The Duke's Downfall Read Online Free PDF

the rage just now. It occurred to him to point out that it was not the color of the eyes but what lay behind them—or, perhaps, what did not—that was important, but as he opened his mouth to say so, Teddy pleadingly caught hold of his arms.
    “Charles, please ... She is truly wondrous. Newly come to town and already declared a Beauty and an Original. At your age such things must seem somewhat remote, but—”
    “My age?" he cut in frostily.
    “You aren’t quite ancient,” Teddy assured him, though the tone of his voice suggested old age might overwhelm him at any second. “But you are—well—”
    “A bit long in the tooth?” Charles put in helpfully. “So decrepit I cannot recall the thrill of romance?”
    “It isn’t that, so much as it’s one thing to be widely read on a subject, yet quite another to experience it firsthand.”
    “Widely read!” Charles shouted. “See here, I’ll have you know that I—”
    But in the nick of time, he saw the telltale gleam of mischief in Teddy’s green eyes and clamped his mouth shut. Though his mother and Lesley were completely taken in by His Dottiness, Charles had long suspected that sharp-witted Teddy was not.
    “Yes, Charles?” he prodded avidly.
    Which confirmed that indeed he was not fooled by the blustering Charles feigned on the subject of women in order to keep his affairs private. Little wretch, he thought fondly, wishing Teddy would turn his mind to pursuits more worthy than ferreting out his oldest brother’s liaisons.
    “Never mind. Gentlemen do not discuss such things. And I believe you said you were late.”
    “You won’t tell Mother, will you? I’ll devote four hours to my Latin tomorrow evening, I swear.”
    “Indeed you will, or I’ll cart you back to school myself, wedding or no wedding.”
    “Thank you, Chas!” Teddy gave his shoulders a grateful clasp, then threw open the door. “You are the best of brothers!”
    “Old and feeble as I am?” he replied wryly.
    “Speaking of that”—halfway through the door, Teddy paused to glance over his shoulder—”the great wits of the ton have altered your nickname, you know.”
    “Have they?” Charles grinned good-naturedly. “Let me guess. His Twittiness?”
    “No, Charles.” Teddy shook his head soberly. “They call you His Dodderingness.”
    “His what?” Charles roared, but to the closed door, for Teddy had already shut it in his face. Through the paneled wood, he heard a muffled whoop of laughter, but when he flung the door open, Teddy had vanished into the darkness.
    “Little scapegrace,” Charles muttered, then slammed the door and stalked back to the library.
     

Chapter Four
     
    Within the half hour, Teddy was leaning on one shoulder against a marble pillar in the Parkinsons’ ballroom gazing adoringly at Lady Elizabeth Keaton. The diamond brightness of her eyes outshone the shimmering crystal chandeliers, her hair was spun gold, the flush in her cheeks the perfect complement to the petal-pink trim of her gown.
    She was the loveliest deb in the room, a fact confirmed by the dozen or so would-be suitors surrounding her. None of them, Teddy was certain, could possibly admire her more than he did, yet Lady Clymore had called him an insolent pup and given him a cuff on the ear when he’d requested an introduction. After it had taken him nearly a sennight to work up the courage.
    His ear and his ego smarting, Teddy decided it would be a true pleasure to show the old besom just how insolent a pup he could be. With a devious smile he wheeled off the pillar—and froze at the sight of his mother entering the ballroom with Lord and Lady Hampton. His first thought was that she must have searched his room and found her engagement book, his second to hide before she saw him.
    He did quickly, in a corner screened by an artful arrangement of tropicals from the Parkinsons’ orangery. Separating the fronds of a feathery palm, he watched his mother bid good evening to her hostess,