Read Online A Duke's Temptation by Jillian Hunter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jillian Hunter
Ads: Link
at him, feeling his familiar obligation to warn the uninitiated of what lay ahead. “You can’t trust everyone, especially at a party like this.”
“But these are the cream of the crop, educated ladies and gentlemen, refined—”
Samuel could not bear it. “Certain sensibilities are refined. Others are barbaric. And if I may I point out, most guests are in disguise.”
“It’s a masquerade,” the man said, shaking his head as if Samuel were the person in need of instruction.
“Just remember that.”
“Thank you, sir. You’ve a good heart to point out pitfalls that I could indeed have missed.”
Samuel didn’t have the patience for gambling himself, but if this genial enough fellow was related to Lily, it was to Samuel’s benefit to do him a favor. “I have to leave the party earlier than expected, but since I almost ran you through with my lance, I want to make amends.”
“It’s all right. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“Please, allow me.” Samuel held out the lance to him like a peace offering. The taller man took it, looking puzzled. “Take this to Lord Philbert. He is our host, in case you do not know him personally. Instruct him that you are to play the night away, on my account.”
The gentleman broke into an appreciative grin. “I am Captain Jonathan Grace. May I have the honor of your name, sir?”
“Don Quixote, the Ingenious.” Samuel nodded cordially. “Do watch your hand. There are some players in London who will do anything to win. You really have to be careful about the company you keep. As I said, not everyone is as trustworthy as you and me.”
Lily had lost sight of her duke through the opened doors. It wasn’t bad enough of her to have let him kiss her once or twice. Now that their little indiscretion was definitely over, she was still hoping for another look at him. And then Jonathan walked right into the duke’s lance. She had giggled so openly as she watched the two men disengage that Chloe had abandoned her husband abruptly and returned to Lily’s side. She was worse than wicked.
“I think someone has enjoyed herself far too much for one evening.”
“Does it show?” Lily whispered, her eyes dancing in delight.
“It’s a good thing you’re getting married in a month,” Chloe said good-naturedly. “Your Boscastle instincts for trouble are beginning to bloom.”
Lily feigned an indignant laugh. “Next you’ll be warning the duke about me.”
“I wonder.” Chloe glanced at the guests drifting into the salon. “Was your curiosity satisfied? Or merely whetted?”
“I assume you’re referring to Wickbury .”
“I assume the duke kissed you.”
Lily lifted her fan to hide a guilty smile. A kiss as potent as the duke’s would last her a lifetime. Of course, it would have to. She didn’t imagine her future with Jonathan held the promise of that much passion. They were both so practical, but then perhaps those kinds of feelings would come for them with time. The duke had either been born with a natural talent for seduction or he had worked to perfect his skill.
Either way, she had savored every sinful moment of his company. And it was more than his kisses that had unbalanced her, she realized in surprise, now that the spell was starting to wear off.
Chloe gave her an impulsive hug. “I would be a liar if I told you that I don’t understand. And, from the look on Gravenhurst’s face when I found you both in the garden, I think that this attraction is more than mutual. It’s a very good thing that you are going to be married to your captain soon.”
Lily pursed her lips. “Do you think the duke might abduct me before then?”
Chloe sighed, pulling a face. “I suppose that we could hope. And don’t you dare tell your parents I said that. Where is your captain, anyway? He’s going to miss your transformation.”
Lily smiled, only half listening. Footmen were discreetly snuffing out the brightest candles to dramatize the
“But these are the cream of the crop, educated ladies and gentlemen, refined—”
Samuel could not bear it. “Certain sensibilities are refined. Others are barbaric. And if I may I point out, most guests are in disguise.”
“It’s a masquerade,” the man said, shaking his head as if Samuel were the person in need of instruction.
“Just remember that.”
“Thank you, sir. You’ve a good heart to point out pitfalls that I could indeed have missed.”
Samuel didn’t have the patience for gambling himself, but if this genial enough fellow was related to Lily, it was to Samuel’s benefit to do him a favor. “I have to leave the party earlier than expected, but since I almost ran you through with my lance, I want to make amends.”
“It’s all right. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“Please, allow me.” Samuel held out the lance to him like a peace offering. The taller man took it, looking puzzled. “Take this to Lord Philbert. He is our host, in case you do not know him personally. Instruct him that you are to play the night away, on my account.”
The gentleman broke into an appreciative grin. “I am Captain Jonathan Grace. May I have the honor of your name, sir?”
“Don Quixote, the Ingenious.” Samuel nodded cordially. “Do watch your hand. There are some players in London who will do anything to win. You really have to be careful about the company you keep. As I said, not everyone is as trustworthy as you and me.”
Lily had lost sight of her duke through the opened doors. It wasn’t bad enough of her to have let him kiss her once or twice. Now that their little indiscretion was definitely over, she was still hoping for another look at him. And then Jonathan walked right into the duke’s lance. She had giggled so openly as she watched the two men disengage that Chloe had abandoned her husband abruptly and returned to Lily’s side. She was worse than wicked.
“I think someone has enjoyed herself far too much for one evening.”
“Does it show?” Lily whispered, her eyes dancing in delight.
“It’s a good thing you’re getting married in a month,” Chloe said good-naturedly. “Your Boscastle instincts for trouble are beginning to bloom.”
Lily feigned an indignant laugh. “Next you’ll be warning the duke about me.”
“I wonder.” Chloe glanced at the guests drifting into the salon. “Was your curiosity satisfied? Or merely whetted?”
“I assume you’re referring to Wickbury .”
“I assume the duke kissed you.”
Lily lifted her fan to hide a guilty smile. A kiss as potent as the duke’s would last her a lifetime. Of course, it would have to. She didn’t imagine her future with Jonathan held the promise of that much passion. They were both so practical, but then perhaps those kinds of feelings would come for them with time. The duke had either been born with a natural talent for seduction or he had worked to perfect his skill.
Either way, she had savored every sinful moment of his company. And it was more than his kisses that had unbalanced her, she realized in surprise, now that the spell was starting to wear off.
Chloe gave her an impulsive hug. “I would be a liar if I told you that I don’t understand. And, from the look on Gravenhurst’s face when I found you both in the garden, I think that this attraction is more than mutual. It’s a very good thing that you are going to be married to your captain soon.”
Lily pursed her lips. “Do you think the duke might abduct me before then?”
Chloe sighed, pulling a face. “I suppose that we could hope. And don’t you dare tell your parents I said that. Where is your captain, anyway? He’s going to miss your transformation.”
Lily smiled, only half listening. Footmen were discreetly snuffing out the brightest candles to dramatize the
Similar Books
