How to Tempt a Duke by Madeline Martin

Author:Madeline Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2019-09-05T19:11:36+00:00

* * *

Eleanor was near bursting with excitement. She practically ripped off her cloak, mask and wig the moment she passed the threshold of Lottie’s town house in Bloomsbury Square. She’d been forced to hold her news until now, as the prior evening her mother had insisted she attend Lady Bunton’s soiree, which had been a wretched bore.

Certainly not as exciting as the night at Vauxhall. Not the time she’d spent with the Earl of Devonington, but the quiet moments stolen in the dark with Charles. Her face went hot at the memory, and she tried to still her pulse-pounding eagerness at the prospect of seeing him again.

Lottie’s butler showed her inside and she all but ran into the drawing room where she had spent so many evenings. It was at that moment, when she was anticipating sharing her news with Lottie and Charles, that she realized that for the first time in her life she had friends. True friends whom she trusted.

“I have the most thrilling news to share!”

The words exploded from her before Charles could straighten from his welcoming bow. She clutched the bag of journals to her chest in her excitement.

He stiffened and rose slowly, his jaw locked in a tight grimace. Lottie cast him an odd glance and gave her a confused look.

Goodness, but Charles did look as though he’d put a vinaigrette under his nose. His lips were drawn together and the skin around his eyes was tight.

Perhaps he feared she might mention to Lottie their exchange at Vauxhall. But surely he would know she would keep such things to herself.

“I have the answer,” Eleanor said breathlessly.

“Do you?” he asked, in a voice that could only be described as dispassionate. Holding much of the same cold detachment she had once been rumored to possess.

Now she understood how unwelcoming that demeanor could be, and why she’d had seven unsuccessful Seasons.

“Yes.” She spoke more softly now. “The information we need is only in one journal.”

Charles frowned at her from across the room. “What are you referring to?”

Lottie looked between Charles and Eleanor, frowning.

“The journals.” Eleanor held up the bag. She’d procured the remaining five from her father’s study, but knew there to be more at their castle in Scotland.

In truth, Charles had been correct—the contents in the journal were not for a lady’s eyes. Amid lengthy stories of cracking ancient walls and dusty artifacts were lurid tales of what native women around the world offered by way of pleasure and sex.

One tale had gone into such detail on debauchery she had spent the better part of an evening woolgathering and wondering if such things could even be physically possible. So much so, she’d missed most of the Earl of Devonington’s conversation about his new hunting dog while at the soiree.

Not that she’d minded terribly. At least not until she’d gone to bed that evening and the story in the journal had replayed itself in her imagination, and curiosity had caused a warm and hungry hum between her thighs.

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