Page 56 of Seduced By the Rakish Duke

He sat at his desk, looking at the wrinkled and torn sheets of paper that now littered the floor. He opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a miniature portrait of him with his sister, Heather. He traced her features with a finger.

The portrait was painted just before their father passed away. Both he and Heather looked so young, so happy.

“Tell me I’m doing the right thing, Heather. I cannot have someone so pure of heart be attached to me again. I will not break another spirit like I broke yours. She deserves so much more. She deserves a family, a man who will protect her. I can’t give her either of those things.”

David sat with the portrait in one hand and his tumbler in the other. One day Jenny would forgive him and move on. The truth was, he didn’t know what hurt worse, knowing he would never have her or knowing she would move on.

CHAPTER 14

Jenny sighed into her cup of punch, feeling the liquid bubble and tickle her lips. It was only a matter of time before Harry would come find her.

Harry. Saying his Christian name didn’t give her the same thrill as saying David’s name. She grimaced as her stomach churned.

David.

In fairness to Harry, saying or even just thinking David’s name no longer gave her a thrill. Instead, it exposed the large gaping hole in her heart. Instinctively, Jenny brought up a hand to rub the soreness in her chest.

Just then, one of the objects of her thoughts appeared at her side.

“There you are. I was starting to worry.” Harry looked down at her with bright blue eyes.

Jenny managed a polite smile, which was all she had been able to offer him since that night two weeks ago. Either he wasn’t picking up on her melancholy or he didn’t care. She couldn’t decide if she cared enough to be offended one way or the other.

She placed her punch glass down and played with the ribbon from her reticule.

“I was just speaking with the Earl, and he said that Lady Staunton is thinking of having another ball to end the Season. He asked if we would be in attendance.”

Jenny swallowed. In the ton’s eyes, the two of them were officially courting. In her eyes, they were going through the motions. Well, at least she was.

“It sounds like it would be a lovely time.” She cringed. Even her voice sounded dull.

“Would you care to dance?”

Jenny nodded and took his hand as he led her to the dance floor.

Over the last few weeks, she had danced with him countless times, and each time she hopedthiswould be the time when she would feel something. Unfortunately for her, no such feelings ever came.

His arm wrapped around her waist and held her closer than would normally be acceptable. However, since the ton was underthe impression they were on the road to matrimony, no one looked scandalized by his action.

She tilted her head up to take in his expression. She knew he was older than her, and most likely even David, yet there was a hopeful look in his eyes that gave him a boyish charm.

An uncomfortable feeling settled in her stomach. He was doing everything right by her—he courted her properly, brought her flowers, asked after her family, and even cooed over her nephew. He took her on walks and listened to her stories, and all the while, she was still pining over someone who no longer wanted her. If he ever did.

Jenny swallowed her pride. Every meeting between her and Harry, she promised herself she would give him her full attention and forget the man who broke her heart. She should honor the man she was with. A man who truly wanted her and wasn’t afraid to show it.

Wasn’t that what every woman wanted?

For the first time in weeks, she felt her smile reach her eyes.

Harry’s eyes widened. “May I say, Miss Bennett, how ravishing you look when you smile?”

Jenny felt a slight blush bloom on her cheeks. “Not tonight,” she said with a laugh.

Just as the heaviness surrounding her heart began to dissipate, she felt a dark presence descend over her. The feeling of being watched enveloped her, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

She closed her eyes, silently wishing it was just her imagination. She pushed the narrative that it was just her and Harry dancing. She tried convincing herself there wasn’t a tall, brooding duke standing in a corner somewhere, staring at them.

“Is everything alright, Jenny?”

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