Page 57 of Wedded to the Ruthless Duke

“There is a way out. Remember what we talked of.” Her eyes went wide as she clearly referred to the annulment.

I cannot have an annulment now. I don’t even want one.

If there was a chance that Philip would make love to her again as he had done the night before, why would she turn her back on that?

“This game has started now. Maybe Philip thinks that I will play by his rules, but you are right, Diana. I should have no intention at all of doing so.”

Diana clapped her hands together, looking quite delighted with this plan.

“Then you will play at his own game?” she asked excitedly. “Pray, start tonight. The assembly at the Almack’s Assembly Rooms should certainly be a good opportunity. You both have to be there.”

“Very true,” Grace murmured with a nod.

Yet if she was going to play this game as well as she hoped to, she knew that she needed another’s advice. Diana was too shy to help on this score, and Tabitha was still so against the idea of this marriage that she certainly wouldn’t help with this either.

No, there was only one person who could help Grace now.

As she sat forward, purpose in her countenance, Diana looked delighted and Tabitha more terrified than ever.

“I think this afternoon I shall call on Celia,” Grace said with finality. “Maybe she could help me in this game.”

CHAPTER19

“You still up for that boxing match?” Philip asked as he strode into Aaron’s front room.

Aaron, clearly startled to have a visitor so early in the morning, least of all Philip, lowered his newspaper and looked at Philip over the very edge.

“You did offer to be my sparring partner, didn’t you?”

“I did,” Aaron said slowly, clearly looking around Philip for a sign of how he got into the house.

“Your butler let me in,” Philip explained with a wave of his hand. Aaron nodded then folded up the paper.

“Very well, follow me.”

Philip was glad not to have to explain anymore just yet.

As soon as he could, he escaped his bedchamber and his house that morning. He’d gone for a ride first thing, but still unable to go home again, he found himself at Aaron’s door, quite determined to distract himself.

A chance to forget about Grace for a little while would be a fine thing indeed.

A few minutes later, both Philip and Aaron were in a sporting room at the back of Aaron’s townhouse. There were racks across the walls of pistols, muskets, and bayonets from Aaron’s days as a soldier, yet there were other things too. Framed were newspaper clippings bearing the stories of war, successful battle, and even illegal boxing matches.

“Ready?” Aaron said. He’d shed his cravat and waistcoat, standing before Philip in his trousers and a loose shirt.

“I’m ready.” Philip nodded, holding up his hands.

The first strike came fast.

Aaron was indeed a skilled fighter, much quicker an opponent than Philip had ever fought before. He had to move faster, be light on his feet, darting out of the way of each encroaching blow and missing the latter one by a hair’s breadth.

“You’re too slow,” Aaron said, stepping back for just a minute. “Are the men you fight in those illegal boxing bouts of yours too large and sluggish on their feet?”

“Usually. Their might comes in their strength, not their speed.”

“Then stand on the balls of your feet and be ready to move. Let’s go again.” Aaron moved forward. The following blows were a little easier to dodge this time as Philip did as he was instructed and stayed on the balls of his feet.

When he came close to catching Aaron in the cheek with a strike, he found his first caught in Aaron’s palm. Aaron absorbed the strength behind the hit then thrust Philip back again.

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