Read When You Give a Duke a Diamond for Free Online Page B

Pelham took it, remembering why he liked Fitzhugh.
    He drank a large portion of the brandy, which was admittedly very good, and said, “I suppose Darlington is skulking about somewhere. He’ll plague me about this until the end of time.”
    “Actually,” Fitzhugh said, his gaze on the gardens, “Darlington was called away. I understand his mother died quite unexpectedly.”
    “Good God. That’s monstrous news.”
    “He left just this morning. I heard he was so distraught he didn’t even stop to take his leave from the duchess.”
    “You mean his courtesan? He must be distraught indeed. I suppose that’s understandable.”
    “Yes.” Fitzhugh glanced at him, and Pelham didn’t like the look on his face. “She’ll be here tonight. And your presence… well, I don’t have to tell you the speculation is rampant.”
    “I’m not interested in speculation. I’m here to present my fiancée to the prince and then take my leave. I could care less whether I see this courtesan or not.” Pelham had to raise his voice over the commotion in the ballroom behind him. Fitzhugh glanced over his shoulder. When he turned back, Pelham frowned. Fitzhugh was smiling.
    Fitzhugh rarely smiled.
    “It seems you are in luck. The Three Diamonds have arrived.”
    Pelham spun around. Not because he wanted to catch a glimpse of the Duchess of Dalliance. No, he did not care one whit for her… well, perhaps he was mildly curious—as one is when one tours the Tower Menagerie to see the lions. He turned because the raucous ballroom behind him had suddenly grown completely silent.
    At first he could not comprehend why everyone had stopped speaking and moving. Even the King, when he had been of sound mind, did not garner this much respect. For a full five seconds, Pelham puzzled at the crowd’s reaction. And then he saw them.
    Three women in gowns that looked as though they were made of jewels seemed to float into the ballroom. Pelham had missed their introduction, but these were the kind of women who did not need any. He had always claimed he was not impressed by female beauty. He had always claimed one woman looked pretty much the same as the next.
    He was a colossal liar.
    Pelham could not tear his gaze from these ravishing beauties. He knew their entrance was calculated to cause a sensation, and if there was one thing the duke detested, it was manipulation. And yet, logic—for once—failed him. He stared, in awe, with the rest of the crowd.
    The three entered arm in arm. On the left was a dark-haired beauty with olive skin and dancing eyes. She wore a gown that resembled a lake of copper. It flowed over her body like water, and though the neckline and cut were modest, the silk flowed in a most revealing manner. The gown itself sparkled with ruby and diamond gems.
    On the right, dressed in gold silk, was an auburn-haired vision with vivid green eyes. Her dress was prim, almost schoolgirlish in its embellishment. She smiled openly, almost laughing, but there was something sensual about the way she moved. Something that made Pelham’s mouth go dry. Her gown was embroidered with sapphires and diamonds.
    It took Pelham no more than a second to appraise two of The Three Diamonds, but when his gaze landed on the Diamond in the center, he found he could not dismiss her quite so easily. His heart actually thumped harder when it appeared her gaze met with his. But her ice-blue eyes slid away, and he realized he must have been imagining the connection.
    Of the three, she was clearly the most classically beautiful. She had silvery-blonde hair coiled elaborately and sparkling with diamonds. Her light blue eyes seemed to look through those around her, rather than at them, and her figure…
    Pelham could not quite tear his attention from the silver silk gown she wore. Unlike the other Diamonds’ gowns, the blonde had no colored jewels as adornment. Her only accent was the sparkle of diamonds. Pelham could see why this woman was considered a diamond