Page 4 of The Wrong Duke

“Oh, anything really,” she giggled. “The truth is, and this is a little embarrassing, but I’ve heard about you — My best friend, Miss Forbes told me all about you. And from what she has said, you sound very much like someone who I’d like to get to know.” She squeezed his arm and met his eyes, taking a step closer because he was standing purposefully back, and that simply would not do.

He tilted his head, a wry smile crossing his lips. “Is that right? And what did your friend say?”

“Many things,” she said airily. “That you’re intelligent. Brave. Kind. The type of man whom a lady like myself would be lucky to meet. That’s not to mention...” She shied away a moment, took a deep breath, and then forced herself to meet his eyes. “...someone whom she might like to be courted by.”

He chuckled to himself. “Somehow, I doubt your father would agree to that.”

“As I said.” She stepped in closer, hand still gripping his arm, holding his stare and refusing to let go. “My father doesn’t have to know everything. In fact, the less he knows, the better. Don’t you think?”

It was now or never. They stood chest to chest. Waist to waist. So close that she could feel his heart beating inside his chest; it was hurried, the nerves of the situation playing havoc with his confidence. But he didn’t step away. Nor did he try and run. He held her eyes, looking past the mask, as curious about her words as he was interested in them.

She had no choice.

She had no other option.

She had but one chance, and she prayed that it was the right one.

Lord Malnor opened his mouth to speak. Thick lips parting just, an intake of breath, a moment of hesitation in whatever he was going to say, and Amelia took her shot. She stepped in closer, rose on the tips of her toes, and before Lord Malnor could do or say anything else, her lips met his, and in that moment, she knew... maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all?

CHAPTERTWO

His Grace, Evan, Duke of Northrade froze. Caught completely by surprise, as Miss Baker’s lips connected with his own, he stood rigid, paralyzed, and unable to so much as breathe because he really had no idea what to do or think or how to respond.

Who was this woman? Her lips were still pressed tightly against his, and while he knew that the right thing to do was lurch back and recuse himself from the situation, even offer an apology because surely this was some sort of mistake, he couldn’t help but feel himself swept up in the kiss that was as unforbidden as it was unexpected. Soft lips... moist and supple... light breathing... a sharp intake of breath that may have been hers or his, but he could not tell.

The surprise lasted only an instant, and Evan allowed the kiss to take him. Without thinking, his hand moved to her waist and gripped it. His body pressed in tightly to hers and held it there. His lips worked her mouth open, and his tongue slid inside, lapping at hers in a way that she clearly hadn’t expected. Strange as she was the one to initiate the kiss, but considering the circumstances, considering how bored Evan was with this evening, he really didn’t mind.

But just as suddenly as the kiss had begun, it ended. Miss Baker pulled her lips free, and Evan came back into himself.

“I’m so sorry,” Miss Baker gasped apologetically, the playful smile on her lips suggesting otherwise. “That was... I don’t know what came over me.”

“Is that right?” Evan frowned at the woman, the taste of her still on his lips. “You seemed to know a moment ago.”

“A moment of weakness,” she assured him. “I can’t describe it, but something came over me. Something that I... Surely, you feel it too?”

“Honestly, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Evan said simply. He hadn’t minded the kiss as surprising as it was. What he did mind was this young woman playing the fool as if, somehow, he was the cause of it.

“Are you sure about that?” she giggled and looked away shyly.

“What? Yes.”

“Did you not enjoy it?”

“That hardly seems relevant.” He eyed Miss Baker, trying to see through the mask to the woman beneath. Evan had little experience with women, mostly because he didn’t bother with such things. A fling here and there, maybe, but nothing like this. And now, with the way Miss Baker was behaving, he was reminded of why.

“I think it’s very relevant. I didn’t see you trying to stop it.” She giggled again, but it sounded strange, as if she was forcing it, as if even she didn’t believe what she was saying.

“I was...” Evan scowled. “...caught by surprise.”

“You could have fooled me.”

Was she being serious? Evan attempted to collect himself, eyeing the young lady now in a new light to the one he’d used when she had first approached. He had thought that she was just being friendly. That for whatever reason, she had decided to approach him and introduce herself — it wouldn’t be the first time a lady of thetonhad tried to catch his attention in an effort to be courted. But this was something else entirely!

The mask she wore was red and gold in color, a classic Colombina that covered the face and brow while leaving the mouth exposed. Despite the mask, he could tell that she was attractive. Dark blue eyes that had a mischief about them, thick lips with a small mole on the right side, and slender frame while not being overtly skinny, a sort of curvature that her dress exaggerated in the way it clung to her waist and bosom. Whether she was attractive or not, however, was beside the point.

Miss Baker... he knew the name but not the lady. Her father was the reason why, a true scion of theton, a gambler who owed debts all over London, who resented those above him while spurning those he thought of as inferior. Evan and her father had no love for one another which, now that he thought about it, might have been the true reason she had sought him out so fastidiously.

He was feeling angry now, as if he was the butt of a joke that he didn’t understand. “I’m not sure what you thought in seeking me out like this,” Evan said rightly, straightening himself up and collecting his manner. “But I can assure you that the last thing I wish is to be caught up in a scandal. This...” He shook his head. “This was most inappropriate. So, if you don’t mind...” He offered her a curt smile and made to turn around.

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