Page 109 of A Scandalous Kind of Duke

The highest in society? That was Leo’s world. She could not enter his world.

Could she?

Did she dare?

She did not want to be the sort of woman who broke up someone’s engagement and started a huge scandal and hurt a young lady who did not deserve the scorn.

But neither did she want to be the sort of woman who spent her life alone and in exile because she never had the courage to ask for what she wanted from the one and only man she’d ever loved.

And he loved her too, she knew that. She could only hope that he loved her enough.

She bounded to her feet, just as an officious-looking man brandishing a roll of paper approached.

“Miss, we must load your trunks now. We cannot delay, not for you or anyone. The ship must leave at the next high tide.”

Juno smiled. “There will be another ship. And another tide. And another day.”

“Ye-es?” he said uncertainly.

“But there might never be another chance. And Leo and I— We’ve missed too many chances as it is.”

* * *

Leo stirred on the bed,emerging from the cobwebs of sleep, reaching for Juno, to hold her close for the rest of the night.

His hand touched emptiness. He opened his eyes: The room was bright with daylight. He still wore his clothes.

From deeper in the house came angry voices, a mistreated door, and footsteps approaching his chamber in what sounded like a purposeful stomp.

Then his bedroom door slammed open and Hadrian Bell stood glowering in the doorway.

Leo blinked at him sleepily. Suddenly, memory flooded back in. The docks! Juno’s ship!

“Bloody hell,” he muttered. “What time is it? What’s the bloody time?”

He leaped off the bed but Hadrian caught his shoulders and shoved him back so hard he bounced on the mattress.

“It’s time you gave me an explanation,” Hadrian said. “What the devil have you done to Juno?”

Leo sat up, hands raised in a show of peace. “Hadrian, old friend, I did not survive two duels this morning only to be shot by you.”

“I know.” He sank onto the bed beside him. “Juno won’t let me shoot you.”

“She doesn’t want me dead?”

“No. Quite opposed to it, actually.”

Leo grinned. “That’s a promising start. Good to see you back in London. Why are you here?”

“I brought you a gift. From Juno. It’s a painting, I guess, as she was running around buying a new frame. She is behaving very oddly, odd even for her, and I have no idea what is going on.”

* * *

The package was a wooden crate.Leo called for a crowbar and tore off the planks with splintering haste.

In the crate was indeed a painting, in a large, ornate frame. With Hadrian’s help, Leo lifted it out and rested it against a table. He dusted off the packing straw and folded back the protective cloth.

It was her depiction of the mermaid laying claim to the shipwrecked sailor, now painted in oils and brought to stormy, passionate life. The faces on the figures did not look like Leo or Juno—they did not look like anyone he knew—but he recognized their expressions.

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