Page 66 of The Duke and the Darkness

“Two evenings from now?” his mother repeated as if she couldn’t possibly have heard correctly.

Peyton nodded, her smile turning sheepish. Devlin knew she wasn’t acting. “I know it’s a bit rash, and that’s why I need your help. I don’t think I can wait a moment longer than that.”

Devlin said nothing. He hated that he and Peyton were misleading his family, even though not one falsehood had yet been uttered—theydidneed a party, and itdidneed to happen as soon as possible. He simply hated manipulating his mother and sisters like this.

But once the evening was over and Peyton was safe, the truth could come out.

The duchess exchanged dubious looks with Margaret, then asked, “What did you have in mind, exactly?”

“Nothing too grand. I just need an excuse for a big gathering.”

His mother blinked. “How big?”

“Everyone in society.”

“Everyone?”

Devlin had to give his mother credit. She was handling this conversation extremely well, given everything she had been told this afternoon.

Peyton nodded. “Everyone we can squeeze into the party. Everyone in society, Parliament, Whitehall, the army—”

His mother’s eyes widened like saucers. “Theentirearmy?”

“Just the most important officers based here in London.” Peyton laughed at herself. “After all, we need to leave room for the navy, too, of course.”

His mother leaned back against the settee and repeated, deadpan, “Of course.”

“But there isn’t time.” Margaret injected a dose of sanity into their plans. “Our house isn’t ready for a party, and we can’t issue invitations and receive replies in time.”

“That’s why I was thinking of having the party somewhere else. I wouldn’t ever ask to put you out like that.”

Nor would Devlin ever allow his family to be placed in so much danger as to welcome snakes under their own roof. The army and navy be damned.

“There must be somewhere else we could host it.” Peyton shook her head. “I’ve been unexpectedly put out of the townhouse I was renting, so we can’t have it there.”

“I have an idea,” Devlin interjected as if the thought had just occurred to him, although his input had been completely planned in advance. “The Duke of Malvern has given me permission to use his townhouse whenever I have need. I think this counts.”

“Malvern?” Margaret asked for clarification. “Seamus Douglass has opened up Malvern House to you?”

“Don’t sound so shocked,” Devlin drawled with a touch of pique. “I’m not hosting bacchanals and virgin sacrifices. Just the occasional card party.”

“It’s not that. It’s…” She blinked, as if her concern was obvious. “Well, he hasn’t opened Malvern for years, if ever. I don’t think he even comes to London at all anymore since his brother died.”

No, Shay didn’t. But Devlin had no intention of weeding through the details of his friend’s private troubles. “Which makes it perfect. No furniture to move, no rugs to roll up—the place is clean and empty. We’ll have the staff from Dartmoor House work the party, and I’m certain Lucien will offer up his as well, given the circumstances. The Dukes of Dartmoor and Crewe will host.” With security provided by Chase and his men, just as they’d planned that morning. “All we have to do is provide the glasses and drink.”

“And music and food and candles and lamps…” His mother ticked off each item on her fingers.

“Which is why I need your help.” Peyton went to the duchess’s side and squeezed her hand beseechingly. “I’ve never thrown a party before, and I don’t know the first thing about it.” She glanced at Margaret. “I also need help finding an appropriate dress. I have nothing in the current London style.”

She had nothing at all, actually, except the dress on her back.

“Of course.” Margaret nudged her mother. “We can help her do this. Isn’t that so, Mama?”

Peyton grimaced self-effacingly. “And if it’s any consolation, after my announcement, everyone will most likely be too stunned to notice that there’s no dancing or supper.”

“I suppose.” Yet the duchess frowned. “But it won’t make a difference if no one shows up because of the last-minute invitations.”

“Then we also make a point of calling on everyone we know to tell them about it and assure them that a shocking announcement is going to be made that they need to hear for themselves,” Devlin explained. “Tell them to invite everyonethey know. We’ll start with the biggest busybodies and convince them it’s the announcement of the season.”