Page 42 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

Her eyes snapped open again, and she met his intense, contemplative stare.

“Do you truly believe that what we did was wrong? Did it feel wrong to you? Be honest with yourself, even if not with me. Do you regret it?”

Madeleine studied his face. Despite the sensitive nature of the subject, he was intense in his inquisition. Setting aside his lust for genuine curiosity. He had an unnerving way about him that made her question everything that she thought she knew.

“No,” she breathed, shaking her head.

And she meant it.

“I do not regret it.”

Percy nodded, an annoyingly charming smile spreading across his lips. “Then that is all that matters.”

He then snapped her fan shut, handed it back to her, and turned back and continued to lead her along the edge of the woods. He went on walking as if nothing had happened.

At his side, she could not help but stare at him in wonder. Madeleine did not know how he could do that. She had been confused ever since their encounter at the ball. She did not know what to say to him or how to be with him without thinking about his mouth on her nether parts.

“You are thinking about it now are you not?” he asked with an amused tone to his voice.

Madeleine laughed, no longer able to try to determine which feelings or expressions to control.

“Well, of course, I am thinking about it now.”

He smiled in satisfaction. “As you should.”

Madeleine laughed again at his hubris. “You think well of yourself.”

“Should I not?” He raised his brow in inquiry at her. “You were more than adequately pleased… unless, my assessment was incorrect?” He smiled a knowing smile.

Madeleine could not answer the question without blushing again, but their traded honesty had felt so refreshing that she replied in a whisper, “Not incorrect.”

She then raised her own brow sassily as it was now Percy that looked taken aback by her bluntness.

“Not that that is an invitation, Your Grace,” she said teasingly as her smile drew into a smirk. “Our kisses have come to an end. It is now time to move on to our purpose. Fooling theton.”

Madeleine suddenly blushed deeply again but for an entirely different reason. When had she become so bold in her speech? So able to speak so confidently to a man? The answers snapped into her mind as Percy gave her a look of pride. It was him. He brought this out in her. And he seemed to enjoy it.

“Yes, I suppose we should continue with that,” he mused. “Come, I hear people in the east garden. There will be plenty of eyes to watch our show.”

Nodding, Madeleine allowed him to continue to lead her along the shadowed edge of the woods. Within moments, they were back among the other members of theton,and as they were noticed, they could both hear the whispers begin. Eyes darted toward them as finely dressed socialites leaned toward one another. Some smiled knowingly, as if happy for them. Others, mostly other ladies, turned their nose up at her before giving Percy a pitying look.

Madeleine felt her cheeks grow warm again. She was no fool. She knew exactly what they were thinking.How couldhechooseher?

“Ignore them. It is impossible to please everyone,” Percy murmured, as if reading her thoughts. “Should you try, it would surely drive you mad.”

“Is that why you are mad?” Madeleine retorted.

“If I am mad, it is because of what you and I did the other evening,” he replied in a low voice.

As Madeleine let out a sound of frustration and smacked her hand to his shoulder, Percy huffed out a laugh. He then paused at a nearby bed of dahlias, putting her a step back. He reached down, and to her surprise, he picked her a bright yellow one.

“Yellow is the color friendship, Your Grace,” she teased as he brought it to her, his smile wide. “Red is more romantic.”

“We are friends,” he replied, tucking the flower delicately behind her ear, “but that is not why I picked it.”

Madeleine took another look around and noticed three things: that the whispers had stopped, the stares had only intensified, and they had all slowly made their way closer. They were listening.

“Pray tell then, Your Grace,” she said breathily, batting her lashes as she gave him an overly bashful smile. Percy gave her a subtle wink of approval.

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