Page 5 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

Is he cursed? Could it be true?

CHAPTER TWO

“Roofing is the key…”

Percy studied Madeleine out of the corner of his eye as he listened to Cecil twitter on about the fluctuation in slate prices. He had always been fond of her, found her to be adorable even, but now, she was stunning to behold in every sense of the word. He could not pull his eyes away from her. The wordcursedfloated to his ears once again, and he pushed down the ever-present sense of guilt and anger that accompanied it. The whispers were abound tonight, and they were not all about him.

Ignore them, he commanded himself and attempted to return his attention to Cecil’s financial analysis of the current slate market.

Percy could feel Madeleine’s beautiful blue eyes studying him. He was pleased by her attention, but all she ever did was frown at him. He was not certain what he had done to cause her to feel such displeasure, but he was determined to find out and remedy it if possible.

Perhaps she has heard the rumors about the curse and judges me for it.His jaw tightened once more but relaxed when he realized the foolishness of his thought.She has been frowning at me since we were children, long before the curse was made manifest. Perhaps it is simply her way, but I have seen her smile and laugh in the past.

Her frown was not all he studied, though. His little Monkey had grown up behind his back and became a woman. Those chubby cheeks Cecil used to love to pinch and mock were now angular and well-matched to the planes of her oval, clear-complected face. Chin rolls that once sat between her chest and jawline had also melted away.

However, what weight was lost in her face had gathered in her bosom and hips, and the way her dress flaunted those delicious curves was downright making his mouth water. Not slim, like most of the other ladies in attendance, nor covered in jewels or feathers. She was just…Madeleine.

As if suddenly realizing the thoughts he was having about his best friend’s little sister, Percy physically jerked, pulled his thoughts and gaze away from the woman who had seemingly captured everyone’s attention, and tuned back into Cecil’s voice. This would not do. For him. For her. For anyone.

“And that is why we study the industry, is it not?” Cecil asked him with a confident smile. “To monetize it to its full advantage.”

“Hmm? Yes, of course, of course,” Percy muttered, pretending he’d paid attention all along.

At his side, Cecil let out a laugh and patted his shoulder.

“Here I am going on about business when we should be discussing more friendly matters. Tell me, old friend, how have you been faring?”

It was a question he would rather not answer even if he could focus on the conversation, but even as his body turned toward Cecil, his eyes kept roaming over to Madeleine where she stood apart from the others, seemingly trying to avoid everyone. Including him.

“Oh, you know how it is,” Percy answered passively.

“You seem distracted,” Cecil noted, starting to turn his head toward Percy’s line of sight.

Percy quickly noted it and grabbed his friend’s shoulder, stopping him from seeing the object of Percy’s distraction. It was wrong to look at Madeleine like that, and he knew it. Still, as he tried to pull his attention away from her, he found that he could not.

“Pardon me old, boy,” he apologized, giving in to his curiosity.

Percy didn’t hear or see Cecil’s disappointment as he walked the few steps away from him and placed himself once more directly in front of Madeleine.

“Why do you frown at me, Monkey? Do I have something on my face?” he jested, turning his most charming smile towards her.

Madeleine’s brows arched in surprise. “Your Grace, please address me properly when in public,” she chastised.

The snap in her voice caused a stir in his loins, and when he only looked at her with amusement, she snapped open her fan and began to wave it rapidly before her face.

“And no. Your face is… fine. I am simply in need of air,” she murmured, her cheeks flaming red once more.

“Fine?” He chuckled, but Madeleine’s frown only deepened before she turned away. Before he could apologize for his jesting, though, she hurried away toward the exterior doors before he, or her brother, could stop her.

He was going to give her a moment. Perhaps she was simply overheated. It was nearly summer, after all, and the breeze in London wasn’t exactly brisk. But as he turned to make his way back to Cecil, Percy saw Herbert Mowbray follow her out onto the veranda. Concern twinged as he caught the snide smile on the man’s face, and something dark and feral reared inside him.

Excusing himself from Cecil once more, Percy put down his drink and followed Madeleine outside. As he reached the doors, he could hear Madeleine’s voice raised in irritation. “No, I do not wish to marry you!”

Percy quickened his step.

Madeleine rushed from the ballroom out onto the veranda, allowing the fresh air to wash over her. Percy had caught her staring at him, and he had mocked her for it.

Always frowning,he’d teased. When had his voice become so deep? So rich? And when had he become so… solarge?! The man had become a giant, standing a foot taller than her brother. And he was not large in belly like her Papa but in overall physique. Percy’s well-tailored suit showed off the ample layers of taut muscle that lay just beneath the surface. Even his hands, when he had slipped one over hers, were large and corded with strength. Those hands could snap her neck in an instant or… Groaning in frustration, she fluttered her fan faster before giving up and smacking the cooling apparatus onto the stone railing of the veranda.

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