Page 56 of The English Duke
“Beauty is a key.” A comment Maman had often made. “It can unlock many doors, but you must be wise and choose exactly the right door.”
She had every intention of doing exactly that.
There wasn’t a footman at the end of the corridor, thank heavens, only a sconce flickering in greeting. She headed in the opposite direction. Her slippers were soundless against the carpet runner. Her grandmother had selected the thick cotton nightgown with its matching wrapper, both garments staid and old-fashioned. Once she was inside the duke’s suite, she had no intention of wearing either.
A light in the foyer below sent shadows around the base of the stairs. Everything was silent but in her mind she heard the laughter of future guests.
She could see herself at Sedgebrook as the Duchess of Roth. When they entertained, which would be often, she would make a grand entrance. Here, exactly on this spot, above the stairs, she would wait until people congregated in the foyer below. Slowly, with great presence, she would descend the steps, smiling graciously. Everyone would look up and whisper about her.
Isn’t she magnificent? Oh, my dear, she’s the most beautiful duchess of them all. Sedgebrook is the perfect place for someone of her beauty.
She could feel their admiration as she hesitated on the bottom step, allowing them to come to her one by one. She’d nod and greet each person with grace and poise. For days they would talk about this moment, how they felt when first viewing her, how they couldn’t forget the sight of her. They’d yearn for another invitation to Sedgebrook, if only to see her.
Smiling, she turned and walked to the family corridor. No one was awake. She was alone, as if she owned the great house and was privy to all its secrets.
Reese had to hand it to her, Josephine had nerve. How was she going to explain her presence in Jordan’s room? He didn’t know, but he wasn’t going to let her get that far.
She’d miscalculated and had worn something light. She looked like a ghost in the corridor, someone who might spark rumors of yet another haunting in the old house. He’d heard at least six stories since his first visit to Sedgebrook. He had deliberately cultivated friendships among the servants and now they felt free to tell him anything, from ghost stories to who was sleeping with whom and who wanted to work in London.
You never knew when a servant would come in handy. Plus, they were often the source of vital information such as timetables and habits.
Because of Jordan’s money troubles, there weren’t many footmen at Sedgebrook. Otherwise, there would have been a few stationed at intervals throughout the house, especially at night. Their presence would have prevented Josephine from carrying out her intentions.
He was going to have to be the one to stop her.
She was a voluptuous creature and a gorgeous one. Of course, she knew her advantages and didn’t hesitate to use her beauty when it was necessary. He couldn’t fault her, since he occasionally utilized his own good looks. If he could charm a woman into giving him something he needed, thereby saving time and effort, all the better. Besides, violence had repercussions he disliked.
As a longtime friend, he’d been given a room not far from the ducal suite. Reese waited until Josephine was level to his door before grabbing her elbow with one hand. Except for a startled exclamation, she didn’t make a sound as he pulled her into his room and closed the door behind him.
“Can’t sleep, Miss York?”
“You scared me,” she said, her hand at her throat.
“For a moment I thought you might be sleepwalking, since you’re so far away from your room.”
“I couldn’t sleep,” she said.
“And you thought to take a constitutional?”
“I might ask the same of you, Mr. Burthren.”
“Reese, please,” he said, his amusement surfacing. “It’s after midnight. We’re alone. You’re in your nightclothes. It’s not exactly a proper time or place, is it, Josephine?”
She took a step sideways, intending to slip by him, but he matched her movement.
Momentarily defeated, she looked up at him and smiled charmingly. He didn’t doubt she’d practiced the expression in the mirror.
“What are you doing awake, Reese?” she asked softly. “You can’t sleep, either? Why, a guilty conscience?”
He bent his head until he was close enough to kiss her cheek.
“It’s no good, Josephine. You won’t trap him this way.”
Placing her hand on his chest, she pushed at him. He didn’t move.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said.
“I’m sure that sweet and innocent look fools some people, but I’m not one of them.”
