“I’d thought of that too.” It was a strangled sort of whisper. If you can manage to have him sponsor our clinic, do you know how much good we can do?”Ī shaft of guilt stabbed deeper into her chest. “That’s a bit of a stupid move, little sister. “I’m afraid I cannot accept the duke’s intent to court me.” The emerald and diamonds of her bracelet sparkled at her wrist, as did the silver embroidered scrolls lining the hem of her gown and the bodice. “It’s a twofold problem.” For the span of a few heartbeats, she traced the watered silk pattern of her emerald gown with a fingertip. “In the last weeks, you’ve been more at sixes and sevens than I’ve ever seen you.” “You’ll need to pinpoint the crux of your nerves,” Royce said with a specific tilt of his mouth that heralded teasing. Other than that, they resembled the twins they used to pretend to be back in childhood days. Royce had chosen a burgundy waistcoat while Trey had selected one of peridot green. Both were dressed immaculately in the requisite dark evening clothes. Her brothers, Royce and Trey, stared back at her through the dimly lit interior of the closed coach. A light rain was falling, rendering the passing world soft and blurred around the edges. The conspicuous absence of their father was noted, but he would arrive at the ball later once his business endeavor had concluded. I can’t consign my life to being his duchess. It was the evening of the Duke of Ballantrae’s annual summer ball, and the time had come for her to tender an answer to his question of two days ago. The carriage in which she sat rolled ponderously through the crowded Mayfair streets toward St.

“I can’t do this,” Jane whispered as she clenched her gloved hands tightly in her lap.

Imperfect in Peridot by Sandra Sookoo