Page 38 of Taken By the Duke of Stone

Victor was silent throughout the ride to the Hartfield town house while the Viscount and his sister made idle conversation which they tried and failed to rope him into.

He stepped down from the carriage and made his way to the front door of the Hartfield house. The door was pulled open by the dour faced butler after the first knock.

"Your Grace," he bowed, "if you-"

"Your Grace," Lavinia cut in, rushing into the foyer, still tying her bonnet into a knot under her jaw.

He took his time taking her in. Her cheeks were flushed in excitement and her eyes were bright. He wondered if that flush in her cheeks would be there when he covered her body with his and...

Pushing that thought away, he cleared his throat and then held out his elbow, "My lady, shall we?"

She placed her small hand on his sleeve and together they walked out of the house. Her steps faltered as she caught sight of the other two occupants of the vehicle.

"They insisted," he explained with a wince.

"It's alright. I appreciate the company."

The same couldn't be said about him unfortunately. He scowled at her as he helped her onto the carriage, wondering why he felt irritated that she wasn't more annoyed by their unexpected company.

"My lady, you look lovely, as always," The viscount said with a rakish smirk that made Victor itch to knock out a tooth or two from his mouth.

"My lord," Lavinia nodded a greeting with a smile.

The greeting between her and Georgie was quite stiff to his surprise, the raised eyebrow Lavinia shot him clearly told himthat she too was puzzled by his sister's sudden hostility. He scowled at his sister, regretting allowing her to come along.

"I hope I'm not intruding on any prior plans you had for the day," he turned to face her.

She smiled, "As a matter of fact, I planned to browse through the bookshop for something new."

"We can make a stop along if you wish."

"An entire day is wasted on that endeavor. It is an errand best done by myself. I would hate to bore everyone else out."

"You underestimate yourself," he said frankly, "I could never be bored with you."

He only realized what he had said after the words left his mouth but he didn't regret them when he saw the open pleasure that filled her eyes.

"Then perhaps we may turn it into a future outing?" She asked.

The sun slanted above her, burnishing the ringlets that escaped her bonnet, a brilliant chestnut and the barest hint of copper. He only just realized that her eyes weren't just green, they were a brilliant mix of gold and brown.

Where he had once thought she had completely ordinary features, now he realized how lovely she was. Her beauty was quiet, but it hit like a bullet.

He wanted to kiss her.

He wanted to take that plump lower lip in his and suckle at it.

"Yes," he finally said when he remembered that she had asked a question.

The carriage rambled into Hyde Park and Victor braced himself for the staring and gossiping that awaited them. He wasn't disappointed when a matron and her brood of daughters ducked their heads and began to whisper furiously.

"I'm reconsidering waiting through the bans being read and an elaborate wedding," he bent his head to whisper to her.

"Oh? I'm assuming you have an alternate plan."

"Gretna Green and then to my country seat, never to be seen again."

She giggled, "How scandalous, Your Grace. You would send the dowager Duchess to drink."

---