Page 49 of Duke of Seduction

“It has been…most intriguing,” he answered finally.

He bowed before her, and Helena pulled her cold hand from her muff to slip it into his black-gloved one. The soft raw kid leather of the glove warmly enveloped her hand, and her entire body flooded with light as his lips blew a hot breath over her knuckles before brushing a kiss across them.

“It is far too cold for a lady to be out today,” Morgan stated, his tone condescending.

He tucked Helena’s hand back into her muff in a small act of protection and turned an annoyed look towards Luke, who was still fastened to her arm.

“I wonder what fool thought it was appropriate to make the poor lady suffer?”

Shock ebbed through Helena as she turned a studious gaze to Luke’s expression. In the background, she could faintly hear Ambrose’s angry voice, but she could not make out the words as she focused on Luke’s nearly vicious smile; so different from the soft, charming one he always gave her.

“That would be me, her new fiancé,” Luke answered boldly, then held out his hand to Morgan.

“Good to see you again, Grandhill.”

Helena watched as Morgan’s body tensed, and for a moment, she thought he was going to refuse Luke’s social nicety — then her breath came out in a rush as Morgan stiffly reached out and accepted Luke’s handshake.

“Lord Ashfield, only my friends may address me as such,” Morgan answered, his tone flat as his eyes sparkled with challenge. “I prefer ‘Your Grace’ from those I do not know.”

At her side Luke let out a huff of a condescending laugh, and nodded his head.

“Very well, Your Grace,” Luke conceded, “but if you had accepted my earlier offer you would know me well enough by now.”

“What offer?” Ambrose asked. “Have you met? When?”

Morgan cut Ambrose a look but it was Luke that answered. “Oh, just an offer I extended a couple of weeks ago. At a boxing match across town. I cannot remember who won that match, though. Do you?”

Helena’s discomfort rose as Morgan and Luke locked into one another’s stares. She was not sure what was going on, but she was certain that the entire story was not being told.

“Why do we not—” Ambrose began to say, but Morgan cut him off.

“Well, if you are going to be Helena’s new fiancé, Ashfield, then I suggest you start taking better care of her. It is far too chilling today for such a long stroll.”

“Morgan,” Ambrose growled out.

“I’m alright,” Helena faintly whispered. But when Morgan turned his eyes toward her again, she shivered at the cold numbness that had settled over her.

“Her fingers are frozen and she does not need to suffer simply because you want her seen on your arm,” Morgan said cuttingly.

“You would know all about making young ladies suffer, would you not, Lord Grandhill?” Luke asked calmly, his blonde brow cocking slightly.

“What was that,boy?”Morgan snarled, taking a step toward Luke.

“Morgan, what has gotten into you?” Ambrose’s words finally registered as he pulled Helena away from the two men and stepped between them.

“Him, Ambrose? You chosehim?”Morgan asked, his voice raw and deep as he turned an accusing eye towards his friend.

“His title is not even his own! It is inherited! He has donenothingto prove himself worthy of her.”

“I beg to differ, Your Grace,” Luke replied smoothly, completely unbothered by Morgan’s aggression. “I have overcome avastamount of challenges in my climb to nobility. Lady Helena and I share an understanding of these challenges and will prove to be very compatible with one another.”

“You couldnever…”Morgan began to snarl, but before she could think, Helena was beside him, laying a staying hand on a forearm that had been veiled by his coat.

“Lord Ashfield, this is one of my brother’s dearest friends,” she interjected calmly. “You see, my brother and his three friends are extremely close. They are like siblings, and have all become rather…protective of me. Do excuse him, please.”

Hurt pierced her heart when Morgan turned his seething glare upon her as if she had somehow betrayed him and pulled his arm out of her grasp.

“Indeed,” he grunted, folding his hands behind his back as he took another step away. “Brothers.”

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