Page 24 of The Duke’s Lessons in Temptation

The absurdity of Stanton’s question almost made him laugh out loud. No, he couldn’t help Damion. He’d fallen for his friend’s sister, and she planned to marry another. Damion was a fool, but he still wouldn’t stand in the way of Cora’s happiness.

He’d done that to Lily. Damion had been unaware of his deceased wife’s feelings when they wed; he couldn’t say the same about Cora. No, she’d been honest since the first moment they met in the library. She wanted Bellamy. “No. It is nothing serious. Thank you.”

“Well, let’s have drinks when I return to London.”

Damion walked to the door but turned back. “I think you are wise to wait for the right person. Stay the course.”

Stanton grinned. “Thank you.”

He strode down the hallway and couldn’t help stepping into the drawing room where the windows overlooked the terrace. A few people milled around. At first, he didn’t spot Cora or Bellamy, but then he caught sight of them standing off to the side.

His heart twisted because she stared up at him with a large smile. Had he already asked? Damion wanted to storm onto the terrace and demand Cora marry him, but he didn’t. She should choose whoever she wanted.

Bellamy laughed at something she said, and Damion turned away. He headed toward the front door but stopped when he reached the butler. “I must leave. Stanton said my things could be sent at a later date.”

The man bowed. “Of course, Your Grace. I will ensure it all makes it back to London.”

Damion hurried to the stables, needing to leave the Stanton Country Estate as quickly as possible. Honestly, he needed to escape from the impending betrothal of Cora and Bellamy. He couldn’t be a witness to the announcement. Damion was a damn fool because he’d fallen for Cora and not even realized it.

He reached the stables and asked a stablehand to ready his horse. Damion paced as he waited, ready to leave. He gritted his teeth, wanting to snap at the workers to hurry, but knew it wasn’t their fault. Finally, his horse was ready.

Damion pulled himself up on his ride and galloped away like the hounds of hell chased him. In truth, he was fleeing so he wouldn’t interrupt Cora’s much-wanted betrothal and tell her to choose him.

Chapter 10

Cora stood with Christopher out on the terrace. Earlier, her mother had grinned at her and said he wished to speak with her there. Nausea swirled in her belly. He was smiling at her as if he’d come to make her dreams come true.

Yet, she had no idea if she wanted her old dreams any longer. She stared at Christopher, wondering if desire could grow, and while she believed it could, she wasn’t sure it would between them.

They’d known each other their whole lives and not once had she longed for Christopher to touch her. Yes, they enjoyed each other’s company, but she’d never desired him like Damion. She swallowed, hating that he was on her mind. Cora couldn’t believe she’d fallen for the rake.

No. She hadn’t fallen for him but was simply confused. Still, now, she understood the real lesson he wanted to teach her and was grateful for it. Cora should want and demand more than what she and Christopher could offer each other.

Her friend straightened his jacket and stood up a little straighter. “Cora, I’m here—”

“Wait,” she said, holding up her hand but smiling gently, knowing that none of this would go the way he thought.

Christopher chuckled. “You are interrupting something important.”

“I know why you are here.”

His brows drew together quizzically, confused by her serious tone. She took a deep breath. “Do you desire me?”

Christopher went red. “I will when we are wed.”

Her heart broke a little because she understood now that she and Christoper could never be more than friends. The right type of passion didn’t exist between them. Was she wrong to want more?

“But right now, do you look at me and think wanton thoughts?”

His eyes widened. “Cora, where is all this coming from? Are you reading some of those romance novelettes that Abigail loves so much?”

She walked to the terrace wall and looked over the gardens, sad. Christopher had always been her dream. Was she being foolish right now? Confusion and worry filled her. “No, I haven’t, but I worry we haven’t thought this through. Why do you want to marry me?”

He walked to her and placed his hand on hers. Their eyes connected. “We have always talked about marrying. We know each other better than anyone else.”

Christopher would always be one of her closest friends, but she wasn’t sure his explanation was accurate. He sighed. “I have behaved like a fool all week, and I’m sorry. I became caught up in the whirlwind of everyone’s fascination with my travel. Still, I will be a better suitor. Don’t give up on me, Cora. Let me show you I’m worthy.”

It was true he had been preoccupied, but she wasn’t sure any of that mattered. While she understood a relationship couldn’t be all desire, she worried that without it, it would be unfulfilling. She studied her friend and questioned whether they were truly as in sync as they once thought. Cora wondered if the last two years had changed them too much. Still, she was confused by all of this after spending only a week with Damion.