Page 19 of The Duke Says I Do
As they’d spoken, her blush had subsided. Now another intriguing wash of color rose. “I think before that happens, we should sort out a few things.”
“If we must,” he said with a hint of grimness, before he realized what she’d said. His hands caught her waist. “Do you mean—”
She searched his face as if confirming his honesty. “I mean that you should let me go before Phipps and Sheriff discover us doing what we shouldn’t.”
She was right, damn it. This was neither time nor place for passionate embraces. He pressed his mouth to hers in a brief kiss that nonetheless rushed through him like wildfire.
When he raised his head, her eyes were glazed again. “What was that for?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“To remind me that I’ve got a treat in store.”
He braced for maidenly protests. But Portia, while undoubtedly a maiden, didn’t play coy games. She raised a hand to her lips as if she touched the memory of his kiss.
The gesture had an infernally powerful effect on him. It was an effort to take her hand to lead her across to the benchagainst the wall. They sat together perhaps not innocently, but much more presentable to an audience than they’d been a few moments ago. Jupiter trailed behind them and settled at Granville’s feet.
Portia’s forthright manner revived. The gaze she settled on him was pointed. “Why didn’t you want Juliet? She’s very beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you are.”
Her free hand waved away the compliment. Her other hand remained in his. “You don’t have to say that.”
“Nevertheless, it’s true.”
“Thank you,” Portia said, but he could tell that she wasn’t persuaded. “Tell me about Juliet.”
“She must have told you that it wasn’t a love match.” As became apparent to the entire world when she married Evesham.
He had no experience of an affectionate family, but he couldn’t imagine Portia and Juliet kept many secrets from each other. He’d always recognized the fondness between the sisters, even worried about it when he feared that Portia might dissuade Juliet from accepting his proposal.
Although Portia hadn’t known that he’d kissed Juliet, had she? Perhaps confidences only went so far.
“Not on her part. I wasn’t sure about you.”
“You believed cold fish like me don’t fall in love.”
“Well, yes, and I apologize. If you were such a dull stick, you’d never kiss me in a stable.”
“We should have met in a stable much earlier.”
She frowned. “I’m not used to you teasing. Stop it.”
“Don’t you like it?”
The corners of her mouth, the mouth that he’d tasted for such a tantalizingly short interval, deepened. He had a feeling thatshe’d just about forgiven him for kissing Juliet. The relief made him feel like doing cartwheels. “You were speaking of my sister.”
“She and I were going to build a useful partnership. Social reform. National influence. Children to continue the line. She was born to be a duchess.”
“I know. Everyone said so. I used to mock her about it. Now sheisa duchess. And not just because Evesham’s a duke. She loves him and he loves her. She’d take him if he was a gardener’s boy. At the end, she didn’t give a fig about rank.”
“I’m happy for her.”
Portia’s eyes rounded. “You are?”
“She followed her heart.”
“But you hate Evesham.”
Self-derision twisted his lips. “He’s not my favorite person.”
