Page 6 of The Devil's Accidental Duchess
She stood before the front door of Ashbrook Manor, her heart hammering in her chest. She did not even know what the Duke of Ashbrook looked like. They did not run in the same circles, and knowing her father’s animosity toward the man’s entire lineage, her mother had taken great pains to ensure they would never be introduced to each other.
She had heard of him, though. Who had not? The gentleman had just inherited one of the oldest and noblest titles in all of England and Scotland, as well as the tremendous wealth that came with it. It was impossible to not hear of him when all eager debutantes and their mothers spoke of nothing else.
About as impossible as the notorious book club matching them both.
Why did it have to be him? Where is the sense in it?
She had assumed there was some scientific method to that mysterious club pairing people together, but now she wasbeginning to wonder if it was all just a grand game to them, toying with people. Yes, it had had many successes, but perhaps they had tired of success and had just sought to entertain themselves by watching chaos unfold, putting the son and daughter of two nemeses together.
The scandal sheets would certainly relish this, if nothing else.
Reuben’s boots crunched on the gravel as he came to stand beside her and cast her a quick glance, worry for her shining clear in his eyes. The message was obvious.
Be on your guard.
The Duke of Ashbrook had a reputation as a man who was not to be trifled with, and they had just walked into his territory. Had they been in London, it might have been different, for no one but the King could own the street outside their respective townhouses. However, marching into the Duke’s country estate, shouting right outside his windows while waving pistols… that was a palpable threat, and no mistake. Their father might have been too furious to care, but that did not mean they felt the same.
Selina, for one, did not relish the thought of being in Ashbrook’s line of fire.
And right now, they were very much going to be in his line of fire.
The doors swung open, and Selina felt her body temperature plummet drastically when a tall, broad-shouldered figure strode out with an angry gait.
Oh, we have gone and done it now! Why could he not have been small and much less intimidating? Or less…
Her train of thought came to a sudden and immediate halt when the man approached them, her breath leaving her lungs in an embarrassing whoosh.
Long, dark hair fell to his broad shoulders, his gray eyes blazing like a storm brewed in them. Sensual lips were pressed into a grim line. Dark eyebrows snapped together in irritation, as if they were vermin to be shooed away.
This… This is the man the book club matched me with?
Philip St. Maur, the Duke of Ashbrook, seasoned war hero.
She did not know why she’d thought he might be a more feeble fellow, considering his reputation. Then again, the nobles who ended up going to war tended to be kept away from any actual fighting, gaining medals and accolades for just being there and briefly giving up their lives of privilege and frippery. So to see someone who looked like an actual warrior was jarring, indeed.
Was it truly some bored lady’s idea of a jest when she paired her with him? The man was a magnificent specimen of a male. Like a fallen angel, cursed to torment mortal women like her. And, oh,she could only imagine how terribly tempting it would be to sin with this man, especially if he were not as furious as he was right now.
He grew even more furious when her father threw the cursed letter at him, the crumpled ball hitting his chest and landing crookedly in the gravel.
“Explain what you’ve done to my daughter!” her father demanded.
Confusion flitted in that cold, silver gaze for a moment. Slowly, the Duke of Ashbrook stooped to retrieve the offending letter, smoothing it out into a readable condition as he replied, “I assure you, Barlow, that I have never…” His voice trailed off as he angrily scanned the page, his eyes widening at the words written on the crumpled sheet.
Was it horror? Selina understood the sentiment all too well. She was horrified and embarrassed in equal measure, after all. If lightning could have forked from the sky and struck her down at that very moment, she would have welcomed the divine intervention.
The pause lingered in the tense atmosphere, and she once more wished she could just sink into the ground and disappear. Even more so when those stormy gray eyes swiveled over to her. And then, the corner of his lip tilted up just a trace.
Was he…smilingat her?
No, he was most definitely smirking at her, the cad! He was enjoying himself at her expense!
Selina bristled in indignation as his gaze swept over her with an easy familiarity that made her want to cover his eyes.
Or bask in it for longer than was proper.
Butnothingabout the man was proper. Not even the thoughts she was entertaining about him!
And that would only make her father all the more livid, if such a thing were still possible.
