When You Give a Duke a Diamond Read Online Free PDF Page B

I’ll swiftly fall from favor.”
    “Nonsense,” Fallon said, waving to Rosie to wait outside while they finished their discussion. “If you don’t attend, it will only fuel speculation.”
    Juliette gave her a level look, and Fallon notched her chin up. Juliette glanced at Lily, but Lily was looking at the toe of her pink slipper. “You know I’m right,” Juliette said. “Both of you know I’m right. We three balance on a precipice. On one edge is our hard-won notoriety. It pays our bills—along with some help from Sinclair, which none of us wants to continue to accept. On the other edge is ruin. I, for one, don’t relish spending the next dozen years hiking up my skirts in a back alley for any man with a shilling.”
    “We’d never let that happen to you,” Lily said, green eyes burning with indignation.
    “Then you’ll be in the alley next to mine. We three have worked too hard to get where we are to lose it all now. I’m not going to let you ruin yourself for me, and I’m not going to allow some man who calls himself Lucifer to control me.” And as soon as she ceased shaking, she would mean those brave words. She’d been controlled by a man once before and had vowed never again.
    “At least have Hollows hire extra footmen for protection,” Fallon suggested.
    “It’s already done, and I do think it’s a good idea to quit the city for a short while. A sojourn to Somerville is exactly what I need.”
    Lily clapped her hands. “Splendid! I have the perfect dress to wear in the country.”
    “You would be thinking of fashion at a time like this.” Fallon rolled her eyes.
    “Speaking of fashion, we have a lot of work to do if we’re going to dazzle the ton tonight. Rosie!” The door opened, and Rosie poked her head in. “I hope you can do something about these dark circles under my eyes.”
    “In no time, I’ll have you looking like you slept twelve hours, Duchess.”
    Lily crossed to Fallon and linked arms. “I believe this is our cue to take our leave.”
    Fallon shook her head. “You, Duchess, are extremely stubborn.”
    Juliette smiled as she seated herself before her dressing table. “No more than you, Marchioness. I shall see both of you this evening.”
    “My coach will be here at half-past nine,” Lily said. “We must arrive together to ensure the full effect.”
    “Then I shall see you at half-past nine.”
    When Lily and Fallon were gone, Juliette closed her eyes.
    “I’m going to send for water for a warm bath,” Rosie said. “Maybe you can sleep after you’ve soaked for a time.”
    “There’s no time to sleep,” Juliette said, stifling a yawn. “I have to look ravishing.”
    “Oh, you let me worry about that, Duchess. In the meantime, you rest in the bath. I think we’ll scent it with lavender…”
    Rosie left to fetch the water, and Juliette took a deep breath. Every muscle in her body ached. She did not know how she would make it through the ball tonight, but at least she’d have Lily and Fallon to support her. She closed her eyes again and shivered when Lucifer’s dark eyes flashed in her mind.
    If you’re lying to me, Juliette , I’ll kill you. Slowly. Painfully. One way or another, I will have those diamonds.

Four
    “I have something for you,” Pelham said to Lady Elizabeth.
    “Oh?” She was seated demurely on the blue-velvet chaise longue in his drawing room, studying an antique Greek vase, which she held in her hands. She very carefully set the vase on the side table, her fingers lingering on the edge for a moment, then rose. He held out his hand to reveal the small wooden box inlaid with gold. “This was my mother’s.” He opened the box to show her a dainty gold necklace with a teardrop-shaped diamond attached.
    “Oh!” Her hands flew to her mouth. Pelham gestured for her to turn around and secured the necklace on Lady Elizabeth’s throat. He moved a dark curl of her hair aside to fasten the necklace and frowned at the mark he saw. “What