Page 52 of The Duke's Vice

Beatrice’s stomach dropped as her legs clenched underneath her skirt. The cursed man knew how to get a reaction out of her.

Charlotte nodded in agreement. “He’s right. You should go straight to bed.”

Graham nodded solemnly. “It’s exactly what I would do with her.”

Beatrice and Charlotte both looked at Graham. Charlotte with confusion, Beatrice with derision.

“I mean, if she were in my charge and she appeared to be ill” Graham offered simply. “I would put her to bed to make sure she gets the adequate rest. I think I would even take her books away.” He leaned into Charlotte. “Don’t want her getting too excited.”

Charlotte nodded. “Yes. I think you’re right. She does get too excited when she reads too much.” Charlotte looked to Beatrice. “No reading tonight, love. Straight to bed.”

Graham smiled victoriously. “I hear most of what young women read is rubbish. Giving them unfortunate ideas that have no ground in reality. I’ve often found living life and experiencing all it has to offer is much more beneficial.”

Charlotte agreed as she waved to an attendant.

Beatrice rolled her lips. If she could she would smack that smarmy smile off his face. With Charlotte’s focus on the attendant Graham winked at Beatrice. For as much as she wanted this conversation to be over she had to acknowledge his ability to think quickly on his feet with his words was interesting.

Intelligence was always something she considered when deciding if someone was worth her time or not.

And while he irritated her to no end, she was finding more reasons to want to be in his company than not. If she wasn’t careful she might accidentally develop true feelings for him and where would that leave her future?

“Your Grace,” an attendant interrupted. “Your carriage is ready.”

Charlotte thanked the attendant before returning her attention to the Duke, “Thank you for your help. Your Grace. I hope you enjoy the rest of the show.”

Graham’s eyes landed on Beatrice as he frowned. “Doubtful. The first act was phenomenal, I’m not sure the second act could possibly top it.”

Beatrice’s didn’t think her eyes could get any bigger as she pulled her mother. “Come, Mama. I need to get home.”

Graham dipped his head. “Rest up, Lady Beatrice.”

Beatrice couldn’t help but take his parting words as a threat, and a delicious one at that.

CHAPTER 14

Beatrice sat back and looked at her list.

1. Kiss a stranger

2. Recreate the “opera scene”

3. See the Wild Side of London

4. Be intimate.

5. Gamble/drink

6. Fall in love

A thrill of excitement rushed through her. If someone would have told her just a few months ago she would be so close to finishing her list she would have laughed. But here, in just a few short weeks, she had already officially crossed off three items.

Her eyes hovered on the sixth item as she chewed her bottom lip. She was steadfast in her belief that the life of a spinster was calling her, but damn that man for confusing her.

She rested her elbows on her desk and she rubbed her temples. She couldn’t deny how exhilarating it was to be in the Duke’s company while she discovered the more stimulating side of life, but she couldn’t possibly consider married life. Could she?

She closed her eyes. Her earliest memory of the marriage mart was watching in disgust as young women were paraded in front of the men in the hopes that one would ask her to dance. Her young mind likened it to pigs being led to slaughter. Which, consequently, was the first time her mother questioned what books she was reading.

From then on it was a constant struggle between the life her mother wanted for her and the life she envisioned for herself. But could there be a part of her mother’s wish that was acceptable? Would it be terrible if she found someone who would not only allow her to experience all that life has to offer, but would want her to do so with freedom? Or, better yet, who would want to experience them with her?

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