The Debutante’s Brooding Protector (The Duchess’s Darling Debutantes #1)

Estella sat across from the most agreeable man in London.

Well, at least, the most agreeable she’d met thus far, and a great deal more talkative than a certain glowering marquess she’d sat next to in the parlor earlier that evening.

With a quick glance she could see Sebastian listening to a story the duchess was telling. Silent, as usual. She supposed it ought to reassure her that the marquess was not only terse and grim around her. It seemed to be his default demeanor.

Meanwhile, the rest of the duchess’s guests buzzed with conversation and laughter around the dining room table. But Estella’s focus was on Lord Alderton, who’d proven to be the world’s most agreeable dinner companion during this, the duchess’s first event in which Estella was on full display.