’m not a moron, sir. In fact, I suspect I’m much better educated than the average English girl. From what I can see, most of them are complete ninnies.”
    â€œGillian,” her grandmother warned.
    â€œSorry, Grandmamma, but you know it’s true. Ten minutes with the likes of Lady Allister’s daughters is enough to prove that point.”
    Lady Allister was an old friend of Gillian’s mother’s, and Gillian had been forced to endure two gruesome outings with her ladyship and her daughters. The girls had twittered endlessly like a pair of demented sparrows, interested in nothing but clothes, men, and the latest gossip.
    They’d also made little effort to conceal the fact that they found Gillian beneath their notice, treating her with disdain whenever Mamma and Lady Allister weren’t looking. It had taken every ounce of discipline she possessed not to box their ears. Only her mother’s anxious desire for Gillian to make friends had held her back.
    â€œI take your point about Lady Allister’s unfortunate daughters,” Leverton said. “They are a remarkably dreary pair of girls.”
    â€œOh, um, thank you,” Gillian said, momentarily flummoxed. “I did try to give them the benefit of the doubt, as I told Grandmamma.”
    â€œYou called them twits and told them to stop screeching like banshees,” her grandmother said. “In public.”
    â€œWell, they kicked up the most ridiculous fuss,” Gillian said, “simply because a spider crawled up the younger Miss Allister’s sleeve. You’d think the French had launched a full-scale invasion of London.”
    â€œYou didn’t help matters by taking off your hat and striking her with it,” her grandmother replied.
    â€œI was simply trying to knock the blasted spider off her dress. For all the good it did me,” Gillian muttered.
    â€œSo, that’s what happened,” Griffin said.
    â€œOh, dear,” sighed Grandmamma. “You heard about that incident?”
    â€œI expect half of London did,” Griffin said with a grin. “It isn’t every day that young ladies attack each other in Gunter’s.”
    â€œI did not attack her,” Gillian protested. “I was trying to help her. It’s not my fault she toppled over and sent the table flying.”
    All the ices and drinks had been dumped onto Lady Allister’s ample lap. The resulting shrieks had been so loud that Gillian’s ears had rung for hours.
    â€œSince you didn’t hear about the incident, Charles, perhaps it’s not as bad as we initially thought,” Grandmamma said,