How to Seduce a Duke Read Online Free PDF

becomingly.
    “I vow, when the ton gazes upon the three of you, there will be no question—for it is clear you have the blood of kings and queens surging in your veins.”
    Mary could endure this prattle no longer. The woman, whoever she might be, had offered no support for her words. And no good could come out of exciting her sisters this way. The tale of their births was naught but a faery story.
    “I beg your pardon, madam, but I fear you have the advantage.” Mary smiled at the old woman. “We have yet to make your acquaintance.”
    “Oh, mercy.” The elderly lady clapped her hand to her bountiful bosom. “I do apologize. I thought Lord Lotharian would have mentioned me in his missive. I am Lady Upperton .”
    Though evidently Lady Upperton believed that this revelation would hold some meaning for them, it did not. The three Royle sisters stared mutely back at the frosty-haired old woman.
    “Then, you have not heard?” Lady Upperton smiled broadly and filled her lungs with a deep breath before speaking. “ Lotharian has asked me to be your sponsor —your entrée into London society.”
    “Our sponsor? I-I do not understand.” Mary struggled to comprehend how such a claim could possibly be true. “Lady Upperton , I do not wish to appear ungrateful, but until three minutes ago, my sisters and I had not even gazed upon you—had not heard your name.”
    “Dear me, I suppose I can understand how an offer from a complete stranger to launch you into society might seem rather unbelievable. But it’s all true, I assure you.” Lady Upperton took Mary’s hand into her own. “I promised your father I would do it when the time came. Promised Lotharian as well. And I shall. Once I give my word, I keep it.”
    Promised their father?
    “When?” Mary blurted. “I mean... when did you make our father this promise?”
    The elderly lady grew very quiet and thrummed her small fingers upon her painted lips. “I suppose it must be almost twenty years ago. After the rakes and I heard the circumstances of your birth, how could I deny your father anything? Of course, the three of you were but babes, but he was concerned, even then, about the course of your futures.”
    Surely her ears deceived her. This could not be happening. Why, their father had never mentioned anything of this. And would have. Certainly.
    “You mentioned having heard the circumstances of our births.” Anne stepped forward and stole the old woman’s hand from Mary. “You... and the rakes ?”
    “Oh, yes. He told us all—my husband, sadly, he departed some years ago, and his fellow members of the Old Rakes of Marylebone.”
    Anne’s eyebrows drew close in her apparent confusion. “Father was a member of a gentlemen’s club? I cannot imagine such a thing.”
    “Indeed he was. As was... is Lord Lotharian .” Lady Upperton gave herself a mental shake, then withdrew her hand from Anne’s. “In fact, I think it is time you gels should meet him.”
    Lady Upperton spun around on her teetering heels and shuffled her way to the bookcase situated to the left of the cold hearth.
    She flashed the sisters a mischievous smile, then positioned the flat of her hand over the face of a goddess column and pushed. The masterful carving of the goddess’s nose depressed beneath her hand, and suddenly, from somewhere behind the bookcase, came a loud metallic click.
    Lady Upperton turned back to the young ladies and raised her brows nonchalantly. “Are you ready?”
    The Royle sisters exchanged nervous glances, then, as if cued, they nodded their heads as one.
    All except Mary.
    “Very well then, in you go.” Lady Upperton gave the bookcase a firm nudge, and at once the lowermost six feet of the shelves opened like a door to reveal a dark passage.
    Anne started forward without hesitation, with Elizabeth at her heels. When they reached the opening, they stopped and looked back at Mary, who had not taken even a single step.
    Good heavens.
    Suddenly, Mary felt