Page 86 of The Duke's Rules Of Engagement
And then there was Lilly. If, through some miracle, the duke decided he loved Jo and wanted to marry her, Lilly would lose Charles Cherrington once and for all.
So that night, lying in her bed with a cool cloth laid uselessly over her forehead for her “headache,” Jo decided the only thing she could do was ensure the Duke of Crestmont and Harriet Cherrington married. Jealousy of Harriet snaked through her, and when she thought of Harriet and Matthew doing the things Jo and Matthew had done in his bed, tears streamed down her cheeks and the cracks in her heart deepened to painful, sharp crags.
None of that was poor Harriet’s fault. Jo couldn’t wish ill on Harriet out of her own jealousy or pain.
So, in the end, Jo must endure both the jealousy and the pain. Shedidwant Harriet and Matthew happy, not only because she cared for Matthew and liked Harriet, but for her own selfish reasons. Theirs would be another match well made. She would have found the perfect duchess for a duke of the realm. It would be excellent for her career.
And, beyond all that, Lilly’s happiness would be secured.
Yes, there were so many reasons,goodreasons, for the duke to marry Harriet Cherrington. It had to happen.
Itwouldhappen.
…
The next night, at the Duke of Trent’s ball at Houghton House, Jo stood by herself watching the dancers glittering under the clusters of lights strung from tree to tree.
Flicking open her fan, she watched over it as Mr. Pellegrini danced with Sarah Fineman, a pretty young widow. From the way they smiled at each other, she had high hopes that Mrs. Fineman might prove a good match for him. Shehadto find him someone special.
Lilly had accompanied Jo, and she’d secured a partner for every single dance, the fawning young men clearly ignorant to the fact that her heart belonged to Charles Cherrington, who had already partnered with Lilly twice.
Jo’s own card was not full, though Charles had asked her to dance with him—certainly out of pity—and she had accepted out of politeness.
She’d heard that the Duke of Crestmont was also here, though she hadn’t seen him in the crush. Harriet was not in attendance tonight, however. The poor girl had remained at home with a cold. Martha had assured Jo that she was already on the mend and would certainly recover within the next day or two.
Feeling a familiar presence beside her, Jo stiffened, then turned slowly, suddenly struggling to inhale a full breath. Matthew was particularly handsome tonight in his formal breeches and tailcoat, his hair looking as soft as she knew it was, and his full lips pressed into that endearing stern line.
“Good evening, Miss Porter.”
“Your Grace.”
Lord, it felt strange to be so formal after what they’d shared just yesterday. It might as well have been a lifetime ago.
As one, they turned back to face the dancers. Erotic images flitted through Jo’s mind—his talented fingers pressing into her flesh, the muscles on his body rippling with restraint, the way his eyes had squeezed shut as he’d panted out his release.
Matthew bent toward Jo. “Dance with me.”
The next dance was a waltz, and she went rigid to combat the instant longing to leap into his arms and waltz the night away with him. “That wouldn’t be appropriate, Your Grace.”
“Why not?” he asked.
She shook her head. The answers were too many and too complicated to share with him amid all these people. In any case, he definitely knew exactly why he shouldn’t be dancing with her. Certainly his asking was merely rhetorical.
They stood for a few moments in silence, surrounded by music and laughter and chatting but not a part of any of it. His breath moved the loose strand of hair curling around her ear. “Please, Jo. Dance with me.”
Lord, but she wanted to. She closed her eyes in a long blink and slid her gaze toward him, knowing her eyes were pleading. Every time he spoke to her, every time he touched her, it made this more difficult.
And yet, she couldn’t resist. “All right.”
Lilly swept by, laughing gaily, her lively gaze flicking toward Jo in the briefest of acknowledgments before returning to her partner.
“My uncle arrived last night,” Matthew murmured.
She turned to him, wide-eyed. “At your house?”
“Yes. He arrives unannounced about once a year.”
“And you allow him to stay with you?”
