Page 18 of Wedded to the Duke of Seduction

“Let him watch. I won’t give him the satisfaction of reacting.”

“No,” Caroline said thoughtfully. “You will just write about it later.”

Marina’s fan stilled. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Of course not.” Caroline’s smile was positively wicked. “After witnessing that dance, I better understand how you write such… compelling scenes.”

“Caroline!” Marina hissed though she couldn’t suppress her own smile.

Harold looked at them, and his brow furrowed in confusion. “Compelling scenes? What are you talking about, my dear?”

Caroline and Marina exchanged a panicked glance. “Oh, just some advice I’ve been giving Marina on her correspondence,” Caroline improvised quickly. “She has such a way with words.”

“Really?” Harold didn’t look entirely convinced. “I didn’t know letter-writing required such secrecy.”

“It depends entirely on the recipient,” Caroline replied smoothly while Marina fought to maintain her composure.

Trust her dear friend to find amusement in this increasingly precarious situation.

“Come,” Harold said, taking pity on her. “I believe they are serving an excellent lemon ice. Shall we remove ourselves to the card tables? It’s far enough away from certain observers, and we might actually enjoy some conversation without all this meaningful glancing around the room.”

As they made their way through the crowded ballroom, Marina felt some of the tension ease from her shoulders.

Whatever game she and the Duke were playing, at least she wasn’t facing it alone.

CHAPTER 7

“Have you seen the latest sensation to grip London’s drawing rooms?”

Leo looked up from his correspondence to find Noah standing in his study doorway, a familiar-looking pamphlet dangling from his fingers.

The morning sun streaming through the windows highlighted his friend’s broad smile.

“Blytheton, it’s barely eleven. Shouldn’t you be nursing last night’s excesses?”

“Some things are worth rising early for.” Noah dropped into the chair opposite Leo’s desk and cleared his throat with theatrical flair before opening the pamphlet. “His touch burned like brandy against her skin as he pressed her into the velvet cushions. The Duke’s voice was sin itself as he whispered?—”

“Enough!” Leo’s pen snapped between his fingers, sending drops of ink splattering across his desk. “When was this published?”

“It began circulating yesterday evening. I must say, Lady Asquith has quite the imagination. Thought that bit about the library ladder seems inspired by personal experience. It’s something I must try?—”

“Where did you get this?”

“They are being sold all over Mayfair.” Noah’s amusement dimmed slightly at Leo’s glowering expression. “I thought you were handling the situation?”

Leo snatched the pages from Noah’s fingers and scanned the words with growing fury.

The story was worse than he’d imagined—not because it was crude but because it captured with devastating accuracy certain private moments he’d shared behind closed doors.

And worse, she’d woven them into something almost… poetic.

“His fingers traced patterns of possession across her—” He broke off, clenching his jaw. “This has gone too far.”

“I assumed you would feel this way.” Noah stretched his long legs toward the fire. “Though you must admit, the writing is rather interesting. There’s a scene in the?—”

“I’m going to kill her.”

“Now, now.” Noah’s tone was light, but his eyes sharpened as he looked at Leo. “Murder seems a bit extreme, even for you. Besides, that would be rather repetitive, coming from you. Perhaps you should add a new crime to your ledger to change things up?—”

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