One Duke Down--A Rogues to Lovers Novel by Anna Bennett

Author:Anna Bennett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

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The moon was high in the sky by the time Poppy was able to go to Keane. After spending the better part of two days with him, she’d become rather accustomed to having him near. She’d missed him. There’d been a shift last night—something that transcended the physical. And she couldn’t wait to see if he’d felt it, too.

But in addition to her usual chores, she’d had to say goodbye to Dane, who was returning to London on the mail coach, and Papa had been especially talkative, so it had taken her a bit longer to surreptitiously prepare a basket of food to bring Keane.

The path to the clearing was so familiar to her that she had no difficulty navigating it, even in the dark. When she emerged into the clearing, Keane was waiting for her.

He swept her into his arms, basket and all, and spun her around as though he hadn’t seen her in a fortnight. She couldn’t recall a time when her heart had ever felt so light. So free.

“This welcome leads me to believe you’ve been anxiously awaiting your dinner,” she quipped.

“I’ve been anxiously awaiting you.” Reluctantly, he set her feet on the ground and presented her with a huge bouquet of pink sweet peas, golden wildflowers, and feathery reeds bound with a bow fashioned from long shoots of grass. “The best I could do, given the current circumstances,” he said, apologetic.

She buried her nose in the fragrant blossoms. “I couldn’t love them more.”

He shot her a lopsided grin. “Then I shan’t bother with hothouse flowers in the future.”

“Here you are,” she said, handing him the dinner basket. “It’s a few slices of roast along with potatoes, carrots, and leeks. You should eat before it grows cold.”

“I’ll save it for later.” He set the basket near the door of the shelter and took her by the hand. “There’s something I want to discuss with you tonight.”

“What do you mean?”

“Shall we sit on the big rocks?” he suggested.

A frisson of foreboding stole over her skin. “If you’d like.”

He scooped up a lantern, led her to the boulders, and helped her climb onto the flat surface. He clambered up beside her and gazed out at the inky infinity of the sea.

“My brother is on his way back to London,” she said in a desperate and blatant attempt to avoid weightier topics.

Keane hesitated a beat, then said, “Were you sad to see him go?”

“Papa was delighted to have him home, and I liked having his help. But we both knew he was only visiting. He’s promised to be a better correspondent, but we’ll be lucky if he writes a three-sentence missive once a month.” She chuckled to herself. “He’s not much of a writer, but he has a good heart.”

Keane’s gaze flicked away. “I hope you and your father won’t have to wait too long before he visits again.”

“At least it makes things less complicated where you’re concerned. Now that he’s gone, we needn’t worry that he’ll happen upon you here or on the beach.

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