Page 7 of Yours Truly, the Duke
It wasn’t surprising they wanted a drink after all the playing. But there wasn’t time. “If all goes well with Mr. Maywaring, I’ll see to it you get milk and a cranberry tart after he leaves. How does that sound?”
Bella smiled. Charles clapped his hands, and Elise hesitated, but slowly nodded in appreciation.
Fredericka hurriedly stuffed the wet pillow into the corner of the settee as the housekeeper stepped into the doorway.
“Excuse me, Miss Hale. The Duke of Wyatthaven is here to see you.”
A duke? To see her?
CHAPTER 3
TO A YELLOW VIOLET
—ANON.
Oft in the sunless April day,
Thy early smile has stay’d my walk;
But ’midst the gorgeous bloom of May,
I pass’d thee on thy humble stalk.
Puzzlement wove through Fredericka as the shadowed outline of a powerfully built man appeared behind her housekeeper, causing Fredericka’s heartbeat to skip with apprehension. She’d never met the Duke of Wyatthaven, but she’d certainly read about him many times in the scandal sheets and Society pages. And from the little she could see of him, what she’d read was true. He was quite tall, handsome to a fault, and simply magnificent to look at.
“Thank you, Mrs. Dryden,” Fredericka said.
Her housekeeper hesitated before turning away. The duke stepped forward, staring straight at Fredericka.
It took a moment or two for her eyes to adjust from the bright sunlight streaming into the drawing room to the darker corridor. Blinking so she could focus on his intimidating form, she noticed the way he watched her. Intensely. As if he was demanding her attention without saying a word. When their eyes met, there was a strange and immediate connection. An odd tingle raced throughher and settled low. She didn’t know what it was or why it happened, but she’d felt it and sensed he had too. She wasn’t experienced in such matters but knew it was a sensation unlike the usual passing interest between a lady and a gentleman.
Seconds later, his eyes narrowed as if he wanted to conceal his gaze. That didn’t stop their penetrating observation of each other from continuing.
The thought that he didn’t want her regarding him too closely pricked her interest even more. His gaze skimmed over her from head to toe with candid concentration, then strayed to the children behind her, a curious expression on his face.
The duke was dressed in expertly tailored black trousers and coat, gleaming white linen shirt, and moderately starched neckcloth—elegantly knotted. His blue-striped waistcoat, seamed with burnished brass buttons, fit his wide chest and slim waist to perfection. Thick chestnut-colored hair with an attractive wave swept evenly but naturally across his forehead. Highly polished, expensive boots added to his impressive appeal.
Not surprisingly, there was a touch of arrogance to his stance that caused a change in her breaths. She detected a prevailing inner strength within him that most ladies would find attractive.
So did she.
It was no wonder he was written about so often. He looked every inch the commanding and dashing rake the pink pages swore he was.
“Miss Hale,” he said, striding into the room with a casual confidence few men had mastered. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
His voice, deep and smooth, washed over her like heated cider splashed with a heaping spoonful of brandy.She wasn’t the type to be drawn to exceptionally fine-looking men, but with this one, her senses obviously made an exception. All of them seemed intentionally concentrated on him and delighted by what they saw, felt, and heard. Her heart thudded loudly, her stomach felt jumpy, and a prickling of something stimulating skipped wildly and deliciously across the tips of her breasts.
Still, Fredericka managed a perfunctory curtsey and slight smile. “My pleasure as well, Your Grace.”
She’d always heard dukes were above reproach. This proved it. They could make up new rules for themselves and Society and receive no backlash for breaking the ones the elite of the ton held most dear. Obviously, that included the highly inappropriate act of introducing himself to someone.
He stopped a step or two in front of her. Up close, he was even more imposing. That caused another catch in her breath. They looked into each other’s eyes for a long moment. If she wasn’t careful she could find herself mesmerized by the light blueish-gray color. There was a strong aristocratic quality to his features—high cheekbones, slender-bridged nose, wide, attractive mouth, and determined set to his square chin.
His gaze swept slowly down her face and lingered on her lips. A tingling sensation raced over her. That made her look at his mouth again and an unexpected surge of womanly desire held her spellbound for a few seconds. She’d never been so profoundly aware of a man before.
Pushing aside the newfound and heady feelings, she lightly cleared her throat before asking, “Would you like to sit down?”
He shook his head. “Not now, thank you.”
