Page 66 of The Duke of Seduction
Chapter 12
Wicked are those that wound with words,
Lashing at grace like flies on curds.
Lies in their mouths, sitting in wait,
Ugly, soiled, rancid with hate.
-The Evisceration of a Pair of Vicious Parrots
by Anonymous
“Ithoughtthat went exceedingly well!” Lavinia’s mother exclaimed with a bright smile as soon as Sir Martin had left. She’d sat in the corner, her hawk-eyed gaze trained on Lavinia and Sir Martin as they’d talked. After a quarter hour, Lavinia had asked him to take a turn in the garden in order to alleviate the constancy of her mother’s attention.
“Yes,” was all Lavinia would say.
“What did you discuss in the garden?” the countess asked as Lavinia stood from the settee.
“Science.” That would ensure Mother wouldn’t ask for details. And really, they had discussed science—astronomy mostly, although Sir Martin did ask some questions about the Charlton Sand Pit. He asked her where else she’d like to visit and seemed interested in accompanying her. That should have filled her with happiness, if not excitement, for it seemed a union with him would allow her to pursue her passion for geology.
And yet, she felt a bit…empty. She’d thought of almost nothing but Beck since yesterday. The way he flirted with her. The way his stare seemed to bore straight into her soul. The way he touched her—with an intoxicating combination of reverence and need. The way her body came alive in his embrace.
“You’d accept him, then?” Mother asked.
“Oh yes,” Lavinia said, her mind wholly focused on the blond-haired, gray-green-eyed rake who’d stolen her heart.
Her heart? Had he done that?
“Lavinia!”
She blinked, drawing her head from the clouds. “Yes?”
“You need to get ready to go to the park.” Her mother rolled her eyes. “Goodness, girl, sometimes I think you live in another world.”
Because sometimes it is preferable to living in yours.
Lavinia offered her a sweet smile and dashed upstairs to change into a walking gown for the park. Would Beck be there? She hoped so.
After choosing her gown with far more care than usual, she met her mother downstairs and they walked to Hyde Park. Sir Martin would not be there and had apologized for his absence. Lavinia expected another gentleman or two to approach her, but only watched for Beck.
She didn’t immediately see him, but then she was without her glasses, so most people were a blur. Still, she’d come to recognize his stature and stance, even with her myopia, and it seemed he wasn’t there.
Ah well, it was early yet. She did, however, see Jane Pemberton, who approached her with a smile. “Good afternoon, Lady Lavinia. Can we take a short walk?” She shot a glance toward Lavinia’s mother.
Lavinia didn’t care what her mother thought. In any case, the countess was still riding a wave of giddiness from Sir Martin’s call, so Lavinia would take advantage of it. “Yes.” She looped her arm through Jane’s, and they started along the path.
“You’ve become quite popular,” Jane said. “I’ve heard so many wonderful things about yesterday’s picnic excursion. I’m sorry I missed it.”
“I am too. It was great fun.” Her mind drifted toward the best part, and she quickly reined it back lest she fall completely and irretrievably down the rabbit hole.
“Still, most people are talking about that poem in theChroniclethis morning.”
“What poem?” Lavinia hadn’t read it, and her mother hadn’t mentioned anything. So she doubted it was one of Beck’s. And yet, who else published poetry in theMorning Chronicle?
Jane’s eyes widened. “You didn’t read it?”
“I rarely read theMorning Chronicle.”
