Destined For A Duke (Completed)

Chapter 2

Miss Gabrielle Longoria was still shaken up from the incident at the lake, she wanted to tell her sister what had happened but the poor dear was already dealing with enough already. She was pregnant with her first child and her husband was busy spending the money that they needed to bring the state to its former glory.

The Duke of Stanford had been destitute and desperate, he needed a heiress to solve all his money problems and had trapped her sister, Isabelle by putting her in a compromising position at a ball. Gabrielle knew for a fact that her sister had been in love with another man and had to give up on her dream of marrying for love because a peer tricked her. Isabelle wanted her to go to London for a season but Gabrielle didn't want to fall for another so called gentleman's tricks.

Gabrielle was standing by the window, thinking of her afternoons at the lake, that she would no longer enjoy when her sister entered the room. She still had her figure, the baby bump was almost invisible but she was glowing. Her features were calm, like she didn't have an unhappy marriage or a gambler for a husband, she was always good at hiding what she truly felt.

"Lady Delton has invited us to a dinner party at her mansion, I want you to look your best, the Earl will be there." Isabelle said excitedly

"He is a friend, no matter how hard you try, we will never fall in love. This is the first time that we are going to dinner, is it an especial occasion?" Gabrielle was intrigued. Her sister and Lady Delton were good friends but she never entertained anyone. Sometimes the sisters would go for tea but the visit was never extended to dinner.

"Lord Delton personally wrote to say that they had company from London, he specifically asked for you to stay at his manor, said something about new friends in his missive." By now Gabrielle's eyebrows were in her hairline. As far as she knew, William Crawford, Earl of Cambridge once said no to Prince Regent when he asked to visit his state, these guests must be extra special.

That evening Gabrielle tried to look her best, the Earl was a good man and he spoke of friends for her. Friends were a luxury that Gabrielle was denied, her status as a rich merchant's daughter intimidated other girls of middle class and the gentry gave her family a cold shoulder because they were merchants. Lady Emma was the only friend she had but she was formal during their meetings, like she felt self conscious around Gabrielle. Gabrielle hoped that more company would make her friend more comfortable around her and she wanted to impress everyone there as well.

When the two sisters entered, Lady Delton was obviously agitated. Isabelle immediately calmed her down, she always had that affect on her dear friend. Bella was young, calm, collected, smart, thin and tall, Lady Delton was old, anxious, scatter brained, petite and fragile looking but the two of them were best friends. Lady Georgiana and Mr.Brandon Steel were introduced. Lady Georgiana seemed genuinely nice and anyone with eyes could see that Mr. Brandon was in love with Emma.

The two sisters were in drawing room with their hosts when Lord William entered the drawing room with another man, upon their entrance Gabrielle let out a gasp.

"It's you! How dare you enter a respectable household!" Standing before her was the rogue from the lake. Gabrielle charged towards him, forgetting that she was in company.

"My dear, I think you have confused the Duke of Lancaster with someone else, his Grace is a dear friend of the family." William blocked her path and firmly held her by shoulders and started directing her back to where she was seated before.

Gabrielle suddenly realized her mistake and looked up at her sister to see if she suspected anything. Bella looked confused and it was obvious that Gabrielle would be thoroughly questioned as soon as they got home.

The Duke, on the other hand, recovered from his shocked state and started smiling roguishly.

"No no, I think she does know me, a little too well if I remember correctly." He kept on smiling while half the people in the room froze and Gabrielle turned red despite her dark coloring.

"I think you have confused me with someone else your Grace, Lord Delton is right, I have never seen you before." Gabrielle said a little too quickly, which made her statement doubtful.

Instead of answering, the Duke crossed the drawing room to stand near Gabrielle, he stood so close that her discomfort was obvious for all to see. He kept on staring at her with squinted eyes for sometime before William cleared his throat.

"Yes, you are right, I would have remembered such a pretty face. You looked like the evil witch I know when your face was all scrunched up in anger." He smiled innocently at a scowling Gabrielle. Across the room Lady George knew there was a story behind this scene, but she would find soon find out anyway.

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