Page 1 of A Baby Delivery for the Duke

CHAPTER 1

“Oh, I would love to hear more of what you have to say,” Phillipa said through batted eyelashes.

She had discovered precisely three ways to ask a gentleman for money without appearing to ask for anything at all, and she had tried every one of them on Viscount Averley in the last quarter hour.

The first one was expressing warmth. Beginning with a bright, encouraging interest in his opinions on the plight of London’s poor. After that, she had moved on to sympathy, and learned a great deal about the difficulty of finding a truly reliable horse. Now she was down to earnestness, which was her last resort, and she leaned in a little, and lowered her voice.

“Forty-three children, my lord. Forty-three, in a house meant for twenty-five. The roof above the girls’ dormitory has leaked since Michaelmas, and if it cannot be mended before the first snow….”

“How extraordinary,” said Lord Averley, gazing down at her with what could only be described as a tender expression.

“Yes!” she nodded, summoning all the excitement she could manager. “And winter is nearly upon us, and you are well aware of just how unforgiving the winter….”

Lord Averley cut her in between, seeming suddenly entirely focused on her face. “Do you know, Lady Phillipa, I never noticed your freckles before.”

She blinked, taken aback. “I beg your pardon?”

“Your freckles. Charming. Most ladies powder theirs over, but you leave yours quite bare. It is very bold of you.” He smiled the smile of a young man who had been told since the cradle that it was worth a great deal, and had never had cause to doubt it. “You have been looking at me most particularly all evening, you know.”

She blinked at him. Particularly?

“I have been looking at you,” said Phillipa carefully and with some befuddlement , “because you are the gentleman to whom I am speaking.”

“Just so,” he was delighted.

Oh, dear.

Suddenly, it dawned on her where she had gone wrong.

At the start of the evening, it had been rather simple for her. She had told herself, be charming enough to be heard, and not so charming as to be misunderstood.

The point, of course, had not been exalting her own social standing or God Forbid, speak with even the faintest hint of intention of a courtship.

No, none of that. In those things, Phillipa had the least bit of interest in.

The real reason had been rather simple, really. She had attended the ball in hopes that it would help enlist help for the orphanage of St. Anthony. The place had stolen her heart, and all she wanted was too pool in whatever resources possible to help the cause.

But it seemed that her intention had been lost on the Lord altogether. If anything, he has grossly misinterpreted the situation.

He had very likely never been spoken to by a woman for any other purpose in his life. What else, after all, could she possibly want from him?

“Would you do me the honor?” the Lord said, holding out his hand to ask for a dance.

“That is very kind, but I must decline. I am only trying to explain about St. Anthony’s, you see, the children have such need…” her cheeks blushed red as she squeezed the words out of her throat.

“Ah,” his eyes seemed to pop open at the realization. “Well, I suppose a fellow oughtn’t to expect to be won by a sad story, ought he? You ladies do enjoy your games.” He bowed again, rather more stiffly. He exited swiftly after that, his interest in her plummeting.

Again.

There has been six gentlemen since supper. All of them had been confused in the same way, and then disinterested as soon as they found out what she actually wanted from them.

She drew a slow breath and let it out through her nose.

Around her, Brawnhite House glittered. So many people from high society were in attendance, and most of them had enough to spare. In fact, spare would be generous. She reckoned the room held enough idle wealth to roof every orphanage in London twice over.

If only someone could get them to contribute.

St. Anthony’s had done more for her than she would ever do for it. It had found her when she was at her lowest and given her back to herself.