What the Duke Wants by Kristin Vayden

Author:Kristin Vayden [Vayden, Kristin]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Blue Tulip Publishing
Published: 2014-02-11T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Carlotta refused to look at him. No good would come from that; all it would do was remind her of his lips, the touch of his hands at the small of her back, the heat from his body as it pressed up against hers while he stole her breath with his kisses.

Yes, it would be a very bad idea indeed.

No, no, no, no…

She glanced up. Betrayed by her own body, her traitorous eyes glanced up at him and immediately her heart shuddered at the blatant heat in his expression.

Heat she knew all too well.

She was still feeling the burn from earlier.

Turning to Berty, she said, “Bid his grace good day, Berty.”

“Good day.” Berty curtseyed, again, then beamed at him, offering the duke a smile that revealed almost all of her little teeth, at least the ones she had not lost recently.

Then it struck her.

Her teeth.

Berty had been so delighted when she finally lost her baby teeth and the fact that she lost the one in front, absolutely overjoyed her. Her sisters teased her that she looked like a pirate, and Berty had basked in their story spinning over the idea.

Berty was still beaming at the duke.

He was staring at her as if he were trying to understand why.

Carlotta’s heart pinched as she felt pity on him for being so out of his element, so she went against her own self-preservation and reached out an olive branch.

She moved slightly so that she was behind Berty, then glancing up she waited till she got the duke’s attention. Quickly, she smiled and pointed to her teeth.

The duke’s brow furrowed for a moment then his countenance lit up, understanding clearly dawning in his mind.

Carlotta held her breath as he bent down to Berty’s level.

“Well, Miss Berty. It seems as if something is amiss. As beautiful as your smile is, it seems to be missing… something.” He gave her a serious expression as he made a show of studying her teeth.

Carlotta bit her lip to keep her grin in check. Her heart softened, it was times like these when he didn’t even realize how compassionate and kind he was, that it unsettled her the most. It gave her a glimpse into what could never be hers.

Which hurt more than she was willing to admit.

“Do you think, your grace, that I look like an evil pirate?” Berty asked, leaning forward.

“Er, well, I suppose.” He glanced up to Carlotta as if to discern how to answer such a question.

She shrugged.

“I’d have to say yes, you do put me in the mind of a pirate, though perhaps, not an evil one.”

Berty swished her skirts as she swayed. “Thank you, your grace. I better obey Miss Lottie now. Oh! Welcome to Greenford Waters!” She reached out and hugged his neck and then released him abruptly and began skipping down the hall.

The duke had such a look of shock on his face that Carlotta couldn’t contain her bark of laughter. Immediately covering her mouth, it wasn’t quick enough to stave off the bubbling mirth.

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