Ready for another example of Lord Derringer's character? Here's an additional excerpt from Deception, where Aurora and the duke officially meet. As for the formal introduction...I don't think that ever happened.
A rude chuckle reached Aurora's ears. Cheeks heating, she turned and beheld his grace, the Duke of Derringer, watching them with open amusement. Apparently, he thought it was quite a lark to watch the two argue like wronged lovers.
Levi turned on his friend. “This is not a farce for your entertainment, Hart,” he bit out in an undertone.
“Ah, but I think it is,” was the duke’s lazy reply. “Why else would you dare to argue like wronged lovers in Almack's? Besides, Vi, unlike those other gentlemen, I don't fear you and I find I’d like to dance with the lady even if I have to meet you come dawn. Adds a certain something to the exercise.”
Levi bowed, a scowl settling on his boyish features. “Have at her, my friend. I care not.” And he walked away.
“Sometimes that man makes me want to scream,” Aurora said without thought. She blushed and glanced up at the duke. “I apologize, your grace, for that embarrassing scene. It was ill done of me to indulge in it.”
“What has my large and not overly bright friend done to incur your wrath?”
Quite sure she should be insulted by his impertinence, Aurora simply stared at him for a moment. Then she shrugged, saying, “He has done nothing, actually. I am not usually so quick to anger, I assure you.”
Lord Derringer ignored her comment and asked her to dance.
“I have only the waltzes, as Lord Greville pointed out.”
Derringer looked around. He caught sight of Lady Jersey. “Sally,” he called, “a moment.”
Aurora stared, dumbfounded, when that lady hurried over at the imperious call of the duke. She was even more surprised when Lady Jersey flirted with him shamelessly before granting his request to waltz with Miss Glendenning.
Aurora curtsied to the patroness and murmured her appreciation. The duke signed his name beside a waltz and took his leave without so much as a goodbye. Aurora watched him go, perplexed. The man was rude and a most uncomfortable person to be around. She wondered how a cheerful flirt like Levi Greville could even bear being friends with such a man.
Levi turned on his friend. “This is not a farce for your entertainment, Hart,” he bit out in an undertone.
“Ah, but I think it is,” was the duke’s lazy reply. “Why else would you dare to argue like wronged lovers in Almack's? Besides, Vi, unlike those other gentlemen, I don't fear you and I find I’d like to dance with the lady even if I have to meet you come dawn. Adds a certain something to the exercise.”
Levi bowed, a scowl settling on his boyish features. “Have at her, my friend. I care not.” And he walked away.
“Sometimes that man makes me want to scream,” Aurora said without thought. She blushed and glanced up at the duke. “I apologize, your grace, for that embarrassing scene. It was ill done of me to indulge in it.”
“What has my large and not overly bright friend done to incur your wrath?”
Quite sure she should be insulted by his impertinence, Aurora simply stared at him for a moment. Then she shrugged, saying, “He has done nothing, actually. I am not usually so quick to anger, I assure you.”
Lord Derringer ignored her comment and asked her to dance.
“I have only the waltzes, as Lord Greville pointed out.”
Derringer looked around. He caught sight of Lady Jersey. “Sally,” he called, “a moment.”
Aurora stared, dumbfounded, when that lady hurried over at the imperious call of the duke. She was even more surprised when Lady Jersey flirted with him shamelessly before granting his request to waltz with Miss Glendenning.
Aurora curtsied to the patroness and murmured her appreciation. The duke signed his name beside a waltz and took his leave without so much as a goodbye. Aurora watched him go, perplexed. The man was rude and a most uncomfortable person to be around. She wondered how a cheerful flirt like Levi Greville could even bear being friends with such a man.
The preceding is (c) copyright 2010 Laura J Miller. All rights reserved.
*Deception is available for pre-order from TreasureLine Publishing. Actual release date is July 15, 2010.
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