Page 27 of His Forbidden Duchess
Felix clenched his jaw at yet another mention of Mortcombe, his hand flexing at his side.
The thought of that pompous fool being anywhere near Eloise was infuriating. Mortcombe didn’t deserve her. He could not possibly see the real Eloise when all he ever looked at was himself.
Not that I want her for myself.
Felix forced himself to ease the tension in his posture. Eloise was playing her part as she always did. She was bound by duty, trapped by her family’s debt. He could not blame her for that.
But I can give her a choice.
“You will see him at the ball next week,” Felix said smoothly, the hint of a smile returning to his lips. “I could help you prepare.”
Eloise glanced at him, confused. “Prepare?”
“I could give you dance lessons,” Felix offered, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
She raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “I know how to dance.”
“Not like this,” he countered, stepping closer. “I will teach you how to dance to lure him in.”
Her brow furrowed. “And how is that different from regular dancing?”
“Verydifferent,” he said, his voice dropping suggestively.
Eloise hesitated, her curiosity piqued, but her innate caution kept her watchful. “And what exactly do you mean by that?” she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.
Felix smirked, leaning in slightly as he spoke. “Do you have a trusted maid?”
Eloise blinked at the sudden change in direction. “Why do you ask?”
“You will need one to cover for you,” Felix explained smoothly, lowering his voice to a complete whisper. “Come to my house tomorrow night. Alone.”
Her eyes widened at his boldness, and Felix could see the uncertainty cross her face like a shadow. She hesitated, clearly torn. “Are you mad?”
“No,” he smiled. “Trust me.”
“Ihavebeen trusting you,” she frowned. “It has not helped me much thus far.”
“Just listen to me and come,” he urged.
“What if someone sees me?”
“No one will,” Felix reassured her, his voice confident. “I will send a carriage for you after midnight. You will be in and out before anyone knows you were gone.”
She bit her lip, weighing the risk.
“I… I am not sure,” she said, shaking her head.
“I will send the carriage,” he said softly. “You want to win, don’t you?”
The moment he uttered that sentence, fire blazed in her eyes. Heavens, she was so vibrant, like the sun itself.
“Of course I do,” she simply replied, and he smirked.
The crunch of footsteps on the gravel made Eloise jump, and Felix glanced behind him.
“There you are, Eloise,” Lady Danridge said. “I have been looking for you everywhere. You will never guess what Lord Burley just said to me. I swear the man is an utter fool. Oh! Did you try the sugarplums? They are quite delicious.”
While Eloise forced a smile at her mother’s blathering, Felix barely heard her. His mind was already on tomorrow night, and the thought of Eloise alone with him in his house made his pulse quicken.
