Page 26 of The Lion Duke's Proposal
He took the hand of the umpire, who helped him out of the stream, and smoothed his wild hair back with the other, his stare never leaving Julia’s. She found she couldn’t look away fromhim. The water dripped from his body as he accepted his jacket and shrugged it casually back on, as though what he’d just done was barely of note.
He had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and beaten her fair and square. Despite her earlier competitive spirit, though, Julia realized that he was definitely a better player and, really, after that shot, he deserved the win. Now, though, came the difficult part. There would be no favor to be owed, and instead, the Duke would be coming to collect his due.
She decided she would be the bigger person. He was surrounded by a group of sycophantic admirers who were complimenting his final shot and congratulating him on his win. She hovered to the side until they eventually peeled away one by one, leaving him alone.
“Congratulations, Your Grace.” She approached him with a deep breath, holding out her hand. “A splendid victory.”
“Quite,” he replied, shaking her hand again with a twinkle of amusement in his eye. “But I must say, I expected a more spirited challenge from you. Did you not want to win?”
Julia raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I wanted to win. But you made it impossible with that shot.” She took a step closer, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Perhaps next time, I’ll make sure it’s not so easy for you.”
His grin widened, that familiar spark of challenge in his eyes. “Next time? I’d like to see that.”
She held his gaze for a moment, then straightened. “And our deal?” she asked, her voice steady despite the quickening pulse she felt.
“I haven’t forgotten,” he said, his tone almost playful. “Fair is fair – we will pretend to court until the end of the party, to see if word gets back to your father.”
“Excellent,” she replied, but something in his voice made her pause. It was casual, but there was a certain edge to it now—a spark of something else.
Julia hesitated, her instincts telling her to tread carefully. “Of course, there will have to be rules,” she added hastily, trying to regain control of the conversation. “We must set boundaries and decide what should be made public.”
“Boundaries?” he echoed, the amusement still there, but now tinged with something more teasing. “Are you certain you can live within them?”
She met his gaze, a small, daring smile curling at her lips. “I’m quite good at keeping things under control, Your Grace.”
At this point, Julia noticed that the gathered crowd of onlookers who had previously been discussing the results of the game were now listening curiously to their conversation. She stiffened slightly, realizing they had become the center of attention.
The Duke cleared his throat and flicked his eyes over towards them, making it clear he had noticed them as well. "I suppose it’s only fair that we let them in on the terms of our arrangement, then," he said with a slow, amused smile.
She bobbed her head in agreement. “Naturally, we will need to tell others about our courtship.”
“Let us discuss the details in private later,” he said loudly to a chorus of hushed gasps and whispers. “I shall find you this evening.”
“Of course, Your Grace.” Julia dipped into a curtsey as he tipped his hat and headed back inside. Her eyes followed him as he left, both to solidify the impression of their ‘courtship’ to the assembled gossips, and simply because the image of him stepping out of the creek and flattening his hair with a wet hand still lingered in the back of her mind. As disagreeable as he could be, she found him to be immensely attractive, and that fact rose unbidden to the forefront of her mind as she watched him walk away from her.
She only hoped all this would end up well.
Poppy’s face suddenly appeared out of nowhere right as the Duke disappeared from her view. “Well, sister, you’ve turned some heads.”
Julia smiled. “Good. That’s the point of all this, after all.”
“I shouldn’t be surprised if most of Greater London is aware by nightfall,” Poppy teased with a giggle. “The way he just announced it in front of everyone! It almost makes me wish it was real.”
“Almost, but not quite.” Julia took her sister’s arm. “Come, let’s take a turn about the garden and leave them to their whispering.”
“I did feel so sorry for Lord Blackwell out there.” Poppy’s face creased with concern as they walked away. “I could see he was finding the course difficult. And he told me afterward that he felt ever so badly for letting you down in the tall grass.”
“You’ve spoken to him?” Julia was surprised. “Be careful, Poppy. I don’t want you to be led along.”
“Oh, it’s not like that,” her sister reassured her. “I know he can’t accept me without a dowry; he told me that today as well. Not that it isn’t a shame, but I’m determined not to dwell on it.”
“I’m so happy to hear you say that,” Julia smiled. “I was worried you might become caught up with him and not enjoy the party.”
“Yes, well, last night I was rather upset,” Poppy admitted, “but knowing what you’re putting yourself through with the Duke just for my sake…it really put things in perspective for me.”
Julia raised an eyebrow. “Don’t worry, Poppy. I’m sure you will find someone you like before the week is out.”
“Well, perhaps,” Poppy shrugged. “Honestly, at this point, I’m just tempted to say if anyone approached me with an offer that could secure us, I would take it. It would mean you could back out of your arrangement with the Duke, and all this nastiness with Father could just be over.”
