Page 18 of Married to the Ruthless Duke

“You wish,” Alexander scoffed. “But all right, I’ll tell you. She is unlike any other lady I’ve met.”

“In a good way or a bad way?”

“A little bit of both, actually,” he admitted, shaking his head. “She damn well stood up to me and told me to shove my marriage contract.”

“She really did that?” James asked between bouts of laughter.

“Yes, but not in such colorful terms.” Alexander laughed. “It was almost cute if I was in the mood, and then she attempted to embarrass me at the tea shop. I’ve never seen a woman eat so shamelessly.”

“Your lady is sure inventive. I withdraw my previous advice on how this is a bad idea because you’re a prick. I think she is way too good to be wasted on the likes of you. She might help break your stiff personality.”

Alexander gave him a warning look, but James was definitely not apologetic and was enjoying his laughter at his friend’s expense. It was not every day that he laughed heartily, courtesy of his stuffy friend.

“I am astonished that you still invited her to go on a promenade with you, knowing full well she’ll be looking for ways to embarrass you,” he commented, giving Alexander a teasing look. “I have always known you to be the fastidious sort and not one to spend time on such nonsensical frivolities. You claim you don’t want to court anyone, but you’re effectively courting her. A display like that would have been most likely to have you scaring the poor girl silly. You must really like her company for you to want to keep it. Careful, Blackhill, she just might be the one to melt your cold heart.”

Alexander rolled his eyes at the absurdity of James’ words. Yes, he found himself wanting to be around Helen more than he cared to admit, but that was only because in some way, he wanted to see just how much temptation he could take before he finally gave in and not because he necessarily enjoyed her company.

“You are insinuating that I might have feelings of a softer nature towards the lady, and that is quite far from the truth,” he explained. “I just need to marry her because she will be the best aristocratic wife to impress the Earl and Countess. I will admit I find her resolve interesting, but that’s about it.”

The amused smile on his friend’s face confirmed that James didn’t believe him, but Alexander didn’t blame him. Even as he spoke those words, he found he didn’t completely believe himself either.

He knew he was supposed to keep his distance from her because most of his fantasies about her were not appropriate for polite company. But he quite craved her presence, even though it always had him debating whether to strangle or bed the minx.

His only consolation was the fact that Helen was just as affected as he was, and even if she might not have identified the feeling yet, her body revealed that she felt the heated attraction between them just as well.

He suspected her attempts at embarrassing him were her attempt to run from the intensity of her feelings, and he was not above using the mutual attraction between them to get her to agree to marry him.

“So, you don’t want to bed her?” James asked as he was about to swallow a sip of his drink.

He coughed, trying to get rid of the drink that had lodged in his throat. When the coughing finally ended, he glared at his friend.

“You haven’t answered my question,” James pointed out with a wide, knowing grin.

“I don’t want to bed her?” Alexander answered, even though it sounded more like a question.

“What about me, Your Grace?” A beautiful blond woman stopped at the table. “Do you want to bed me?”

Alexander raised his eyebrow as he noticed that it was time for the courtesans to serve guests at the club. Usually, he left before the time came.

“Lady Fallon,” he greeted. “It’s a pleasure, as always.”

She smiled, coming to run a hand down his arm with a sultry smile.

“Indeed. I’m surprised you’re here,” Lady Fallon said, curving her lips seductively. “You usually leave before thefestivities.”

He read the meaning behind her words, disgust filling him. Lady Fallon was a fashionable widow who’d turned to selling her body when her husband had died, and over the years, she had always expressed her interest in having Alexander as her lover. Alexander had always graciously declined, but her boldness in touching him now and something about her presence there grated on his nerves and tested his patience.

Oblivious to his mood, she placed a dainty hand on his shoulder.

“I heard tale that you were about to get shackled to some high-bred chit. Congratulations,” she said cheerfully. Then dropping her voice to a sultry whisper, she added, “You could come visit me later. I promise to give you the time of your life. Consider that my parting gift.”

She batted her eyelashes in a way that was supposed to be seductive but just served to inflame his annoyance.

Firmly holding her hand, he removed it from his person.

“I don’t appreciate people touching me without my permission, Lady Fallon, and I am not interested in your proposition. Please, in the future, refrain from touching me without my permission.”

A flush of embarrassment appeared on Lady Fallon’s face. “I only wanted to?—”

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