Page 65 of The Duke of Distraction
“Pity, we had such fun the other night.”She laughed, then took herself off, her hips swaying.
Sarah pursed her lips and glowered at Felix.“I thought you said you didn’t come to Ware for women.”
“I didn’t.At least not with Anthony the other night.”He took another drink of wine, looking distinctly uncomfortable.“When she said the other night, she meant several months ago.”
“So youhavecome into Ware for women?In the past.”She was torturing herself with this question, but the jealousy tearing at her insides was a ravenous beast.
“Sarah, I’ve done many things in the past.As you yourself have noted, I’m a bit of a rake.”
Of course he was.Who else but a rake would kiss her as he’d done in the closet at Darent Hall?Or pleasure her as he’d done last night?Her body flushed with desire, banishing the jealousy.
“Except since Darent Hall,” she said, vaguely aware that her voice carried a rather sensual quality.
“We shouldn’t discuss that.”He kept his voice low and drank more wine.
For whatever reason, she enjoyed provoking him about it.He was always so self-assured, so commanding.And talking about whatever was happening between them set him completely out of kilter.
“Pity.We had such fun the other night.”She parroted the maid’s coquettish statement, which earned her a sharp stare and an intake of breath from Felix.
Before she could continue the flirtation, Anthony returned and ruined the entire thing.Burying her scowl, Sarah sipped her wine.
“Shall we return to Stag’s Court?”Anthony asked.
Felix practically leapt from the table.“Yes, let’s.”
Sarah sat beside her brother on the ride home.She’d hoped Felix might take the front-facing seat with her, but should have known better.He spent the short journey evading eye contact and just looking generally uncomfortable.
When they arrived, Seales informed Felix that George and Vane had arrived.Sarah knew that George was his secretary but had no idea as to the identity of Vane.“Who is Vane?”
“My valet.”
“Felix?”A strong, feminine voice came from the room just off the entrance hall, and Felix strode in that direction.
Sarah, curious as to who else might have arrived, followed him along with Anthony.
“George!”Anthony exclaimed as he stepped forward and took her hand.“It’s good to see you.”
Wait, George was Felix’s secretary.And she was a woman?Not just a woman, but a beautiful one at that.She was tall—taller than Sarah by several inches—with pale blonde hair and light blue eyes.She looked as though she belonged at Almack’s or in the middle of a grand ball at Clare House in London, not in a sturdy dark blue traveling costume, bearing the title of secretary.
Sarah recalled what Felix had said at The Golden Bear:I’ve done many things in the past.
Did any of those things involve an exquisitely handsome woman who was now in his employ?
That terrible beast—jealousy—reared inside Sarah once more, and she realized she was in real danger if she didn’t rein in her emotions.It was one thing to flirt with Felix and to delight in the pleasures he offered, especially now, when the diversion was most welcome.She could not—mustnot—expect more than he would ever offer.Jealousy had no place in her relationship with Felix.
“George, allow me to present Miss Sarah Colton,” Felix said.“Sarah, Mrs.Georgiana Vane, my secretary.”
Mrs.Vane.“Is Felix’s valet your husband?”Sarah blurted.
“Why, yes, he is,” she said, her eyes sparkling.
“Is that how you came to be Felix’s secretary?”Still, it was odd that Felix would have hired a woman.Sarah didn’t know any gentlemen with female secretaries.Now that she’d pushed her jealousy aside, she found the idea rather wonderful and wasn’t the least surprised Felix had done it.
The others in the room were looking at Sarah, and she realized she was being rude with her questions.“My apologies,” she rushed to say.“I’ve never met a woman secretary before.It’s fairly fabulous.”
Felix chuckled.“George is my steward’s daughter.I’ve known her my entire life.When I hired Vane, the two of them fell madly in love.”
George smiled.“It’s true.”
