Page 23 of His Forbidden Duchess
“I understand,” Eloise replied softly. “I just need his help with Mortcombe. That is all.”
“Oh yes. Why are you so intent on charming him? He is hardly the catch of the season.”
Eloise sighed, knowing her friend could never understand. “Hannah, it is not just about his charm. He has wealth, and I need to secure a future for my family. I would have thought you knew my true intentions.”
“But what about Jeremy?” Hannah pressed, her brow furrowing. “He is your brother. I thought he was coming to help?”
Eloise hesitated as her worries nearly spilled out. She wanted to explain everything—the creditor, the looming threat of losing their home—but held herself back by a thread.
“Jeremy has his own life to lead,” she finally said, her voice steady. “He is far away, and although he has promised to help, I cannot continue to burden him with our problems, and it will take so long for him to return. I need to deal with this myself if I am able.”
Hannah frowned again, sensing the resolve in her friend’s tone. “I just do not want you to get hurt in the process. Lord Mortcombe is not worth the risk if it means that you will be compromised.”
Eloise shook her head, determination sharpening her features. “He is not so bad, and I will not compromise myself. I just need to play the game, and if that means using my wits to charm someone like Mortcombe, then so be it. I owe it to my mother to try.”
Hannah sighed, still unconvinced. “I just hope you know what you are doing. It is a dangerous game.”
“I do, and I know, but I promise to exercise caution,” Eloise replied though a flicker of doubt crept in. “Right now, I cannot afford to think about anything else.”
She locked arms with Hannah, pulling herself closer to her friend, who immediately understood that Eloise no longer wanted to talk about it.
“Did I tell you about the latest book I am reading?” Hannah asked sweetly.
“No, do tell,” Eloise smiled gratefully as the two ladies started talking about their favorite topic in the world.
Chapter Ten
“Your luck is running thin tonight, old boy,” Percy chuckled, swiping up his winnings with a flourish.
Felix slouched in his chair, holding a half-empty glass of brandy in his hand. Across from him, Percy grinned as he tossed a handful of coins onto the table, his carefree demeanor a sharp contrast to Felix’s brooding mood. The gaming hell, their usual haunt, was not as entertaining that evening.
Felix barely registered the taunt, his mind swirling elsewhere. He had not been able to shake the image of Eloise from his thoughts, not since that moment earlier in the day when she had delicately popped that sweet between her lips, her gaze darting to his as if she knew exactly what effect she had on him.
The sight of her mouth, so innocent yet so sensual, had been tormenting him ever since. He took another sip of his drink, but it did little to quench the fire in his belly.
Surely it is only because I have abstained for so long. Nothing to do with Eloise at all.
“Good evening, gentlemen,” a soft voice purred, breaking into his thoughts.
Felix glanced up to see a pair of women approaching, dressed in provocative gowns, their eyes glinting with intention. The one with dark curls tumbling over her bare shoulders leaned close to him, her hand resting lightly on the back of his chair.
The scent of jasmine wafted from her skin as she whispered, “Care for some company tonight?”
Percy, already halfway to merry drunkenness, welcomed the second woman with open arms, pulling her onto his lap as he laughed. But Felix barely acknowledged the one hovering beside him. His mind was a thousand miles away—or rather, a mere few streets away where Eloise likely sat in her mother’s drawing room, reading or embroidering by the fire, blissfully unaware of the turmoil she had caused.
The woman by his side trailed her fingers along his arm, but Felix’s body didn’t react. His desire was tied to someone else—someone who wasn’t here, someone he could not have. He could feel his frustration mounting, the need for release gnawing at him, but no matter how much he wanted to quiet the storm inside, the woman before him wasn’t the one who could accomplish it.
All he could see was Eloise. The way she had smiled at him earlier, that sweet melting on her tongue after her lips had curved around it. The image had seared itself into his mind, haunting him with its unspoken promises.
He imagined those lips upon him, her tongue working its magic across his body. He cleared his throat and adjusted his breeches, thinking of Eloise’s pert behind perched on his lap as she languidly kissed his neck, her hands tracing over his body.
How had she managed to undo him with something so simple? He cursed under his breath, shifting in his seat, trying to clear his thoughts, but his efforts were of no use.
The woman leaned in closer, her breath hot against his ear. “What is the matter, love? You seem distracted. I do hope I am not too much for you.”
He inhaled deeply, turning to her and applying whatever was left of his conscious effort that had not been clouded by the drink inside of him. “I am here,” he grinned. “It has simply been a long day.”
He knew what he had to do to get Eloise off his mind. He had to allow himself that pleasure again, bet or no bet. How would she find out, anyhow?
