Page 88 of Last Duke Standing

Justine opened her eyes and looked directly at him. Her eyes were as golden and warm as the sun. She pressed her palm against his cheek. He felt a current of emotion between them, something that felt very much like mutual affection.

He picked up her eyeglasses and put them back on her face. He smiled tenderly. Justine leaned forward and kissed him so softly that he felt a bit weightless. She sat back and reached for her sun hat. She put it on her head, folded her hands in her lap and turned to face him. “If I were to inquire what we are doing, you and I, what would you say?”

“A fair question.” He shook his head. “I...esteem you, Justine. I very much enjoy your company. I find you unbearably attractive.”

Her smile widened. “And I find the same about you against all my better judgment! This isfolly,William. I am in England to settle on a fiancé, not to engage in an affair that will make everything worse. And I can’t keep making thesebets.” She directed the remark heavenward, almost as if she was beseeching a higher power.

“It’s my fault. I’m no’ able to help myself where you’re concerned.”

“It’s not your fault—I’ve been just as eager to...bet.” He saw the gold of her eyes spark at her admission.

“Justine, I—”

“Princia! Princia!”

The guard had noticed her missing, after all. Justine hopped to her feet. “They’re looking for me.” She leaned over to fetch the book he’d given her, and with one last look at him, a look of dissatisfaction, of a conversation not finished, she walked away, arranging her sun hat on her head as she went.

William was dissatisfied, too. He wasn’t sure what he’d been about to say.Don’t meet any more suitors. Look at me. There is something about me I have to tell you, that will ruin all my hope, but I want you. I love you.

He remained on the bench a moment longer, more at odds with himself and the world than he’d ever been in his life.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

THEGUARDLOOKEDpanicked when Justine appeared from behind the giant butterfly shrub, and well he ought to have been. Justine could have been kidnapped by now, decapitated and her head piked. Not that she was going to say a word, because none of that had happened, and obviously, she would have perished had he stumbled around the butterfly only moments before.

Thinking about it made her blush. She picked up her basket. She wondered if her expression revealed anything about what had really happened behind the shrub.

“Your Royal Highness, you are wanted,” he said, anxiously. He gave a sharp bow.

“I’m always wanted.” She would very much like to go somewhere private until the fizz in her blood had faded away, to sit by herself and think about what had happened, and how she hadn’t had the least hesitation. How she’d actuallyhopedsomething like that might happen and had encouraged it.

And when the fizz had died, she would think about who she was becoming. She was not the same person she was when she’d met Aldabert. She couldn’t even remember any longer who she had been then.

But who she was now wanted to be with William, to know if he felt the fizz in his blood like she felt in hers.

She glanced over her shoulder. William was there, having followed her out of the shrubbery.

“My lord—”

“Your Royal Highness, we found you!”

Justine groaned softly at the sound of Lila’s voice. She smiled sorrowfully at William and turned as Lila sailed into the garden area with Lady Bardaline close on her heels.

“I wasn’t hiding, of course you found me.”Oh dear. She could tell by the slight lift in Lila’s brows that she’d spoken too quickly—Lila’s curiosity had been piqued.

“I beg your pardon for the interruption, but Prince Michel has arrived.”

“Already?” Justine asked at the same moment William said, “Here?”

“I beg your pardon, my lord.” Lady Bardaline stepped forward. “The princess has an engagement—”

“Yes, and isn’t this fortuitous to find his lordship here! My lord, youmuststay for supper. The kitchen has prepared a delectable meal in honor of our special guest. The menu, I understand, isFrench.”

Justine didn’t know which she liked better—that Lila was inviting William to stay, or that Lady Bardaline looked so sour suddenly.

“Thank you, but I should no’ interfere—”

“It’s no interference!” Lila insisted. She looked to Justine to confirm it was no interference.

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