Page 29 of A Scandalous Bargain
“You’ve heard their nicknames?”
She looked confused. “What’s that?”
“You called them Untouchables—that’s how they are often described. You hadn’t heard that before?” When she shook her head, he went on, “Clare is perhaps the most infamous—he’s the Duke of Desire. Actually, Axbridge is quite notorious too. He’s the Duke of Danger.”
“I thought you said he was a marquess.”
“He is, but all the Untouchables have ducal nicknames. It’s rather silly.”
“My goodness.” Her gaze locked on him. “Are you an Untouchable?”
“I am not. I think I was already married before the nicknames became popular. They are all married now, and the novelty seems to have waned.”
“So they are called dukes of something. How do they arrive at those names in particular?”
“In Clare’s case, it’s because he had a rather, ah, scandalous reputation. And Axbridge had a penchant for dueling. In fact, he killed his wife’s former husband in a duel.”
Beatrix gasped, and for a moment, her hand clasped his wrist. “You’re joking.”
He shook his head. “I’m not. And, if you can believe it, he and the marchioness are quite thoroughly and obviously in love.”
“How extraordinary. That’s something one would expect to read in a novel.” She shook her head in disbelief. Musing, she fixed him with a contemplative stare. “You would be the Duke of Delight, I think.”
Another laugh burst from him. “Delight? I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” She sniffed, raising her chin. “Ithink you’re delightful.”
“You might be the only one.”
“Why would you say that?” she asked with a hint of distress. “I’m sure your daughter would agree with me.”
“Fair enough. That makes two of you.”
She edged closer to him on the settee, and every fiber of his being came fully aware. “Just because your wife was cruel doesn’t mean others are.”
His wife. His father. The primary people he’d looked to for care and support. For love. He had no expectation for peoplenotto be cruel.
“You didn’t tell me how things resolved with Worth. Did you send him screaming from the assembly rooms?”
“I wish. He asked if he could call on me.” She made another face. “Can you imagine?”
He could, and Thomas found he wanted to punch the man in the face. “What will you do if he does?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to tell him who I am, not until I see my father. Hopefully, that will be Friday at the masquerade ball.”
“Right. I’d forgotten that was coming up.” He hadn’t at all, but he wouldn’t tell her. If his plans came to fruition, he would surprise her. “You’re sure he’ll be there?”
“He’s expected.”
“Will he recognize you, do you think?”
“That is my hope. If not, well, I’ll have to pay him a visit, I suppose.” She lifted a shoulder.
“I really do wish I could introduce you.”
“That is very kind of you. Perhaps you should be the Duke of Kindness. Or Thoughtfulness.” She licked her lips, and the sight of her tongue sent a rush of blood straight to Thomas’s cock. “Does it have to be the duke of something?”
Thomas fought to speak past the stark lust pulsing through him. “Er, no. The Duke of Kendal is the Forbidden Duke. That was his nickname long before the Untouchables.”
