Page 51 of Seduced By the Rakish Duke

So why did she feel as if she just signed away her life by agreeing to give the Duke of Dovegrove a chance?

CHAPTER 13

The night was long. Jenny untangled herself from her bedsheets for the third time this evening. She huffed as she sat up.

This is pointless.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and padded to her window. She drew back the heavy curtains and took in the moonlit landscaped gardens below. It was a nice little garden. Nothing like David’s, but it was nice to look at.

Jenny groaned.David.She told herself she was going to move on, and in order to do that, she needed to stop thinking of him.

Unfortunately for her, her mind had other plans. It kept conjuring up every encounter they ever had. She hoped if she studied them enough, she would discover the misstep she took that changed his demeanor from flirtatious to loathsome.

Unfortunately, all she came away with was an ache in her heart and more frustration than she knew what to do with.

She leaned her head against the cool glass. Memories of his smile, his touch, his whispers rolled over her. It was presumptuous of her to assume David felt anything for her. She didn’t even know what she truly felt about him.

Her hand rose slowly and lay over her aching, confused heart. She enjoyed his company—she even enjoyed it when they bickered.

He allowed her to express her feelings, no matter how big or small. For someone who was constantly told she was being too much, didn’t he realize how much of a gift he gave her?

She pushed away from the window. She had enough of this sleepless night. It was getting her nowhere. Only one person could finally give her the closure she needed to move on.

And right now, that man was thinking that he had heard the last of Miss Jane Bennett.

Jenny looked upon his darkened door, hoping it wasn’t the last time she would be standing in front of it. She knocked and shifted from foot to foot.

She tried thinking of what to say to him on the way over here, but her mind had gone blank.

The door creaked open, and the object of her angst stood in front of her. “Jenny?”

She couldn’t help but grin at the surprised look on his face. He was always so unflappable that seeing him genuinely surprised was exhilarating.

She didn’t give him the chance to welcome her, she just stepped inside.

“What are you doing here? I told you not to come to my residence anymore.”

Jenny rolled her eyes and folded her arms. “You’re not the only one in thisarrangement.” She was really beginning to hate that word. “I get a say as well.”

David’s lips thinned, and his eyes darkened.

Jenny felt a flicker of heat in her core. She felt the rush of excitement course through her veins. This is what she craved. Someone she could go toe to toe with. She didn’t want pacifying compliments. She wanted heat, passion. She wanted tofeel.

“Jenny, I’m calling for my carriage and you’re going home.”

Jenny raised an eyebrow. “Am I?” She cleared her throat exaggeratedly.

David furrowed his brow. “What on earth are you doing?”

“Getting ready to scream. I guess it would alarm your neighbors and make them come out and see what all the fuss is about.” She looked around the empty hallway. “Hmm, I wonder what would happen next. I’m thinking your staff would come running as well.”

She fluttered her eyelashes and smiled. She had him.

“You wouldn’t,” he scoffed.

She let out a hearty laugh, and by God did it feel good to be challenged. “Do you question my intentions, Your Grace?”

“I’m questioning your sanity,” he said dryly.

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