Page 36 of Taken By the Duke of Stone

Falling back into her bed, she lay there, staring up at the ceiling while her mind raced with thoughts.

She and the Duke were getting along, but was she foolish to be holding out hope for more? She refused to believe that a cordial friendship with no love or passion was as far as this thing between them would ever go.

CHAPTER 12

"Letter for you, ma'am," the butler announced as he walked into the breakfast room, one hand at his back and the other holding out a letter with a regal seal.

Lavinia knew who it was from even before she took it, "Thank you, Ruben."

The man nodded and walked away. Ignoring her aunt's curious glance, she hurriedly ripped open the letter and read it.

"Is that from the Duke?" Lady Hartfield asked.

"Yes," she ducked her head, "He has invited me for a ride through Hyde Park in his phaeton."

When she looked up, she found two pairs of eyes fixed on her. Her uncle had even lowered his newspaper to stare at her with surprise.

"Is there a problem?" She asked worriedly.

"Not at all," Lady Hartfield smiled, "I don't think we've just never heard you sound so excited about being in a societal gathering."

"It's not a societal gathering," she argued.

"What's not a societal gathering?" Noah stumbled in, hair standing on end and eyes bleary.

"Good morning," she smirked at him, "Did you get any sleep at all?"

He dropped into the chair beside her with a groan, "I am never going out with Remington again."

His mother scoffed, "We've heard all of that before and yet here you are, looking like something the cat dragged in."

"Not so loud," he winced, burying his head in his hands.

"You should have just stayed in bed," Lavinia pointed out.

"And miss the early morning gossip? Never," he peeked up at her from the spaces between his fingers, "What is this I hear about you thawing out the Dowager duchess? Someone at the club said the both of you were seen walking down the street arm in arm."

"I used to think it was only ladies that were known for gossiping," she shook her head.

"With age comes wisdom," Lord Hartfield teased before picking his paper back up.

"What's not a social gathering?" Noah repeated, fixing a plate for himself.

"A ride through Hyde park in an open carriage," Lavinia replied, marveling at the amount of food he piled onto his plate. If she ate like that, she would have been the size of a horse.

"There's not a more social gathering than that," he replied, "Everybody is going to be gawking at you and calling out greetings from their own carriages. It's almost as bad as a house party."

"Do not discourage her," Lady Hartfield chided, "She is very excited to see him."

Her cheeks heated up as her cousin's head snapped to the side to stare at her, "She is?" Then, "I should not have turned so fast."

"Shall I have Ruben make you some medicine for your head?" His mother asked worriedly.

Lord Hartfield snorted from behind his paper, "Ruben's care may just be worse than the sore head he has."

The young man shuddered dramatically and Lavinia let out a peal of laughter, "You do not have any of my sympathy. By now, you should know your limits and stick to them."

Then she rose to her feet, "Thank you for breakfast, and I wish I could dither, but I must go get ready for my day."

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