Acting for the Duke (Ducal Encounters Series 2 Book 5) by Wendy Soliman

Author:Wendy Soliman [Soliman, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-07-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Simon waited until Callie and her bothersome companion left for the market before taking an action she had brought upon herself through her stubborn determination to remain independent. He had hoped that matters would not reach this sorry impasse, but reminded himself that it was her loose behaviour that forced his hand. When making his plans he had not taken into account the possibility that his goddess would demean herself by taking a wealthy protector, damn the impudent cur’s nerve!

She had not given way to temptation when she’d been married to a man old enough to be her father and who couldn’t possibility satisfy her needs. Korder admired her determination to observe her wedding vows, despite all the opportunities she had to transgress. A faithful wife was a rarity but Korder had been convinced that deep down she was attracted to him. He recognised the signs‒the small acts of kindness, the lingering glances. That was all the incentive he had needed to put his plan into action, expecting her to turn to him for consolation as soon as Garrard was out of the way. Instead she had left the marital home to him and his mother rather than share it with them.

He realised now that he had overplayed his hand after Garrard’s death and pursued her before she was ready to be wooed. He should have known that a lady with her sensibilities would want to observe the proprieties. And so he backed off, assuming that she would come round, given time.

But she had not.

Everything he had done had been with her welfare in mind and he was damned if he would stand aside and allow some well-placed opportunist to take what was rightfully his. He was blinded by fury when he faced up to the possibility that she might well already have tumbled into his bed.

No! He shook his head. Callie was not that flighty. She had principles and lived by them, which was one of the many aspects of her character that he admired. Females possessing a tenth of her beauty would not hesitate to use their physical advantages to improve their circumstances. But not his Callie. That she lived in the hovel he was now watching proved his point. But facts had to be faced. He had seen her with his own eyes laughing with the impudent cove as though she didn’t have a care in the world.

He thumped his fist against his thigh, spooking the horse that he sat astride. He took a moment to settle the animal and then returned his thoughts to Callie’s situation. She would not agree to live under her admirer’s protection without first agreeing terms and getting them in writing. That could not have yet happened. He was absolutely sure that she had not consorted with the rogue before yesterday. He watched her too closely for there to be any possibility of her maintaining a liaison he knew nothing about. How she had met him remained a mystery but it

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