“I wouldn’t even know how.” While Kit was trying to teach her how to seduce a man into marrying her, those lessons hadn’t been intended for a duke. For heaven’s sake, every young woman in New York City had set her cap for Lockwood this spring. Alice couldn’t compete with that.

“Do what Maddie did,” Katherine said. “You attend the events he’s attending and use every opportunity possible to talk to him. Throw yourself in his path at every turn.”

“And that works?”

“It did for Maddie. Not to mention that you are here together at this house party. You have the chance to get to know him now, before the rest of society descend like locusts once we’re back in the city.”

Katherine made it sound so easy, but Alice was not Maddie. She wasn’t bubbly or fun, with plenty of friends and activities. If the duke courted someone like Maddie, why would he ever look twice at Alice? It seemed silly to point this out, however, so Alice merely said, “I’ll think about it.”

“Oh, the enthusiasm is overwhelming,” Katherine said dryly. “Look at him out there. Wouldn’t you rather marry a man who looks like Lockwood than some boring American fortune hunter?”

They both angled toward the croquet match. The Duke of Lockwood was leaning against his mallet, ankles crossed, his back straight and proud. The wind ruffled his brown hair while the sun kissed his skin and turned it into a warm gold. He really was appealing, in a stiff and proper sort of way.

“Look at those shoulders and tell me I am wrong,” Katherine said out of the side of her mouth. “And you’d become a duchess.”

“His Grace would never be interested in a woman like me.”

“Are we back to this tedious tune? Alice, remember what I said: know your worth.”

Without meaning to, Alice’s eyes darted toward Kit—only to find him staring at her once again. An emotion she could not place swirled in his brown depths, but it was fierce and disconcerting. Perhaps a little bit thrilling. She couldn’t look away, caught in the murky tide pools hiding his thoughts. The desire to kiss the frown off his face rose up in her chest.

“Finally, the first match is over,” Lydia was saying, and Alice dragged her attention off Kit to see the players leaving the court and heading for the tent.

“Who won?” Alice asked.

“Lockwood’s team,” Katherine said. “If I had to guess, judging by Mr. Archer’s expression.”