Page 10 of The Duke of Seduction
“May I apologize again for the other evening?” he asked.
“You can apologize every day for eternity if you like. You don’t owe me any explanation or excuse. There was, thankfully, no harm done.”
“Save the book you left on the settee,” he murmured.
She turned her head toward him. “Why bring that up?”
“I was interested in your selection.The Geologic History of Cornwall?” He tipped his head. “I replaced it on the shelf for you.”
“That was the least you could do after interrupting me.”
His mouth split into a grin. “So it was.”
Lavinia ignored the way her stomach tilted when he smiled like that. “Were you able to meet with Lady—I meanyour paramourlater?” She shook her head and fixed her gaze forward. She’d meant to tease him, but realized it was an inappropriate question. “Never mind.” Why was she trying to tease him? To put herself at ease?
“I was not, alas. In fact, I haven’t seen her since.”
The urge to taunt him took over. “Careful, you’re going to lose your rake status.”
He laughed, too loud at first, drawing the attention of the others who turned their heads. Quickly stifling his mirth, he waved his hand. “I made a bad pun. Not worth repeating.” He flashed a smile for good measure, which Lavinia suspected would distract just about anyone from pressing him.
They walked in silence for a moment as conversation flowed in front of them. At last, he whispered, “Are you teasing me, Lady Lavinia?”
He’d moved a bit closer. The timbre of his voice, and his proximity, sent another shiver along her flesh—this time across her shoulders. If she closed her eyes, she was certain she’d feel the touch of his mouth on her neck.
No, she wasn’t going to think of that.
“Inappropriately.” She kept her voice low. “My apologies.”
“You must never apologize to me,” he said. “Remember, I am to beg your forgiveness until the end of my days.”
Now he was teasing her. Or flirting. Yes, flirting. That was what he’d done the other night. She peered sideways at him. “Are you capable of conversing with a woman without flirtation?”
“Yes, but I understood my rake status was in question, and I can’t have that.”
Oh, he was good. She’d give him that. Lavinia allowed a smile while she quashed a giggle.
“I’ve done it,” he said, rejoicing rather quietly, presumably not to draw the others’ attention again. “I’ve made you smile.”
“It’s not hard,” she said with more than a bit of sarcasm. “I am generally regarded as a jovial sort.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Why do you want to make me smile?”
“I’m merely being friendly.”
“Are we to be friends?” She gave him a wry look. “Do you have many young, unmarried female friends?”
He laughed again, but softly this time. “No. You would be my first.”
“I’m afraid I don’t count any marquesses among my close acquaintance. And given your…reputation, I’m afraid a friendship between us wouldn’t be acceptable.”
“Because Society would frown on that.” The flat tone of his response surprised her.
“And you frown on Society’s rules?”
“When they don’t make sense, yes. Why can’t unmarried men and women be friends?”
He’d spoken that question too loudly, and it was far too provocative to ignore.
“Because something inappropriate will happen,” the Earl of Ware said. He stared at the marquess and shook his head. “Have you gone daft, Beck?”
