Page 29 of The Duke and the Runaway Bride

“Your Grace,” she said, looking down at her feet.

“Yes, come in,” he replied, annoyed at himself for not being in control.

As she rounded the table, it gave him ample opportunity to take in her form without her noticing. When she was side-on, he could see the way her dress hugged her figure, her bosom and rear practically begging to be touched.

He looked down at his empty plate as Beatrice sat. Then, he gestured for the maids to serve the soup.

“How was your day?” he asked politely.

“Oh, it was positively wonderful,” Beatrice sang.

The excitement in her voice took him by surprise, and he couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face.

“I can’t wait to hear about it,” he said.

“I spent a wonderful afternoon with your sister, and we talked about all manner of things. I am to help her debut this year, and I shall have to help my sister too, of course, but Mother will be there to support her, and I can help both of them. They might debut together, and that will be so much fun. I spoke with your mother too—she is very nice. It was kind of you to defend me at breakfast, by the way. Elizabeth told me she was sorry for asking so many questions, and we found we have a lot in common.” Beatrice sighed contentedly. “I feel welcome here.”

The Duke did not think he had ever smiled for as long as he currently had, but it was hard not to be caught up in the excited energy of the woman beside him. And when she looked at him coyly with a slight pout, he could only imagine how her lips would taste.

Edwin quickly cleared his throat. The supper table was no place for thinking about such things. He cleared his throat again and took a spoonful of the leek soup.

“You must tell me your secret,” he said. “Most people find my family completely tiring.”

He was mostly talking about Agnes, but she was not the best judge of character.

“I don’t believe they are. I think they are only excited for you to have finally gotten married, and they want to be a part of your life.”

“They said that?” the Duke asked, feeling some surprise at the mention of his family loving him.

“Not out loud, but I could tell from how they spoke of you and each other. You have a very loving family, and that reflects well on a man.”

Beatrice then blushed and looked down at her soup. Edwin understood why. He loved his family, but he did not love her, nor did she love him. That was what it was. But how did it reflect on a man?

“I must admit you have worked quickly,” Edwin said. “My sister can be equal parts inquisitive and suspicious. I am glad she has not irritated you or asked you so many questions. How did you manage that?”

“To be honest, I don’t know. We were talking, and I told her about how I used to sneak out at night and?—”

Her spoon clattered to her bowl, and she clapped her hand over her mouth before removing it just as quickly in an effort not to look guilty.

“Sneaking out at night?” Edwin raised an eyebrow.

“Your Grace, I made sure she would do no such thing if you were?—”

“I don’t believe my sister has the guts to do such a thing. I am much more interested in hearing what you had gotten up to when roaming the streets of London at night. Was it after midnight?”

The Duke imagined the alluring woman before him prancing through the dark streets, bathed in the moonlight, and the trouble she might get herself into. If he had met her on such a night, he was sure he could have convinced her to get up to no good.

“No, it was not like that,” Beatrice claimed, picking up her spoon again. “I would dress as a man and sneak out to talk with people. There are very interesting people on the streets at night.”

Edwin winked. “I am sure there are.”

Beatrice smiled as she ate a spoonful of soup. “You are awful, Your Grace. If you were to see my adventures out there, you would find them mundane. I spoke to people, walked alone in the dark, and found food. I was dressed as a common man, and no one pays common men any attention. There was one time when I almost got into a fight, but I managed to sneak away into the dark.”

“You are full of surprises, aren’t you?” Edwin said.

“Perhaps I am,” Beatrice quipped, smiling again.

When she smiled, her entire face lit up. There was something more there, too. As soon as she had entered, Edwin had thought about more than just supper, and he could see the same lust in her eyes, though she hid it well.

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