Page 17 of The Duke's Goddess

“If she thinks she’s in love with, or even if she is in love with me—which I highly doubt—then we need to redirect her attention to Jacob. If she sees who I really am, and sees who Jacob really is, there’s no question who she’ll pick. For marriage,” he added the last two words with a wink.

Joan skirted her eyes away while the blush crept up her neck.

“How do we do that? How do we get them to fall in love?”

“There are a few tactics we need to implement.” His eyes glimmered in mischief. Joan could appreciate that the duke liked to scheme. “First of all, of course I’ll avoid her as much asI can. If that means I end up at your side a little more frequently than before, so be it.”

A flutter swept through Joan’s body. “Why would you be around me more?”

“It’s a safe bet.” Another wink. “Also, if she thinks I’m interested in you at all, that might deter her affections.”

Itseemed sound. But Joan’s mind wasfully fuzzy at the moment, and sound wasn’t sounding as it should. Her mind (which at the moment was overtaken by her body) was focused far too much on the warmth of his hand on her back as his thumb slowly brushed up and down about an inch worth of space. That inch of space on her body had never felt so alive.

“Second of all, whenever the four of us are together, I’ll be sure to pair up with you. And you’ll do the same.”

She nodded along, though she wasn’t entirely sure what she was nodding to.

“And the last part, the falling in love, is the hard part. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Her eyes were glued to his lips. Soft-looking lips. Lips that had kissed many women, and from the rumors, kissed them well. What would it be like to be kissed by him? His lips were moving. He was saying words. And she was pretty sure he was waiting for her to say something.

“Wouldn’t you agree?” she heard the question now, but what it was in reference to, she wasn’t sure.

“Would I?”

“I thought you would.” He gave her a quizzical look.

“Then I’m sure I would.” That seemed the safe answer.

“Splendid. We’ll discuss this further, but this will have to do for now.” He leaned in and whispered something that if she had been paying attention didn’t need to be communicated, “The dance is over.” And then he was removing his hand from her back. And she was pulling herself back together from the liquid puddle she had become.

What had just happened? One minute Joan had been perfectly in control of herself, her thoughts, her body, and the next second it felt as though all those parts of her no longer belonged to herself. Her thoughts had vacated her body, perhaps even the ballroom. Her body moved at the whim of a thumb tip. A thumb tip!

It must just be the wedding. And talk of love. The environment was setting a mood she hadn’t expected to succumb to. And really, what kind of man spoke of love and marriage to a woman? It was unheard of. That’s why marriages were arranged. Didn’t James know anything of how polite society worked? No matter, now that Joan understood why she had been so affected by their dance, she wouldn’t allow for it to happen again. Really, there wouldn’t be the same opportunity again anyway. It’s not like they would find themselves dancing together again at someone’s wedding talking about love for a second time.

Chapter 7

“Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.”

—Sun Tzu

Two Days Later

JOAN FOUND HERSELF AT another wedding. A house party wedding. And here she stood in the ballroom that was decorated with more flowers than the eye could take in, not really looking for James. But if her eyes happened to catch sight of him, she wouldn’t be upset.

Mimi was making comments about the floral decisions. Something about the white lilies meaning pure love alongside the hyacinths being charming. Or was it the other way around? She wasn’t sure. And as she caught sight of a tall dark-headed man in the corner she tried to avert her eyes. But her heart was hammering in her chest. Why it should be doing that, she wasn’t sure. But if James was here, she just wanted to be prepared. That’s all.

“Joan?” Mimi’s impatient voice rang through her thoughts, her fingertips tapping against her crossed upper arm. “Are you even listening to me?”

“Of course. Liles. Love. Hyacinths. Charming.” It should satisfy Mimi that she could regurgitate a few words back.

“We’ve moved on from the flowers, Joan. What are you woolgathering about? A daring escape with a highwayman atmidnight?” Mimi was always so dramatic. “Being rescued by a pirate on the seven seas?”

“Where do you come up with these ideas, Mimi?” Nobi asked, while placing her hand in her dress pocket.

Mimi tapped her temple, implying the power of her overworked imagination. “And books, of course,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. Mimi was perhaps the most voracious reader of all the sisters. Any genre, but mostly romance (as was made obvious by her sharing her fantasies), was her preference.

Joan was relieved that the focus had shifted from her to her sister though. She really didn’t want to tell her sisters anything about James. Because…well, she wasn’t really sure what there was to say. Unfortunately for her, the relief was short lived.

---