Page 38 of The Duke Meets His Match

She looked away from the ring on her hand and searched his face. He wondered what she was looking for and what she saw. He leaned toward her and gave her a gentle kiss. “May I call you Susan?” he asked.

“I suppose you must,” she said.

“Thank you. And sadly, I am George,” he said wryly. “Although most people call me Aylesham these days. I was Kerridge before that. In fact, I don’t think anyone has ever called me George, thank heavens.”

“George is a fine name,” Miss Jennings said. No, she was Susan.HisSusan. Who would have thought that a mere week ago? Certainly not he.

“I confess I don’t particularly like its parallel to the current reigning monarch,”he said, offering her a glib smile. “Not that I would say so to anyone—you now hold great power over me.”

“Do I?” she asked.

He chose not to explore her question. “Shall we inform Lady Walmsley of our news?” he asked. “And where is that tea she said would be forthcoming?”

“She’s a sly one,” Susan said. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she were eavesdropping through the door.”

“I am not!” a voice called out from beyond the door just as it opened. LadyWalmsley marched into the room, head high, her butler following behind, bearinga tea tray.

Susan bit her lower lip to keep from laughing. George wanted to kiss that lip again, perhaps nip at it a bit just as she was.

He settled for taking tea with her and Lady Walmsley.

He was officially betrothed to Miss Susan Jennings, the harpy. She hadaccepted his proposal after all. But he wouldn’t feel safely out of Prinny’s clutches until the vicar had pronounced the words “man and wife.”

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