Page 7 of Her Wicked Duke
This was Anne’s home, yet he made her feel strange in the stillness and quietness of it as if they shared a secret and she needed to sneak into her own home. A candle was lit in the window, illuminating the stark lines of Alexander’s face.
For a second, Anne let herself gaze at him, remembering her brother’s handsome friend who had spent many Christmases with them. He had disappeared without a word to anyone in the family but Christian.
Anne had always harbored a silly, little affection for him, finding his reserved nature and elusiveness alluring. She had never breathed a word about her brother’s handsome friend, who had often joined their table for Christmas, who had kept her secrets when she snuck around the manor.
And here he was, sneaking around with her after all these years.
When he caught her looking, he scowled and leaned in to blow out the candle. Then, he pointed out the window. Anne was more focused on ensuring that no servants passed them, or that—Heaven forbid—her father didn’t see them.
Alexander gently held her chin, but she pulled away, glaring at him. Still, the feel of his fingertips on her skin sent shivers through her.
They were huddled together, and with Alexander having blown out the candle, they would not be seen up here either.
“There is your beloved Earl of Satton.”
“He is not my beloved. I…” Anne trailed off when she finally followed Alexander’s gaze.
In the gardens, just beyond the terrace where Anne had intended to follow him, concealed by the night shadows, was the Earl himself, pressing a lady up against the manor’s wall. His head was buried in her chest, his hands gripping her waist and bunching her skirts in his hands without exposing her legs. Herhead was thrown back against the wall, her eyes closed and her lips parted in pleasure.
Anne’s eyes widened at the scandalous scene—until she noticed that there was a second lady pressed against the Earl’s side, her hands sliding down his shirt, her face hidden in his neck.
Anne was at a loss for words. She could not look away, yet she did not want to witness it. She was not in love with the Earl, by any means, but she had thought they had forged a connection the last Season.
And she had been foolish enough to think she might follow him outside for a meager kiss when his plans had included ravishing two ladies at the same time. Suddenly, she was angry and grateful that the Duke had prevented her from going out. She could have made a fool of herself!
She stepped away from the window, swearing she could hear a faint noise of pleasure coming from the gardens. When she looked out the window again, the Earl had one of the lady’s skirts pushed up, and he rocked against her in a way that made Anne jealous that she was not able to experience these sorts of things. It made her sick with envy, even if she had not intended to meet him for that sort of scandalous act. Compared to that, her girlish hopes for a stolen kiss made her feel foolish.
Humiliation spread through her chest.
“Come,” Alexander said, pulling her away from the window as the Earl’s hips moved faster and the lady clung onto him. Hisother hand was gripping the other lady’s breast, and he was kissing her deeply.
Of course, why would the Earl have one singular, simpleAnnewhen he had two women practically undressed for him?
“Why?” Anne mumbled when Alexander tugged on her hand. “Why would you make me witness that? Just so you can show me something else to humiliate me? Well, congratulations, if that was your wish!”
“Humiliate you? You accused me of spreading idle gossip and insisted that he was a respectable man! I proved you otherwise. Now, I am trying to protect you and stop you from watching that go any further—which, I assure you, it will.”
Anne could not find the words. She wished to hurl nasty insults at him, to demand he leave her home at once, but she knew it was her shame talking.
Glumly, she slumped deeper into the shadows, away from the window. “You must enjoy humiliating people, Alexander,” she said miserably. “Truly, does it make you happy? Because surely you would want to belittle me by letting me watch the man I intended to meet pleasure other women. Do you not understand how ashamed that makes me feel? I do not remember that about you. You were quiet and curt at times, but I seem to recall you not enjoying the shame of others.”
“As I said, I am not a dangerous man to those I consider friends.”
Anne glared up at him. “Well, consider usnotfriends.” She collected herself, feigning confidence again. “Perhaps I am interested in an affair with the Earl. Perhaps I wish to be one of those women.”
At that, Alexander’s eyes darkened, and she swore a quiet growl escaped his throat. His shoulders stiffened, his gaze heavy and intense. “I wouldneverallow you to do that, Anne.”
Her heartbeat quickened as he drew closer to her. Would he back her up against the wall like he had done in the study? She forced herself to stay as still as possible, to steady her breathing, and to compose herself. Her eyes flicked over his face, tight with anger and something else.
“Who are you to not allow me to do things?” she teased softly, cocking her head as if challenging him. “You are merely my brother’s best friend and nothing to me.” At that, Alexander looked furious, barely stopping himself from lashing out. “I will remind you once again, and for the last time, Alexander, that you have no right.”
He stepped back then as if the fight and persistence had drained from him. He glanced to the side as if considering what to do with her next. She wished she could just return to the ball with her friends, maybe turn what she had seen into some sort of joke, but then she would risk the Earl being caught up in the ton’s gossip.
The early spring draft blew through the windows, and she shivered. At least, she told herself, it was the draft, and not due to the way the Duke was looking at her.
“I know I have no right.” Alexander sighed, eventually, straightening his jacket. “However, I will not see you ruin yourself because of a man who forgets about you the moment he turns his head and sees another pretty face!”
Distractedly, Anne considered that the Duke had said another pretty face, assuming the Earl would find her pretty. Did Alexander find her pretty?
