The Duke Meets His Match (The Infamous Somertons #3)
Tina Gabrielle
For Laura and Gabrielle.
I love you from the moon, to the stars, to Heaven, and back.
Chapter One
London, Summer 1816
On an ordinary day, Michael Keswick, the Duke of Cameron, would enjoy strolling Bullock’s Museum at his leisure to study the rare Egyptian artifacts on display. He preferred being alone and disliked the foolish topics of conversation that often arose among his peers. He’d made an exception today at the request of a friend. But Henry, it seemed, had little interest in the museum, and had asked Michael to accompany him for an entirely different reason.
“What do you think of her, Your Grace?”
Michael frowned at the young man by his side. Henry may have recently inherited an earldom, but he was more than ten years his junior and lacked judgment when it came to the fair sex. He was also Michael’s responsibility.
“Which one is she?” Michael said, his eyes scanning the crowded entrance.
The popular museum in Piccadilly, also known as Egyptian Hall, was renowned for its stunning architecture inspired by an Egyptian temple and vast array of curiosities from the South Seas. But Henry’s gaze was not on the impressive grand hall with its pillars engraved with hieroglyphics and Egyptian symbols. Rather he was focused on two women who were admiring a reproduction of a sphinx.
“Miss Chloe Somerton is the fair-haired lady,” Henry pointed out.
The women had their backs to them. Only one possessed golden hair, the object of young Henry’s obsession.
“Well, then. We don’t want to keep the ladies waiting, do we?” Michael started forward.
Henry placed a hand on his sleeve. “Wait. They are not expecting us.”
Michael halted and narrowed his gaze at the young man. “What do you mean?”
Henry had the good sense to look uneasy. “I overheard Miss Chloe mention at Lady Holloway’s ball that she would be attending the museum today with her sister, Lady Huntingdon.”
Michael arched an eyebrow. “That’s a bit conniving, even for you, Henry.”
“I want you to meet her. Your approval is important to me, Your Grace.” Henry looked at him with a mixture of admiration and hope that never failed to prick Michael’s conscience.
“You shouldn’t rush it, Henry. You’re too young to be shackled with a wife.” Michael’s voice sounded harsh to his own ears.
Henry’s gaze returned to the blond woman, and a lovesick look flickered in his brown eyes. “What does it matter when the lady is so fair?”
Don’t let your balls rule your brains! Michael wanted to shout at Henry and shake some sense into him, right here in the middle of the museum’s vestibule. How the hell was he supposed to look after the young man anyway?
The women had left the sphinx and moved on to a curiosity cabinet. From this distance, they appeared to be studying an array of Egyptian jewelry. The blonde wasn’t as tall as he preferred his women, but even in the demure pink gown she wore, any man could see she was generously curved. Her golden hair was piled in an elegant style atop her head. He squinted but couldn’t make out the color of her eyes. Something was vaguely familiar about her. Perhaps it was the way she walked. Head held high, almost regally, her steps fluid and graceful.
“I’ll go along with your ruse,” Michael said. “I know Lord Huntingdon from White’s. It’s an excuse to speak with his wife. Stay here until I motion for you.”
Michael wove through the crowd and headed for the two women. He passed statues of Egyptian gods and goddesses, similar to the statues of Isis and Osiris that flanked the exterior of the museum. A glass dome in the ceiling cast sunlight on a temple on the Nile. But just as he neared, Lady Huntingdon wandered off to study a gold-tinted statue of a pharaoh. Chloe Somerton remained by the curiosity cabinet.
His step slowed. Should he first approach the blonde or her chaperone? He knew which was proper, but this was a strategic decision—similar to a battle plan—and he always went with his gut.
He’d been right about the cabinet’s contents. Gold necklaces and earrings nestled on black velvet were displayed behind the glass. The young woman was gazing at the jewelry and didn’t turn when he approached. Once again, the nagging feeling that he’d seen her before rose within him.
Michael glanced at the jewelry, then back at the lady. He cleared his throat. “Stunning.”
She nodded, her attention still focused on the artifacts.
“Which is your favorite?” he asked.
She sighed. “The necklace with the turquoise scarab beetle amulet.”
“Not the gold wide-collar necklace?”
“No. The workmanship of the talisman beetle is exquisite.” She turned to him and smiled. “Don’t you agree?”
Michael stiffened, his gaze riveted on her face.
Holy hell.
He had seen her before.
A few loose tendrils of golden hair had escaped her pins and brushed the slender column of her throat. Her facial bones were delicately carved, and her lips temptingly plump. But it was the sapphire eyes—exotically slanted like the pharaohs surrounding them—that made his breath hitch.
Chloe Somerton was the picture of beauty, grace, and innocence.
She was also a fraud.