The Courtship Calculation by Laura Trentham

Author:Laura Trentham [Trentham, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Laura Huskins

12

Damien held up his hands. “I apologize for startling you.”

“You didn’t.” By the way Madeline had taken a step back and clutched her wrap closer as if it could offer protection, he had surprised her at the very least. Her surprise didn’t last long. She closed the distance between them. “I thought you weren’t invited.”

“I wasn’t.” Only two feet separated them. He was close enough to smell the scent she had daubed behind her ears. Where else did the scent linger? Between her breasts perhaps?

“Does Bellingham know you’re here?” she asked.

“He does.”

“His duchess?” she asked with more suspicion.

“Yes,” he said in the same light tone. Jessica knew and didn’t approve, but damned if he would admit that to Madeline.

She hummed thoughtfully. “I believe she tried to warn me, but we were interrupted. Why would she warn me against you? I thought you were friends.”

How did she cut directly to the question he preferred not to answer? “We are friends, but she worries one of us will do something foolish.”

“Like what?”

Like everything he wanted to do to her—with her—because he had no doubt Madeline would be an active participant in whatever foolishness they got up to together. She would bring the same curiosity and energetic playfulness to the bedchamber as she did to everything else. Intimacies between them would be for his selfish pleasure and not for revenge. But it was difficult to untangle the two motivations at this point.

There was more to his desire, yet he couldn’t name exactly what he yearned for. Which was why Jessica had fixed him with a disapproving stare when they had discussed his subterfuge.

When he didn’t answer her, she asked, “Won’t your father be furious when he finds you here?”

“Ralston sired me. He is not a father.” After so many years practicing his indifference, he was surprised to hear the bitterness in his voice. He cleared his throat. “With any luck, I won’t be seen by him or anyone else. I will not be taking part in the insipid drawing room games Jessica has planned.”

“Are you not planning on studying Ralston to determine his weakness?”

It was a valid question. Perhaps he should make plans to feed Simon questions he wanted answered, but heretofore, Damien had only been focused on seducing Madeline back into his web. He hadn’t expected to catch her this easily though.

“I would rather study you.” He didn’t even have to try to work insinuation into the words.

Her blush was evident even in the shadows. “And how will you do that if you don’t plan to take part in the house party?”

“I intend to lure you away every chance I get.” Although he declared his intentions in a teasing tone, he was being entirely honest.

“Easier said than done considering how closely the matrons watch us.” She laughed and waved a dismissive hand toward him.

“No one is watching you now,” he said.

“Only because of my own recklessness.”

He was counting on that very trait to aid his efforts.

They strolled to the edge of the gardens where the plants and flowers met a manicured lawn.

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