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you. Whatever for?”
    Cranleigh grimaced fractionally and sat down on a small
    chair opposite the pianoforte, the parcel balanced on his right
    knee. “It seems I must, Iveston. Blakes gave her something, some
    bit of expensive frippery in thanks for getting hold of Louisa.
    What can I do but the same? It’s perfectly obvious that Sophia
    had a hand in managing to direct Amelia in my direction, which
    is what Amelia states emphatically even when I expressly forbid
    her from talking about Sophia.”
    “She doesn’t sound obedient or compliant in the least, Cran
    leigh,” Iveston interrupted. “I do begin to wonder what you see
    in your lovely wife.”
    Cranleigh’s ice blue eyes shone in the pale light of the music
    room. “Let’s keep it a mystery, shall we? Lock your eyes upon
    your own wife, Iveston.”
    “Haven’t got one,” Iveston said with a flourish of the keys, the
    light notes rising to the impressive height of the room. “Hence,
    my innate good cheer, rising up to enchant all near me.”
    “Oh, yes, I’m enchanted,” Cranleigh said sarcastically, mov
    ing the bundle to his left knee. “But, as I was saying, as Blakes
    has set the precedent, I feel I must match him, and so it’s to Dalby
    House, gift in hand. She’ll likely grab it out of my hands before
    I can explain myself,” he grumbled.
    “Hardly likely as I’m perfectly certain that Sophia Dalby has
    How to Daz zle a Duke
    27
    been the recipient of many gifts and is therefore quite adept at
    the protocol in receiving them. You shall be unscathed, Cran
    leigh, have no fear. But what did you get her?”
    “Something I picked up whilst in China.”
    “Didn’t Blakes give her some porcelain from China?”
    “He might have done,” Cranleigh said casually, tapping the
    parcel.
    “And you are giving her . . . something infi nitely fi ner?”
    Iveston guessed, his fingers moving over the keys effortlessly. He
    liked to play the pianoforte; music had entertained him during
    his long hours hiding in the house.
    “Perhaps not infinitely,” Cranleigh said with a smirk, “but it
    is a fine piece. I shan’t be outdone by Blakes. His marrying Lou
    isa was no better an acquisition than my marrying Amy.”
    “And the porcelains will prove that,” Iveston said with a smile.
    “Does Amelia know?”
    “Know? She helped me choose the item.”
    “What is it? Something costly? But of course it would be.”
    “I shan’t show you. If you want to see it, you’ll have to traipse
    over to Dalby House to see it,” Cranleigh said. Iveston rose to his
    feet, looking imminently ready to go.
    Cranleigh sighed. “Wait ten minutes, will you? I don’t require
    an escort, which is surely what she will conclude.”
    “Why should you care what Sophia Dalby thinks?”
    Cranleigh snorted and stared up at him. “Not Sophia. Amy.
    I can’t have my wife thinking I didn’t go willingly, can I? If it
    doesn’t seem my idea, she’ll get the notion that she can compel
    me to do anything.”
    Iveston, who knew very nearly everything as it pertained to
    the courtship of Amelia and Cranleigh, found it almost impos
    sible not to laugh outright. He did chuckle, but that was to be
    expected, wasn’t it?
    “And she doesn’t have that notion already?” Iveston said.
    28 CLAUDIA DAIN
    If Cranleigh hadn’t been holding a very costly Chinese some
    thing-or-other, he was quite sure Cranleigh would have given
    him a black eye. Or tried to, anyway.
    “You’re determined to come, aren’t you? Just dying to fi nd a
    laugh at my expense,” Cranleigh said as they walked across the
    music room side by side.
    “Well,” Iveston said slowly, “yes, actually. I can’t see how
    you’d disappoint me in that, can you? A gift for Sophia,” Iveston
    said, grinning. “I quite think she must deserve one.”
    “I’m quite certain she would agree with you,” Cranleigh
    grumbled.
    Iveston could see the gleam of humor in Cranleigh’s eyes; he
    was not fooled. It was as they