Read The Duke I’m Going to Marry (Farthingale Series Book 2) for Free Online Page A

Dillie nuzzled her niece’s soft neck and got a giggle out of her. “Isn’t that right, you little devil? And what will your Grandmama Sophie say when I return home utterly disheveled?”
    Ivy responded with another burp.
    Dillie laughed softly and nuzzled her again. Ivy let out a joyful squeal.
    “She really likes you, Dillie. She’s rarely content with anyone but me, Gabriel, or Nanny Grenville holding her.”
    “And I adore her.” Dillie suddenly felt wistful. Though she loved her family, every last irritating and snoopy member of their boisterous Farthingale clan, she and her sisters had always been especially close. Now, all her sisters were married and starting families of their own. She was the one left behind. She hadn’t really felt the changes until Lily had married Ewan Cameron and settled in Scotland, in the Highlands no less.
    She knew Lily was enjoying her life with Ewan, for her happiness was apparent in all of her letters. Would she ever find that same happiness? Dillie wasn’t surprised to be the last to leave the Farthingale roost, for she was the youngest daughter, even though only by a few minutes. She just hadn’t expected Lily to leave so soon.
    Now with her twin suddenly gone, she’d had no time to adapt to the inevitable changes and hadn’t quite taken them all in yet. Feeling alone and adrift were new sensations, ones she did not particularly like.
    She dismissed her wistful thoughts when Daisy’s husband strode into the parlor. Gabriel headed straight for Daisy and planted a noisy kiss on her cheek. “Missed you, love,” he said with a wicked grin and devilish arch of an eyebrow.
    Dillie rolled her eyes, and then tickled Ivy’s chin to gain her attention. “Your parents have been apart no more than a few hours, but one would think they’d been apart for months. Your father is shamelessly ogling your mother.”
    Daisy blushed. “I missed you, too. Behave yourself, Gabriel. We have company.”
    He turned to Dillie, walked to her side, and planted a chaste kiss on her cheek. Then he gazed down at Ivy, who was cooing in Dillie’s arms, and his expression turned soft and doting. “How’s my little potato doing?”
    Dillie grinned. “I hope you’re not referring to me.”
    He chuckled. “No, you look great. The winter months at Coniston obviously suited you. John,” he said, referring to her father, “must be in full fret, wondering what surprises this London season will bring. None of your sisters managed a traditional courtship. You’re his last hope.”
    “I’ll do my best to get it right,” she assured. “After all, I’m the sensible sister. Dutiful, polite. Perfect.”
    Gabriel nodded. “Ian seems to think so.”
    Dillie’s heart skipped a beat. “The Duke of Edgeware? I hadn’t realized he was back in town.” She tried to sound casual, but knew she’d failed. Her cheeks were growing hot and so were the tips of her ears, tell-tale signs that Daisy would have noticed had Gabriel’s broad shoulders not been blocking her view.
    “Nor had I,” Gabriel said with a shrug, obviously unaware of her turmoil, “but I ran into him at White’s earlier today and invited him over.” He gave Ivy a big, juicy kiss on the top of her head before returning to his wife’s side. “Hope you don’t mind, love.”
    “No, of course not.” Daisy shot Dillie a speculative glance. “We look forward to seeing him, don’t we, Dillie?”
    She eeped in response. Oh, crumpets! Her winter at Coniston may have been too quiet for her liking, but she wasn’t ready to see Ian yet. Why was he in town and not at Edgeware? It was only late March, and London was not yet at its best. The air was still too cold for satin gowns and bared shoulders. Soot still spewed from hearth fires lit to ward off the wintery chill, and a smoky coating of gray hung over London, blocking the sun and all trace of glorious blue sky.
    A light odor of dead fish still wafted off the Thames. Of course, there were