Page 8 of My Demanding Duke

“Very good,” the viscountess gave a beaming smile, delighted by her victory, “Miss Mosley and I will be attending a ball at Lord and Lady Colridge’s this evening; you shall meet us there. Anna, has Mrs Delacroix sent across any of your new gowns? You’ll need something breathtaking for the occasion.”

“Actually, my lady - ” Josie began, but Anna cut her off quickly - she could not bear the humiliation of Falconbridge learning just how impoverished she was.

“I shall endeavour to look my best,” Anna said firmly.

From the corner of her eye, she caught the duke glancing suspiciously between herself and Josie, but she brazened it out with a placid smile.

“Now that that’s settled,” the viscountess said, with a contented sigh, “Shall we call for tea?”

“I am afraid that I cannot stay,” the duke answered, “I have a few matters to attend to. Might I steal a moment alone with Miss Mosley before I go?”

“I suppose I can permit it as you are engaged.” Lady Limehouse answered, her tone knowing, “Though, only a moment and the door shall remain ajar. Come, Josephine, we shall give our young couple a moment’s privacy.”

Anna watched nervously as the pair swept from the room, leaving her alone with the duke. She felt rather like a chicken in a hen-house, left to defend herself against a fox.

Indeed, Falconbridge’s gaze was rather predatory as he watched her from across the room.

“Why?” she asked, breaking the silence. It was the question which had plagued her, since she had heard the news. They had met only for a fleeting moment; not long enough, in Anna’s mind, to decide upon marriage.

“I desired you,” the duke shrugged, “I set out to learn who you were, and when it came to my attention that your safety could not be assured, I decided to assure it.”

“And the only way you could do that was by winning me at a card game?” Anna countered, aggrieved by his self-satisfied tone.

“I thought it might aptly demonstrate to you just how precarious your life is when you place your safety into the care of a man like your father.”

Though Anna had been thinking it for years, it still smarted to hear her father maligned by another. He had not always been so foolish; it was only after her mother’s death that his gambling had spiralled out of control. Once, he had been a good man, though those days were long past.

“What will happen to him?” Anna asked, lifting her eyes to meet his.

“I will settle his debts,” Falconbridge answered, with a careless wave of his hand, “Though, he will not be given the chance to incur any further ones. I will make it clear to him that he will be saved from the debtor’s prison only once.”

She nodded, quietly. Manners dictated that she should express some thanks for his generosity, but as his offer was not entirely magnanimous, she remained silent.

“I shall send some of my men out in search of him,” Falconbridge continued, mistaking her silence for worry, “I am certain he is nursing a sore head, in some tavern or other.”

“As you wish, your Grace,” she replied dispassionately. Her earlier worry for her father had dissipated upon learning just how he had spent the previous night. His carelessness for her hurt in a way that Anna had not realised was possible.

“You need not address me so formally, now we are engaged,” the duke observed, his blue eyes still watching her closely, “In private, you may refer to me as Hugh, if you wish.”

“There are a few other choice names I would like to call you,” Anna commented, unable to stop herself.

To her surprise, the duke let out an appreciative laugh - a rich, warm, almost melodious sound.

“I can’t say that I blame you,” he said, with what appeared to be a smile, “But I will make it up to you, Anna, you’ll see.”

To convey the sincerity of his words, Falconbridge closed the gap between them and reached out to take her hand in his. Despite her dislike of the man, Anna could not deny how attractive she found him and how her body reacted to his touch.

“I can offer you a world of wealth and pleasure,” he continued, as he lifted her hand to his lips, “You just have to let me.”

As his lips connected with her bare skin, a shiver ran through her. A giddy feeling blossomed, deep in her belly, filling Anna with an unfamiliar longing. It must have shown in her eyes, for when Falconbridge let go of her hand, he wore that familiar self-satisfied smile.

“Until this evening, Anna,” he said before offering her a curt bow and taking his leave.

As the door closed behind him, Anna slumped down onto the velvetchaise-longue, her head dizzy and her heart racing.

Arrogant man, she thought mutinously, as she tried to distract herself from her longing. Not only had Falconbridge taken her hand in marriage without her permission, but he had assumed the right to call her by her given name without first asking her.

“Well, how did it go?” Lady Limehouse called as she returned to the drawing room.

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