Page 63 of The Duke of Seduction
What he said made sense. And also filled her with a bit of dread. What if their absence had been noticed? They hadn’t been herethatlong, but apparently long enough…
“I really did want to thank you for today, and now I’ve even more reason to.” She gave him a saucy smile, then kissed his cheek. “You are a kindhearted gentleman, just as Fanny and Sarah thought about the Duke of Seduction. I’m sorry I presumed you were anything else.”
A storm gathered in his eyes. “I’m still a rake, Lavinia. Lest you forget, just consider what happened here. Kindhearted gentlemen don’t seduce unmarried women in the forest.”
“Is that what you did? I’m the one who asked you to go on. Perhaps I’m the one who seduced you.” She lifted her shoulder, then turned and walked away, feeling supremely satisfied.
Yes, from her perspective, the seducer had just become the seduced.
* * *
Alight drizzlebegan to fall as Beck and Felix rode back to London in Felix’s coach. “Glad I didn’t drive the phaeton,” Felix said, glancing out the window.
Beck barely nodded in response. His brain was stuck on Lavinia and his transgression and the unfulfilled desire still teeming in his body.
“I still can’t believe they were fucking in front of everyone.”
Blinking across the coach at Felix, Beck tensed. “What?”
Felix had crossed his arms over his chest as he stretched his legs out as far as he could. “That finally snagged your attention.”
“Who was fucking?” Beck was afraid to ask—what if someone had seen them? But no, Felix would have said something immediately, and they’d already been in the coach nearly a quarter hour.
“No one. I was trying to see if you were listening.” Felix narrowed his eyes at Beck. “What the devil is wrong with you today? You’ve been brooding all afternoon.”
“Notallafternoon.” Really, not until he’d spoken with the Duchess of Kendal.
“Don’t be a dolt. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Beck inwardly winced, thinking that it might be nice to unburden himself and Felix was someone—one of the only people, really—he could trust.
Felix’s lips flattened into a straight line. “You’ve become rather secretive of late. And I noticed you disappeared for a while. As did Lady Lavinia.”
Shit.If Felix had noticed, who else had done so?
“Don’t worry,” Felix said. “I doubt anyone else was paying attention. The only reason I put it together is because I’ve seen you with her the past few weeks. There’s something going on there.” He unfolded his arms and waved his hand. “Oh, you can deny it or ignore it or pretend there’s nothing, but I’m not stupid. And if I see it, you must ask yourself who else does.”
“Her parents.”
Felix stared at him. “What?”
“Her parents will notice. That’s the point. I’m supposed to be courting her.”
Felix’s eyes widened, and his jaw loosened. “You plan to wed? That seems an important thing you might share with your closest friend.”
“I do not plan to wed. I am being extorted.” Beck exhaled and scrubbed a hand over his face. He sank back against the squab and let his legs sprawl in front of him. “I have a secret, and her parents are using it against me. I’m to pretend to court her to encourage others to step up their suit.”
“What’s this secret?”
“I should have told you before now. I’m the Duke of Seduction.”
Felix blew out a whistle. “I’ll be damned. I knew you could write, but I never would’ve imagined you’d do that.” He leaned forward slightly. “Why did you?”
Beck turned his head and stared at the window, where slender rivulets of water sluiced down the glass. “I wanted to help those young ladies who are overlooked, who deserve a chance at happiness.”
“On the Marriage Mart. Which you despise.” His tone was heavy with disbelief. “I still don’t understand.”
“I don’t think I ever told you why I hate the Marriage Mart.”
