Page 28 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

“It was an unkind exaggeration,” she bit back, keeping her voice down so others could not hear. “I know what I look like, and the Goddess of Spring and I have naught in common.”

Concern seemed to lace through Percy’s eyes for a moment, but by the time he blinked, it was gone, and he was grinning at her and letting out a chuckle.

“I do love when you are plucky, my little Monkey.”

This time, his voice was laced thick with mockery, and yet it still caused heat to flood into her cheeks.I hate you,she thought and actually smiled at the silent curse.

“That is better,” Percy replied in reference to her smile then added, “I am pleased to see you looking well, Madeleine.” He finally bent down and kissed her hand, the small brush of his lips sending many tiny pulses through her knuckles.

“May I have the first dance?”

“You may,” Madeleine agreed gratefully.

Percy led her out onto the dance floor. He bowed, she curtsied, then the dance began. For as tall and muscular as he was, Percy danced with flawless ease. He moved about the dance floor with a powerful grace that let the viewer know that he was capable of great and swift violence if needed. Madeleine thought back tohow swiftly Herbert Mowbray had fled the scene after Percy had warned him off at the last ball. The flicker of fear in Mowbray’s eyes had been real, but Percy had allowed him to maintain his dignity.

“There has been talk abound of us and our courting,” he told her as he began to lead her into a backward step.

“There has?” she asked though she was not sure why she sounded so surprised. Percy nodded.

“Our plan is working, little Monkey. You and I are bound to be free by the time this is over.”

To her surprise, Madeleine instantly rebelled against the thought. Uncomfortable with the sensation it caused within her, she simply pressed her lips together and followed Percy’s lead.

“You dance beautifully,” Percy praised a short moment later. “Gracefully.”

“Must you always jest?” Madeleine hissed at him, her own self-image keeping her from taking the compliment for what it was.

Percy smiled in a way that only fueled her annoyance.

“I jest not, My Lady. I would never jest about something so serious as dancing with a beautiful woman.” There was a sparkle in his eyes, but the look on his face was genuine.

“Thank you,” Madeleine gritted out begrudgingly, accepting the compliment with as much delayed grace as she could manage. “The lessons we took as children have proven to be useful for the both of us it would seem.”

“Is that your way of complimenting my dancing as well?” he teased her.

Madeleine laughed, shaking her head at his lighthearted way of conversing with her. “If it pleases you.”

“It does indeed,” his voice dropped to a more flirtatious tone.

Madeleine could feel the muscles of Percy’s arms rippling through his clothes as he pulled her just a little closer to him through the steps. She flushed at the remembrance of how good it had felt to have those arms wrapped around her body as he kissed her, how it forced her form to melt into his like warm butter. A wave of heat washed over her, causing her extremities to tingle as the memory of those sensations came alive once more in that moment.

As if he could feel her doing so again, he took more liberties as the lead, and in the next step, he went away from the original design of the dance and dipped her head back. As if it were something they had done for years, Madeleine followed him, trusting his arms to make sure that she did not fall or stumble.

Whispers broke out around them as Percy slowly brought her back up. As she met his eyes, she knew he could hear them to. When the dance ended, Percy bowed, placed a possessive handon the small of her back, maneuvered her over towards the refreshment table, and handed her a drink.

“Are you well?” he asked softly so as not to be overheard. “You are flushed, and your breathing is unsteady. Was the dance too much for you?”

“I am well. A little warm,” she admitted. She averted her gaze so that he would not see the truth of her thoughts in her eyes. “And you should not have done that. I am far bigger than you. You could have dropped me and ended the both of us.”

“I could lift you above my head and keep you there all night if I wished,” Percy purred, his eyes growing dark. “I am no weak boy. Trust me, Monkey. I would never drop you.”

Though he was smirking, his tone was deadly serious, and Madeleine felt her blush grow brighter.

“Perhaps some air?” he offered, louder this time as he swept an arm toward the terrace doors.

Madeleine blinked twice, bringing herself out of her thoughts, and nodded in agreement.

“Air would be lovely,” she managed.

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