How to Ensnare the Perfect Duke: (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance - Book 5) by Tabetha Waite

Author:Tabetha Waite
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 7

For an instant, Cortland wondered if she might fall at his feet, and not in the good way. She paled considerably, but surely she couldn’t have been that surprised?

“I have taken the liberty of inviting your family to the wedding breakfast and—”

“What?” Ah, that was better. The color rushed back to her cheeks as her ire was sparked. “I didn’t give you leave to do that.”

“I’m to be your husband,” he pointed out.

“But you aren’t yet,” she said. “Until the vows are spoken, I would like to think that I still have a bit of say when it comes to my parents and siblings. Especially when it comes to the fact I’m to be married.”

Cortland finally paused. She appeared to be truly upset. He sobered his tone. “Forgive me. I was merely trying to get word to them as swiftly as possible.”

Thankfully, she seemed to accept his apology, as her face softened slightly. “I understand you were doing what you thought was best. But I am not a hapless debutante who needs proper direction. I have been out in society for some time now, and before that, I was schooled to be the wife of an aristocrat. I can hold my own when necessary.”

“I don’t doubt that you can. In truth, I’m eager to see all that you can master.”

Her cheeks colored slightly and although he used to despise blushing females, he found that, on her, a blush was rather… quaint. He wondered if she turned that delightful pink all over her body.

An overwhelming desire to kiss her struck him, but he couldn’t do it in the middle of the parlor. Even if they were as good as wed at this point, they weren’t yet, and no doubt the Duchess of Cranbrook would frown upon such forward behavior. “Take a walk in the gardens with me.”

She eyed him warily, as if understanding the reasons for his request. “Why?”

He held out his arm. “Don’t make me ask you twice.”

Her lips twitched, her eyes narrowing, as if her stubborn nature and her curiosity were at war with one another. Finally, she threaded her arm through his. He offered her a broad grin of approval, and his breath caught when he looked into her fathomless, hazel eyes. He realized now how wrong he’d been to put such an unusual shade in the same category as that of her grandfather. She had a uniqueness all her own.

He quickly slid his gaze away as he led her outside in the warm sunshine. It was a perfect day with white fluffy clouds passing by in the brilliant, blue sky overhead. He couldn’t have asked for a better day to fall in love.

He nearly faltered over his own feet. Love? Since when had such dangerous thoughts begin to taunt him? He desired, perhaps even lusted, after Lady Genevieve, but that was as far as it went. He wouldn’t allow himself the weakness of succumbing to such an emotion as love. His father had claimed to love his mother: and look where that had gotten him: nothing but heartache.

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.