Daring to Love the Duke’s Heir by Janice Preston

Author:Janice Preston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-08T18:19:43+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Dominic tried to ignore the tension swirling in his gut. This had seemed a good idea at the time—an opportunity to spend a little time with Julius and Daisy before Father and Stepmother arrived, when his half-sister and half-brother, Christabel and Sebastian, would also demand his attention. Besides, he adored spending time with the little monkeys.

That Liberty Lovejoy would be here was entirely incidental. Wasn’t it? She tempted him like no other woman of his acquaintance and—if he was wise, which he clearly wasn’t—he should do all he could to avoid her. Yet here he was, concentrating on steadying his breathing as the subtle note of her perfume weaved through his senses. That picture of her with young Julius on her lap—her pensive, wistful expression—was now seared into his brain. His heart had twitched with longing as he took in the sight and, try as he might to replace her image with any of the ladies on that original shortlist, he simply could not imagine any of them dandling a child on their knee and allowing it to fiddle with their hair.

Mother, certainly, would never have tolerated such behaviour. She had been goddess-like to her three children—a goddess they had all worshipped and done their utmost to please, forever seeking her praise. He thrust down those memories and the weight of duty, responsibility and expectation they evoked.

‘Olivia.’

‘Dominic?’

‘By my calculations I have now spoken to Miss Lovejoy twice since entering this room, including asking her a number of direct questions, and she has yet to reply to any of them because you have rushed in to speak for her.’

He welcomed the familiar spark in his sister’s eyes. ‘Well, that is entirely your fault, Brother dear, for asking her such awkward questions in the first place! I am Liberty’s hostess and it is my duty to protect her from feeling uncomfortable. You forget, she is not used to your teasing ways, Dom.’

‘Good Lord, you haven’t changed, Livvy! Four years wed and you are still the fiery brat you always were.’

Olivia’s cheekbones sported two bright flags of colour and he regretted the words as soon as they were spoken. What was he? Sixteen years old again? Of course Olivia was still the same spirited girl and he prayed she always would be—she would not be the little sister he loved and cherished if marriage and motherhood changed her too much.

‘Liv... I’m sorry! We do seem to slip back into that same old relationship when we get together, don’t we?’

The colour in her cheeks faded and she grinned. ‘I was saying much the same thing before the twins came down, wasn’t I, Liberty?’

‘You were indeed, Olivia.’ Liberty’s response was calm, with just the right touch of light amusement. ‘And in answer to your query about your jacket, sir, please do so. I pledge myself to remain utterly unoffended by such an action.’

Dominic saw that their little spat had given Liberty a chance to collect herself. When she first became aware of him, a

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.