Page 20 of His Duchess' Wicked List

Maddie bit her lip. She could just extract herself now, insist that this was a mistake, and demand that he return her home immediately.

But curiosity and arousal at being in such close proximity to him were winning the day. She didn’t protest. They kept walking towards the glimmering light.

She didn’t know what she was expecting when they entered the building, but it wasn’t this. She gaped openly as she gazed around. This was no dirty garden shed, indeed. It was fitted out for a king… or perhaps a duke.

It was spacious and lined with bookshelves. There was a comfortable-looking upholstered chaise sofa in one corner, along with a tall dresser, upon which lay a crystal decanter filled with brown liquid and two gleaming glasses. A fire was flickering, warming the space, and a tall candelabra cast a pool of light.

“I do not understand,” she whispered, shaking her head incredulously. “Whatisthis building? I never even knew it was here!”

The Duke laughed again. “One of my many secret lairs,” he drawled, his eyes twinkling with a devilish light. “A gentleman must have them when he is forced to reside with his family. I have another space quite like this one at Stansgate as well.” A deliberate pause. “For when I need some quality time alone.”

Maddie shook her head again. She wasn’t sure, as it had been so dark in the gardens, but she thought she had probably passed this building while walking with Selina many times and never given it a thought. She had probably assumed it was the servants’ quarters.

The Duke was staring at her, quite openly, his eyes narrowed, waiting for her response. She felt a pull of desire, deep inside.They were so alone. No one knew where she was. The thought was thrilling and alarming, in equal measure.

She kept gazing around, taking it all in. Suddenly, she knew. The Duke might take advantage of this space to spend quality time alone, as he put it, but she rather imagined that it was for far more than that.

This is where he takes his conquests.And the rake believes that I am a conquest!

She drew herself up tall, squaring her shoulders, looking him straight in the eye. “I do not knowwhatyou think of me, Your Grace,” she said slowly, an edge to her voice. “But I must inform you that you arequitewrong. I am here to retrieve my list. Nothing else!”

He took a step closer to her. She inhaled the scent of his cologne, feeling quite dizzy with desire. It took all of her will to step back from him, but she did it, desperately trying to maintain her composure.

“And here I was thinking that I had convinced you with our kiss this morning,” he whispered, a teasing tone in his voice. “Are you telling me, My Lady, that you needmoreconvincing? For I will tell you plainly that I am up for the task. And more than ready for it.”

He reached out, taking a stray curl between his fingers, and tucking it softly behind her ear. His eyes bored into hers. Shecouldn’t seem to look away. It was as if he was holding her in a manacle.

“You havenotconvinced me,” she insisted in a strangled voice. “In fact, the only thing you have convinced me of is that you are a rake, through and through!”

He just kept looking at her. Maddie felt the tension in the air. It was so thick and seemed to be swirling around them like a hot wind.

Was the rake going to try to kiss her again? What would she do if he did?

But he didn’t try to kiss her. Instead, he reached into the pocket of his jacket, taking something out. A piece of paper. Her heart lurched. It was her list. He unfolded it, straightening the paper in a slow, leisurely manner. He sighed dramatically.

He is enjoying playing with me. As the cat enjoys playing with the mouse.

“Ah,” he said, peering down at the list in his hands, squinting slightly. “There it is.” He held it out at a tantalizing distance so she could read it but not snatch it away. “You see? I have crossed out number three.Kiss A Rake.”

“So you have,” she said, infuriated but deeply aroused. “You are insufferable!”

“You are not the first person to tell me so,” he drawled. He looked at the list again. “What shall we cross off next?”

“Nothing,” she gritted out, her heart pounding hard.

Dear Lord, she had written quite a few scandalous things on that list! The thought that he might ask her to do those things with him was inconceivable. She barely knew the man! He was treating her like a painted trollop.

He tucked the list back into his pocket. “Come and sit down while we consider it. I will pour you a drink.”

He walked towards the drawer with the crystal decanter and glasses atop, leisurely pouring them a drink. Then, he sat down on the chaise sofa, patting the cushion next to him, a devilish glint in his eyes.

Maddie sighed deeply, sitting down next to him. He handed her the glass. It was brandy. She took a small sip, almost choking on it. He took a long sip, before placing the glass on the small table in front of them and producing the list again.

“Ah,” he said, smiling, “I think I know what we should cross off next.”

Maddie couldn’t breathe. What was he going to do?

But, to her surprise, he turned to the dresser next to him, opening a drawer, and taking out a pack of playing cards.

---