Page 12 of Taken By the Duke of Stone

"Would you like some tea?"

The red head made a face and adjusted the glasses seated on the bridge of her nose, "no, but I can go for some of those biscuits."

A glance at the tray revealed a marked absence of the biscuits. "The cook used to make them, but she quit," Lavinia explained.

"Alright," the bespectacled girl shrugged, "I guess I don't mind tea."

The Duke of Wyld stared out of the large window behind his desk unseeing. Outside, the day was a rare sunny day and he knew that the members of thetonwould have taken advantage of it. Women with their parasols and practiced smiles and men pretending to be interested in whatever dull conversation they got roped into.

If it were up to the Dowager duchess, he would be out there with the rest of them.

The absence of the genteel folk was one of the major reasons he preferred country living. The lack of activity in London was galling. Well, there were the soirees, balls and dinner parties, none of which he enjoyed the slightest bit.

He missed Whisper and he only hoped his instructions for the horse to be taken out daily were being carried out.

"Victor."

He turned around at the sound of his mother's face and found her at the door, looking hesitant to walk into the room.

She still flinched whenever he sat at the head of the table during meals, and at the beginning, he had sat elsewhere, until the day he hadn't.

The Duke watched her steel her shoulders and then walk in.

"Mother," he greeted, hands clasped behind him, "is there something I can do for you?"

"I noticed you weren't at breakfast," she began.

"I broke my fast hours before you came down," he was still used to the way of things outside of London. In the country, he rose with the sun and began his days with a grueling ride.

The dowager duchess made a face at his words, "That's that, I suppose. It is not why I'm here in any case."

He had a sneaking suspicion about why she was there and she proved him right with her next words.

"Lady Hannah seemed to be interested in you."

He dropped down into his chair and clasped his hand over his stomach, "Did she now?"

"Yes," she replied sharply. "She was sad to see you leave so soon. She was really holding out for a second dance."

Which would have all but sealed his fate with the lady.

"Hmm."

His mother pursed her lips in irritation, "She's a wonderful girl. Beautiful and well mannered. I dare say she will make a most perfect wife."

"We are in agreement," he smiled, "Congratulations to the gentleman who wins her hand."

She threw up her hands in the air in dramatic annoyance, "Oh must you get on my nerves? You know exactly what I'm saying, but you are being obstinate on purpose."

"Mother, I have no interest in Lady Hannah or the other ladies you've mentioned in the past few days. I believe I have made my lack of interest very obvious."

"What is wrong with Lady Hannah? She's flawless."

And that was precisely the problem. He didn't want the flawless ladies of thetonwith their bland personalities. He wanted...

His mind flashed to the brown haired lady from the previous night who had stared down at him like she wasn't aware he hadthe power to destroy her. A woman like that would keep him on his toes, give him the excitement only a hard ride through his estate and the brewery ever gave him.

Even as he had the thought, he knew he could never marry a woman like that. It would be too easy to fall in love with her and he had sworn off love.

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