Page 35 of The Duke of Aces
Charlotte placed the quill upon the desk and turned to fully address him. “Define seduction.”
To hell and tarnation, he shouldn’t be having this discussion with his sister, an innocent. “Forget I asked.”
“Your cheeks are red. Don’t be embarrassed, brother, I simply wanted to clarify to what extent you were willing to go in order to carry out your duties. I personally stop at kisses.”
“Kisses! Who the hell dared to…”
Charlotte rolled to her feet and put her hands on her lower back and twisted to her right, then her left. She’d been seated at the desk for far too many hours over the past week. “Oh, don’t be shocked.” She wagged her brows at him and said, “So it’s safe to assume that the seduction you are referring to then is more than kissing….”
“Bloody hell, how did we get on to this topic?” Tom raked his hand through his hair and then placed his clenched hands behind him. “Forget my query, and tell me who’s the scoundrel that dared to take liberties with you? Tell me his name…” Charlotte’s eyes widened, and he walked to stand in front of his sister. “Or is it names?”
Charlotte’s lips thinned and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Calm yourself, brother. There shall be no dueling or fighting.”
“Charlotte… I want their names.” He gave her the ducal stare.
His sister covered the lower half of her face as she half snorted, half laughed.
“What is so amusing?”
“You are, brother. I intend to take the name, or shall I say names, to my grave.”
“Oh, to your grave, you say?”
“Aye.” His sister slipped back into the chair and scanned the parchment she had filled with lines and names. “Just as I’ll take the knowledge of your actions to my grave if it becomes necessary for you to employ your charm and lure Comtesse Du Montford into your bed in order for us to complete the assignment and finally return to London.”
“Trust me, I want to return to England as much as you, however, if I…” He suppressed the urge to be sick, his stomach in painful knots, and cleared his throat, then continued. “If I seduce Comtesse Du Montford, then I’ll forfeit any chance of Isadora accepting my hand in marriage.”
Distractedly, Charlotte replied, “It would seem you have a very difficult decision to make.” The clock chimed the hour, and Charlotte jumped up from her seat. “I’m late.” She rushed to his chamber door and stopped. “You stay and figure out what your next move shall be, and I’ll be with the comtesse in the tearoom.”
He moved towards the door. There’s no way he would leave her unescorted. Charlotte lifted a hand in the air to stop him, “Trust me and stay here.”
She ducked her head out and looked both ways before looking over her shoulder at him. “Whatever you decide, I support you.” And then in a flash, his sister was gone.
Damn female. It was hard to remain angry or frustrated at Charlotte when she was the only person in the world that loved him for who he was.
Restless, Tom resumed pacing about his chambers. This time he broadened his circuit. There had to be another way to gain the information they sought. The countess was beautiful in her own right, but his body didn’t stir with interest, even in the slightest. He yearned to be close to Isadora again. He twisted at the waist as the latch rattled. He adjusted his breeches and banished the image of Isadora just as Comtesse Du Montford snuck into his room and leaned back against his door.
“You, monsieur are…” the woman waved her hands in the air as she searched for words. “I sent for you, and you…Vous m’éludez.”
“Elude you? No. I simply wished not to draw the attention of your husband.”
She walked over to stand before him and trailed a finger along his jaw. “I do not believe you.”
He had to make a decision—befriend the woman or seduce her.
He turned his head away to break the contact. When he turned back, he expected to be confronted with a frown or a look of scorn, but Comtesse Du Montford was smiling. “Since we last met, you have given your heart to another—oui?”
Tom found himself frowning. “Beg pardon?”
Footsteps in the hall had the comtesse scanning the room and rushing to hide in the adjoining changing room.
Charlotte reentered the room, muttering. “Bah. Halfway there and then stopped by a maid. A maid!” His sister walked over and leaned up against the bedpost. “Do you know what the maid said? Of course, you don’t know. Well, she informed me that the comtesse has been delayed, and I’m to wait in my chambers.” Shaking her head, Charlotte flopped back onto his bed and covered her eyes with her forearm. “I’m a failure. I’ve failed you, Tom. I’m so sorry.”
Comtesse Du Montford emerged from her hiding spot. “You did not fail. You are very… brave.”
Charlotte shot up to her feet. “Comtesse Du Montford.” His sister’s gaze fell upon him. “I didn’t know…”
The comtesse wrapped Charlotte in a hug. “Ne t’inquiète pas ma chère amie”
