The Duke Who Stole My Heart by Joanne Wadsworth

Author:Joanne Wadsworth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: classic regency romances, proper romance regency series, English Dukes, historical regency romance, historical victorian romance, clean and wholesome romance
Publisher: Joanne Wadsworth
Published: 2019-01-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Frustration pummeled through Ashten. He’d kissed Ellie yet again and truly shouldn’t have. Ugh, a diversion was needed, and fast. He eased up and put the picnic basket between them, poured her another glass of wine and handed it to her, then gulped the last few mouthfuls straight from the bottle before dropping the empty flagon inside the basket. The bottle thumped against a pack of cards in the bottom. Perfect. A game of cards would hopefully distract his amorous thoughts, and the last time they’d played together had been nine months ago after dinner one night at the Trentbury’s table. Harry had played too, as well as watched on and stated how evenly matched he and Ellie had now gotten. He shuffled the deck, asked her, “Do you care for a game of stud poker?”

“I’ve been playing with Winterly lately, and gotten quite good at the game. What shall the stakes be?”

“The usual. The first to win ten rounds always chooses their spoils, within reason of course.”

“Perfect. I’m looking forward to this.” She accepted the shuffled deck and dealt their cards.

Their game began and drat it all, but Ellie had most certainly gotten quite good of late. She won ten rounds in a row and he stared at her with annoyance and muttered, “Deal again. I need to at least win one hand before this day is done.”

“Of which it is almost at an end.” She motioned to the sun dipping lower in the sky. “Are you even concentrating on the game, Your Grace?”

“Pierce.” Blast it all, she appeared so ethereal sitting across from him, her voluminous riding skirts hiding her legs and her glorious golden hair swaying down her back, the ends falling into lush curls. She reminded him of a fairy, the way she sat so beguilingly with the woods on one side and the lapping waters the other.

“What’s causing your current anger, Pierce?”

“You.” His mind kept replaying their kisses, and how he’d much rather still be kissing her. She was full of effervescence, quick wit, and a caring and affectionate nature he’d always admired. Yes, she’d not only come to him at Blackgale House and actually managed to get him outside his front door, but she’d done so with an innocence he’d now stolen from her with his amorous kisses. He slid one hand into the pocket of his breeches and fingered the gold silk ribbon he’d tucked there this morning. Where was his good luck when he needed it? Particularly in setting her aside.

“Tell me what I can do to disperse your ill feelings then.” She touched his cheek with her palm, her skin so soft and warm.

“To start with, you could at least cease looking so adorable.” He scooped up the cards and stood. “Up you get. It’s getting cold.”

“Right then. I take it we’re leaving?” She pushed to her feet and brushed her royal blue skirts. “I’ll go and find Penny.”

“Don’t get lost while you do. I’ll wait for you at the curricle with the horses.

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.