Page 13 of His Duchess' Wicked List

Lady Madeline Cole was the most successful distraction from all of it, and he couldn’t give her up now, even if he wanted to.

After breakfast, Maddie sat in the parlor, trying to focus on her embroidery, while Augusta read her book of Byron’s poetry. The day stretched ahead in the dullest of ways.

Maddie sighed heavily, dropping her embroidery patch. It was no use—she simply couldn’t get the devilish Duke of Everly out of her mind.

The way he gazed at me, with such burning eyes. The way he kissed my hand. The way he calmly stated the terms of his indecent proposition, as if he were brokering a deal to play croquet.

She shuddered with delicious delight at the mere thought of him, despite her fear. Something was happening inside her body, just the same as when he had touched her and looked at her the previous evening. A glowing warmth was spreading through her limbs.

She felt flushed and aroused and entirely not herself at all…

Her mother marched into the parlor. “Quickly, girls, we have visitors,” she announced in a slightly breathless voice. “I want you both in the drawing room. Right now!”

CHAPTER 6

Maddie stopped short as she walked into the drawing room. Her jaw dropped. To her surprise, the visitors were Selina, her mother, the Dowager Duchess of Everly… and the Duke of Everly himself.

“Oh,” she stammered, feeling a flush breaking out over her entire body. Her heart started hammering violently.

What is he doing here? How on earth am I supposed to act in a normal way? I cannot look at him. I must not look at him!

But, sickeningly, her eyes were drawn to him—and only him. Strangely, he looked just as shocked to see her, at first. But then, a devilish glint flashed across his grey eyes. To her shock, the rake actually had the audacity to wink at her!

“Come and sit down, Madeline,” her mother instructed imperiously. She frowned. “What has gotten into you, child? You look like you have seen a specter!”

Maddie hastily took a seat, as far from the Duke as she could. Her mind was whirring. He must have engineered this house call, to put more pressure on her to accept his proposition. There could be no other explanation for it.

Maddie glanced covertly at Selina. Her best friend was smiling, oblivious. Her heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t imagine that the Duke had informed his sister about the details of their illicit conversation the previous evening.

Selina, most probably, was still none the wiser about any of it. She didn’t know that Maddie had lost the list, nor that her brother had found it… and she certainly wouldn’t be aware that he was blackmailing Maddie for “favors” to return it.

I must talk to Selina alone as soon as I can.But how am I to tell her about what her brother is proposing for the list’s safe return?

“Tea for all?” Lady Ollerton asked sweetly, smiling at their visitors, picking up the teapot.

Everyone nodded.

As her mother poured the tea, Maddie tried to catch Selina’s eye, hoping that her best friend might intuit that she wanted to speak to her alone. But Selina didn’t take the hint.

Maddie would have to think of an excuse—any excuse—to draw her friend away from the drawing room at some point. But forthe moment, it seemed she must simply endure this excruciating torment.

“How are you finding London since your return from the Continent, Your Grace?” Lady Ollerton asked, handing the Duke a cup of tea. Maddie noted he took it black, with a twist of lemon, just like she did. “Has it changed much in your absence?”

“In some ways, Lady Ollerton,” he replied, sipping his tea. “But not in others. The London Season, for example, seems to be exactly the same as it always was.” He paused, his eyes narrowing. “The same preoccupation with dull garden parties and the like. I am sure you are well aware of the torment one must endure at such events.”

Maddie suppressed a laugh, almost snorting her tea. So, it seemed the devilish Duke wasn’t any fonder of boring Society parties than she was. But then, he must be used to more cosmopolitan events and company by now. There was a whole world outside of London, after all, which he had experienced.

“Indeed,” Lady Ollerton said, her nostrils flaring slightly, which Maddie knew indicated she was a little taken aback. “You have a colorful turn of phrase, Your Grace!” She turned to Augusta, who was sitting beside her on the sofa, looking painfully bored. “My dear, would you be so kind to entertain our guests on the pianoforte? I am certain His Grace will be charmed by your playing!”

Augusta looked affronted, but she complied, walking to the pianoforte in the corner of the room.

Maddie sipped her tea. It wasn’t unusual for their mama to request that Augusta play for guests—her sister was a talented pianist—but there was something in her mother’s manner as she looked at the Duke that made Maddie suspect she was up to something.

“You will adore Lady Augusta’s playing,” the Dowager Duchess gushed, leaning towards the Duke. “She is quite skilled, Daniel. And we all know that musical proficiency is one of a lady’s greatest accomplishments.”

The Duke nodded politely, but he looked bored. “I am certain I will be charmed by Lady Augusta’s talent on the instrument, Mother.”

“My oldest daughter is also very well-read, Your Grace,” Lady Ollerton added, nodding vigorously. “As well as being proficient in French and German.” She smiled brightly. “Augusta has a talent for languages, you see, which I feel certain you would admire, being so well traveled.”

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