A Duke Deceived (The Deceived Series Book 1) by Cheryl Bolen

Author:Cheryl Bolen [Bolen, Cheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency romance
Publisher: Harper & Appleton
Published: 2019-06-30T23:00:00+00:00

After Bonny dressed for dinner in one of her new gowns, she gently rubbed perfume behind her ears. She kept expecting her husband to come into her room as he often did while she dressed, kissing a trail along her shoulders as he clasped on her necklace. But this night he did not make an appearance. Was he really angry because she had kissed Twigs? Surely her handsome husband could never be jealous of his bumbling friend, but that was the only explanation she could think of that would explain Richard's aloofness that afternoon.

She met her husband in Twigs's room, where they had decided to take dinner, and was disappointed Richard still had not noticed her new gowns. Refusing to accept his inattention, Bonny twirled in front of him. Though black, the elegant gown swooped down in front to the lowest-cut neckline Bonny had ever worn. She knew her full breasts, like her creamy skin, were an asset, and tonight, especially, she wanted to look beautiful for Richard. A train of black illusion fell from the back of the gown. A pair of black satin slippers barely showed below the front hem. Bonny felt confident she looked good. Marie had used curl papers to achieve the Grecian goddess effect with her hair.

"Does your grace, by chance, notice anything different?" Bonny smiled into her husband's stern face.

His pensive eyes studied her almost gravely. "I must say, Madame Deveraux has never had so lovely a lady on which to display her artistry."

Her hands cocked on her hips. Bonny gave her husband an insolent gaze. "And how, may I ask, are you such an authority on women whom Madame has clothed? I believe I may get very jealous."

The corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly. "I'm sure I have no firsthand knowledge of the women, Barbara."

If only he had called her "my dear" or "my love," as he often did. Those words, though he had said them without passion, were so much more intimate than the formal-sounding Barbara.

Bonny sat in a Louis XV chair and scooted it up to the table beside Twigs's bed. "I do wish you wouldn't act so grim, Richard." She inhaled the hardy beef au jus. The table was set with all manner of dishes, and two footmen served. "After all, you should be in good humor, since you beat Twigs and me so soundly at loo this afternoon."

Sitting opposite her, Radcliff did not lift his eyes from his plate. "You went to Madame Deveraux's today?"

"Yes."

One of the footmen uncovered the salvers and the other served from the steaming dishes. What a waste to have so magnificent a round of beef for just the three of them, Bonny thought, but she took consolation knowing the servants would feast, as well as the inhabitants of Carlton House.

"You left rather early," Radcliff continued. "Did you go elsewhere?"

"To Cavendish Square. Emily accompanied me to Madame Deveraux's."

Radcliff spread a napkin on his lap. "You went nowhere else?"

Her heart raced. Had one

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