Page 37 of Taken By the Duke of Stone

Her cousin narrowed his eyes at her, "I cannot believe it. She's positively glowing! I used to think the Duke was such a stick in the mud but I have changed my mind. If Lavvie can find his presence tolerable, he must be swell."

She rolled her eyes at him, refusing to confirm or deny.

"Young love," she heard her aunt sigh wistfully before she went out of earshot.

She couldn't help but wonder if she was really just fooling everyone into thinking she felt something for the Duke...or if she wasn't.

"May I come along?" Georgie batted her eyelashes at him as he made his way to the foyer.

The Duke propped his hat up on his head and raised his brows at her in surprise, "You may not."

Her sudden interest in wanting to join him was suspicious and he wondered what her ploy was.

"Do you need extra money?" He scowled at her, "You cannot just spend all your allowance in a matter of days, Georgie. You must learn some discipline."

She rolled her eyes, "It's not about my allowance. I do not want to stay at home all day and I have no suitors coming to call on me."

"It is entirely your fault that you do not."

She gaped at him, "You called them all fortune hunters!"

"And you told Lord Marksen that he is starting to resemble the horses he breeds. Honestly, Georgie, you are going to find yourself firmly on the shelf and Mother is going to blame me for it."

"Have you seen him laugh? The resemblance is uncanny," she retorted, "And I shall not end up on the shelf. A ride through the park will offer me opportunities to scout for decent gentlemen."

His eyes narrowed and he tried to keep his voice even when he said, "and how are you to know they are decent? From the way they handle their horses or their conveyances? You're not coming with me, forget about it."

He continued on his way to the front door. To his surprise, he pulled it open to find Patrick standing there.

"Are you leaving?" he asked.

"He's going for a ride with Miss Proctor," his sister piped up behind him. "And he will not let me come along. My brother is being quite greedy with his betrothed's attention."

"That so, chap?" the Viscount smirked, "I never thought I'd see the day."

He shot his sister a quelling glare over his shoulder, "what is that supposed to mean?"

"How about we both come along? That way I can keep Georgie occupied while you are busy with Miss Proctor," Patrick suggested.

The Duke bought time by adjusting his dark green jacket. In truth, he didn't want either of them to come along because he planned to discuss some marriage terms with her after what his mother had told him about her run in with them the other day.

He supposed they could have the discussion at a later date, "all right, you may both come along."

Victor ordered the footmen to switch the phaeton for a barouche and climbed onto the vehicle.

"Are you taking a fancy to the chit?" Patrick asked as soon as he climbed on.

Victor jerked, surprised by the blunt question, "what the bloody hell are you on about?"

"Georgie was right when she said you don't want to share Miss Proctor's attention. Like the other night when-"

"I'm this close to tossing you over and riding off without you," he said through clenched jaw. "She's different from the other wax figure debutantes and that is as good enough reason as any to marry her."

"Hmmm."

He was about to ask what exactly that sound meant but his sister's footsteps against the cobblestone made him snap his mouth shut.

Of course he didn't fancy Lavinia. She was just a means to an end for him. He needed a duchess to get his mother off his back and she was as good as any. That was all there was to it.

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