Page 12 of A Beauty for a Duke

“He’s the best,” Egan muttered, eyes closed, head resting against the squabs.

As long as Sofie didn’t press him for another biscuit, the rest of the ride should be fine.

And it was.

A few hours later they arrived in Leeds for the convention.

It was about time to stretch his leg, his hand was tensing up from all the rubbing he had done.

Just as Egan was about to grab the handle to let everyone out, Sofie gently laid her hand on his forearm. A shiver ran through his body that he passed off by rounding his shoulder back.

“There’s just one small thing,” Sofie smiled at him.

Oh, heaven above.What more could this woman ask of him?

“Well, it’s a convention for men.”

“And? No women are allowed? What was the plan here? Sneak you in, dressed in male clothing?”

“While that’s not a bad idea,” Sofie tapped the bottom of her heart shaped chin. “I had another plan.”

“Of course you have a plan,” George added encouragingly. “This is Sofie we’re talking about. She wouldn’t have dragged us all out here if she didn’t have a plan.”

George spoke as if he knew the chit.

“It’s really quite simple.” Sofie continued, “They will allow the men’s wives to attend.”

George’s jaw dropped as wide open as Egan’s wanted to, but he remained composed. “So you had plans to hop across the border and snag a duke for a husband for one of you?”

Sofie giggled. “Oh Egan, nothing so brash as that. We justtellthem we’re your wives.”

Why hadn’t he thought of that first? And why had so much air left his lungs? He paid it no mind.

“Right. No one will notice a duke with a new bride.”

“They won’t. I promise. This is a very small convention, and we’ll just sneak in the back. No one will notice us.” He couldn’t help observing her glance at his kilt.

“We’ve come this far, Egan. There’s no harm in the charade.” George was grinning from ear to ear. And Egan knew why. This was the perfect move for George to claim Sofie as his wife and have her on his arm for the evening.

Egan sighed. “Fine. We’re in and out. No stopping. No chatting.”

“That’s the perfect plan, Egan. I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Egan rolled his eyes behind closed lids. Sofie would have said anything at that point since he knew deep down that he was really just stating her plan aloud.

George was on the edge of his seat. His outstretched hand clamped down on Egan’s shoulder. “That’s my boy!”

Things could not get worse if George was quoting Shakespeare.

George opened his mouth to add, “I’ll take–”

When Fia interrupted him. “I’ll be George’s wife.”

George stopped and stared at her with the goofiest grin Egan had ever seen him make.What a bampot!If George thought this ruse would make Sofie jealous, he had another thing coming.

“That makes me your wife, then.” Sofie’s face was a perpetual smile. What did she eat to make her smile so brilliant?”

“Are you ever not smiling?” The question popped out of his mouth without warning.

“Well, there was that one time I injured my ankle. That was a rough week.”

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