Page 37 of His Duchess' Wicked List

“It isn’t anything about you, My Lady,” he said quickly, trying to save himself. “You are charm personified. I am certain many gentlemen would be honored to have you as a wife.”

Lady Augusta raised her eyebrows. “I hardly think that is true, Your Grace, given my reputation.” She paused, gazing at him sharply. “Are you in love with someone else? Is that it?”

He stifled his surprise. Ladies weren’t usually so direct in their questions. But then, Lady Augusta wasn’t like other ladies. His cousin had declared her a fearsome bluestocking, and he wasn’t wrong. But that didn’t mean Daniel didn’t like her. It was quite refreshing, really, and he had always been fascinated by strong women.

The Cole sisters are unique, indeed.Both of them are beautiful and spirited.

He gazed at Lady Augusta carefully. She didn’t look anything like her younger sister, but shewaslovely, with her golden hair and fierce green eyes, which shone with intelligence.

He felt a stab of pity for her. It was very hard for independent-minded, free-spirited women like her to fit into the ton. No wonder she always looked like she was about to wage battle.

“Your Grace?” Her voice was still sharp. “Are you in love with someone?”

He flashed a self-deprecating smile. “Alas, My Lady, I am not. Rest assured that is not the reason I spurn the idea of marriage with you.” He hesitated. “I simply cannot and will not marry for my own deeply held reasons, and in spite of my mother’s machinations.”

To his surprise, she looked displeased, which was odd, given that she had just confessed that she didn’t want to marry him any more than he wanted to marry her.

“Stay strong, Lady Augusta,” he said suddenly. “Do not let them change you or destroy you. Always be yourself.”

She looked surprised at his strange advice.Hewas surprised as well. He hadn’t been meaning to say that to her. Perhaps it was because he recognized another hounded soul, just like himself, and knew how hard it was to carry on in the face of eternal disapproval.

To his relief, the dance ended. He bowed, and Lady Augusta curtseyed, before vanishing into the crowd. His duty was done. He was just about to vanish himself, to try to find a hideout far from his mother’s eagle eyes, when he noticed that Christopher was whispering to Maddie, clearly entreating her for yet another dance.

He felt a stab of pure irritation and something else. Before he could stop himself, he marched over to them. They both looked surprised to see him.

“You really should not monopolize her, Chris,” he said, trying to smile at his cousin, to take the edge off his words. “And Iamthe host. I believe it is my duty to squire the lady for one dance, at least. What do you say, Lady Madeline?”

For one tense second, he thought she was going to refuse him. His heart almost stopped beating. This was the closest he had been to her since she had lain in his arms last night.

The scent of her perfume invaded his nostrils, making him so hungry for her that it was a herculean effort to not grab her and drag her to the ground this instant.

“Of course, Your Grace,” Maddie replied, her face looking pinched. “I would be honored.”

Chris didn’t look pleased, but he had no choice but to leave them to it.

The music started again. They bowed and curtseyed to each other. And then, the dance began.

Maddie’s heart was racing as fast as a rabbit as she danced with the Duke. To her horror, she discovered she was trembling. Why, oh why, hadn’t she just had the courage to refuse him? She could have begged off, found some excuse, claimed she was thirsty and needed some rest. He couldn’t have forced her to dance with him. Not with so many people around.

They skirted each other so closely that she felt his warm breath on her cheek. It was totally different from dancing with Lord Christopher. The air felt charged, like before a thunderstorm. Her traitorous body was already reacting to him, yearning for him, leaning towards him instinctively, even as her mind told her firmly to keep her distance.

“You look so fresh, My Lady,” the Duke whispered through gritted teeth, his grey eyes darkening to the color of flint. “Which is surprising, since you have been dancing with my cousin for practically the entire evening.”

Her breath caught in her throat. There it was again—the jealousy that lurked within him. It was still there. It seemed to have possessed him. His face was like thunder.

“I do not know why you care whether I dance with your cousin or not,” she retorted swiftly. “You just danced with my sister. And if our mothers have their way, you will be marrying her soon.”

He didn’t look pleased at that. “That willneverhappen.”

She eyed him scornfully. “Really? How comforting it is to hear that! Oh, but wait, I just remembered that you are a rakeanda liar, so I simply cannot believe a word that comes out of your mouth, can I?”

His face darkened again, so much that Maddie felt a small stab of misgiving. He looked like a desperate man, one who couldn’t be pushed too far, for fear of the consequences. She knew she was playing with fire.

They drew so close to each other that she could see a small vein throbbing in his right temple. He glanced at her, his eyes filled with a tightly controlled anger… and something else.

“You need to remember our deal, My Lady,” he hissed. “You are allowed to cross off the items on your list with me andonlyme. I am the only one who is allowed to touch you.”

Maddie felt a thrill of desire course down her spine. Oh, she wanted him to touch her. Hewasthe only man she wanted to touch her. Even the thought of another man touching her in such a way was anathema to her. She just couldn’t imagine it at all.

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