Page 29 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
“Perhaps we should continue those studies. I am sure we could find you a teacher to refine your skill.” The Duke returned to his book.
“You realise that if we did that, I would have to practice even more?” Andrea narrowed her eyes at him.
“Only if you wanted to improve.” The Duke turned the page of his book, and Andrea saw the corner of his mouth quirk upwards. “If you want to watch me, dear Duchess, please feel free. I have been known to capture many a woman’s attention.”
Andrea snorted. “There are more interesting things to watch. Thank you.”
Andrea turned to her painting. Thankfully, she had not ruined her work when the Duke made her jump. She squinted into the distance and added a few strokes to the canvas. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and she turned around to find Frederick looking at his book with the quiet kind of intensity of a man who had not been doing so moments before.
“Are you going to stay there?” Andrea gestured to him with her paint brush.
“Why should I not? I was here first.” His brow was furrowed and he did not look up from the novel in his hands.
She glared at him. “I want to paint without an audience.”
“I am hardly an audience. Besides, I am reading.” He held the book up as though to illustrate the point.
Andrea arched an eyebrow. “Your book is upside down.”
“Perhaps I like it that way.” The Duke tilted the book cover towards him and shrugged.
“You are utterly infuriating.”
“Thank you.” He gave her a mocking bow from his branch.
Andrea threw her hands up, making an exasperated noise. “It was not a compliment.”
“I know, but from you it is as good as one. Just look at the passion in your eyes.” He nodded to her. “If I did not know any better, I would say you are warming to me, dear Duchess.”
She rolled her eyes at him, letting her voice drip with sarcasm. “I think you mistake my anger for passion, dear Duke.”
“The line between the two is rather thin in my experience.” Frederick waved his book in the air.
“And I am sure you have rather a lot of it.” She narrowed her eyes at him, thinking of the many women of the ton who seemed to follow his every move.
“Nowthat, I am convinced, is a compliment.” He slapped his thigh with his free hand, almost unbalancing himself. Andrea took half a step towards him and then stopped herself.
If he wants to act the fool, it is no business of mine.
“It was not.” Her lips thinned.
“Anything can be a compliment if you simply change your point of view. Observe.” Frederick hooked his legs around the branch of the tree and let himself fall back, so that he was peering at her upside down.
His coat fell around his head and the sight of him grinning broadly at her, sent a warmth through her. His dimpled cheeks gave him a boyish look, and his laugh was dangerously infectious.
“You are ridiculous.” She smiled at him. “You should be more careful, you could fall and crack your skull.”
“It is rather sweet that you are so concerned for me. After all, as my widow you would be rather well looked after.” His face was turning red, but it somehow made him look even sweeter.
“So long as the Ton did not think I had killed you myself.” The thought of Frederick dying made her chest ache and she frowned. “I try not to make a habit of wishing ill on people.”
“A noble endeavour indeed.” He swung himself up to the tree branch, grabbing it in one hand and dismounting with a flair worthy of a travelling acrobat. “And one I am sure I must be thankful for.”
Andrea only just managed to keep herself from applauding as he swept into a deep bow.He always manages to do this.She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the warmth.
Frederick stretched and let out a languid yawn, adjusting his coat as he did so. Andrea found herself watching the lines of his body and the way the light caught his hair. She thought of what paints she would use to capture the dark blue of his eyes, lips pursed, paintbrush halfway to the canvas.
“Penny for your thoughts?” He took a step towards her.
