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“Daphne … you must help If it is ly

Daphne balked and said in horrified accents, “Give her to me … see her launched? My duty? How is it ain I will not be made a matron before my time”

“I would iht stand not a ently “You have youth enough, my lady, to hly respected by the haute ton’s leading hostesses”

“That is neither here nor there …” The Lady Daphne azes to extricate herself “This is notthing bouncing around !” At this she rose from her chair and stomped her foot

The duke laughed out loud as he got up and went to put a co arm about her “Freddy adores you, sis Doesn’t have eyes for any other woman, and you know it”

She pouted prettily “Maybe, but he is a man I don’t want him tempted in my own home”

“The Easton chit is the duke’s responsibility She could reside with him in his town house with a duenna as chaperone,” Curtis offered doubtfully “You would be on hand to take her shopping and introduce her to the ton and help her along … nothing more”

She eyed Curtis “You say that knowing, absolutely knowing, that it would belady to reside with my brother anywhere”

“Daphne is quite correct She can’t reside with ,” the duke said irritably “Can’t have a twenty-year-old wo with me Must see that—not acceptable”

“Yours, Duke, is the So like a cat about to pounce The duke iame and smiled to himself

“No, she cannot reside with him, even in the duke’s townhouse It just would ruin her,” Daphne said

“Ah, of course … not even with a duenna?” Curtis asked innocently

Daphne waved a hand at both of them “Horrid, horrid men I see what this is!”

“Do you, dearest,” the duke said gently “Then perhaps you will see that I have a problem here that you could help me solve”

“Yes, but, Glen,” his sister objected, “I … I … Oh, you horrid er “You will have to take her about … waltz with her … show an interest”