Page 4 of Her Duke of Sin: Lady Be Wicked
“Can’t it be both?” he asked.
Juliet sighed. “I’ve had enough, Your Grace.” She stepped away from him. “This is your room for your stay at Wyndam Castle. There is no need to find a different one. Accept it or you can always try your luck at the local inn.” Her lips twitched as she fought a smile. It would not aid her cause to openly show amusement now. “They might have someone there willing to inspect the inside of your chamber with you. I have been told the innkeeper at the Rooster and Steed is a burly man that sees to all his guests’ necessities. Personally. I’d venture that you may find that sort of attention preferable.”
She spun on her heel and headed in the opposite direction. That smile she’d been holding back filled her face as she strode down the hallway. The audacity of that man…
“If I did that,” he called after her. “It wouldn’t be a challenge, and I so adore one. I look forward to our next meeting.”
Great. Her smile fell off her face as quickly as it had formed. She had caught the attention of the Duke of Sin. Her life had just taken a turn she didn’t relish, and she couldn’t fathom how she would dissuade the duke from taking any further notice of her.
Two
Gideon laid down on the bed in his assigned bedchamber and sighed. Sometimes he said and did things that he couldn’t even explain to himself. He’d purposely goaded the companion, Miss Adams, and for the life of him, he didn’t know why. There had been something about her that he couldn’t resist. She was an ethereal beauty. All that golden blonde hair that appeared to be kissed by the sun, and those eyes… He closed his eyes and groaned. They were a deep, soulful blue that held so much emotion. Even when she stared at him with disdain evident on her face, Gideon had desired her. Something about her called to a need he hadn’t realized he’d had. He wanted her. However, he also knew he couldn’t have her.
He was well aware his reputation made him disreputable. He’d done it on purpose, and now he regretted those actions. Gideon had wanted to discourage all those marriage minded ladies against pursuing him. There was an alliance to help men like him escape from those careful traps some women laid, but he’d ignored them for the most part. He didn’t need their help. Now he wished he had taken that route instead of becoming the notorious Duke of Sin.
Gideon sighed.
Perhaps it wasn’t too late to ask for some sort of assistance. Some of the members of that informal group would be in attendance at the house party. He could try to lift some of the tarnish on his reputation. If that was even possible… Gideon had never thought he would actually wish to court a woman and learn more than what she desired in bed. Miss Adams changed everything without even trying. He would not go so far as to say he loved her. Gideon wasn’t even sure he believed in love, or if he could love anyone.
It wasn’t as if he had any good examples of it in his life. His own parents had despised each other, and if his father hadn’t taken ill and died suddenly, he often wondered if they would have ended up murdering each other in one of their many angry shouting matches. They should never have lived together. Once he’d been conceived and born, his parents should have set up separate residences. They may have tried for the spare most of the peerage deemed necessary, but he had no siblings. Either way, they were a terrible match and had soured him on both love and marriage.
He lounged on his bed for far longer than he had intended. Gideon still had to meet with Wyndam in his study, and have some of that brandy he’d requested. He supposed he should meander that way. Maybe he would get lucky and cross paths with the lovely Miss Adams again. Either way, he couldn’t remain in his bedchamber any longer. The servants would ensure his trunks were delivered to his room, and he had other things to occupy himself with. The time for resting had ended.
Gideon strolled out of his room and reversed the path he’d taken with Miss Adams to his bedchamber. Once he was in the foyer, he knew where to go to reach Wyndam’s study. He rapped his knuckles on the doorframe. Wyndam glanced up and gestured for him to enter. The earl wasn’t alone in the study. He frowned when he glanced toward the Duke of Carrington. He had a friendly sort of relationship with Carrington, but they were not exactly friends.
“I didn’t expect you to attend a house party,” Carrington drawled. “No masquerades to host in the next fortnight?” Carrington lifted a brow.
“No,” he replied in an amicable tone. “They’ve become tedious.” Truthfully, he didn’t find them as entertaining as he used to, and had decided to discontinue them. He hadn’t announced that development to anyone, but soon enough, the more wicked members of the ton would realize it on their own. “You didn’t mind attending them.”
Carrington shrugged. “We’ve all attended at some juncture in our lives. I needed that night.” The duke didn’t explain further. “Why are you here?”
“I thought that would be obvious,” Gideon drawled. “I’m here to celebrate our friend’s upcoming nuptials.”
Wyndam closed a book on his desk and leaned back in his chair. “Are you two done with your posturing?” The earl lifted a mocking brow. “I, for one, would like to have a drink and have a discussion about something of more value than Sinbrough’s penchant for masquerades.”
“Former penchant, thank you very much.” Gideon grinned. “Masquerades are not nearly as entertaining as they once were.” He sighed and decided to at least tell these two. “I’ve grown tired of them.”
“You with a spot of ennui?” Carrington narrowed his gaze. “Have you become ill? Should we be concerned?”
“I’m not ailing from anything you twat,” Gideon said in a caustic tone. “But I have found them a tad tedious of late.”
“I cannot say I am surprised,” Wyndam replied. “We all have to set aside childish things in time, and while I understand there is nothing of that nature at the masquerades, they were created by a man fresh from the confines of youth. You’ve moved past that boy and have different needs now.”
“Trust me,” Gideon drawled. “I still have some of those needs.”
Carrington’s lips twitched. “Don’t we all.”
Wyndam poured brandy into three glasses and passed one to Gideon and Carrington. “That is true indeed,” the earl agreed. “And I plan on seeing to all of those needs with my wife. Claudine is the only woman I desire in my bed.”
“You don’t believe that might change?” Gideon had to ask… “What if you grow disinterested over time?”
“Not bloody likely,” Wyndam replied. “I love her and that is the true difference. When that emotion is involved, it changes everything. One day you might be fortunate enough to experience it yourself and I hope you do.”
Gideon wasn’t as certain as his friend… He downed the brandy and it burned as it traveled down his throat. He welcomed it and considered having some more. “That’s not likely to happen. My reputation has done what I intended and frightened away any marriage minded debutante.”
“Then find a more experienced woman.” Wyndam shrugged. “You do not need a miss fresh from the schoolroom. That would definitely lead to disinterest.”
“I suppose that might be true.” He thought about Miss Adams. She was definitely not a fresh young miss, but she wasn’t old either. Somehow he doubted she was experienced… He had to know more about her. Gideon set his brandy snifter on the desk. “I think I am going to take a walk. I’m suddenly a bit restless.” And perhaps he hoped to find a certain lady’s companion seeing to her duties while he wandered the property.
