Page 137 of The Good Duke
While his sisters proceeded to quarrel, Lord Milford-Haven folded his arms loosely at his chest and returned all his attention to Persephone.
“Instructing my sisters on the art of warfare are you, Miss Forsyth?” he drawled.
“Given they are young ladies, and the world is filled with iniquitous rogues, and Lady Henriettaisabout to have her debut, it seemed like the very best place to begin,” she murmured.
“Mybrotheris a rogue,” Issy piped in.
Color splotched the gentleman’s cheek. “I amnota rogue.”
Persephone caught the warning look he shot to the younger, more innocent of her charges.
Issy scrunched her face up in adorable confusion. “Mothersays you are.”
Henrietta sighed. “A rake,” she corrected, like one imparting sage wisdom. “Mother and Father refer to Silas as arake.”
This time, Persephone couldn’t hide her smile entirely.
When quarreling recommenced, the earl resumed speaking to Persephone. “I’m not, you know,” he said. “A rake, that is. Or a rogue, for that matter.”
“Actually, I donotknow, my lord,” Persephone demurred. Be that as it may, shehighlydoubted the veracity of his claim.
Lord Milford-Haven frowned.
“Well, I’mnot,” he insisted like a petulant child.
Persephone looked squarely at him, sure of the lie he told.
“Very well,” he murmured, sliding closer. “Iwasa rogue.”
“And you’re no longer one now?” Persephone pretended to be unaffected by his efforts at charming her and let her hilarity shine through for the future marquess to see.
“You have reformed me, Miss Forsyth,” he avowed with a husk to his voice.
She snorted. “I will be sure to add that to my resume for future posts—reformer of rakes.”
As soon as the words slipped out, a burning heat flooded Persephone’s face. “I did not mean…that is…what I meant to…”
Lord Milford-Haven placed a fingertip against her lips and quelled the flow of her words. His touch left her warm all over.
“You did not mean to suggest you’ll reform me?” he asked quietly.
“N-No,” she said, her voice whispery soft.
“That is a shame.” He leaned close. “I would like that very much, Miss Forsyth. In fact, I believe you are just the woman to do it.”
An electric charge, like the kind before a lightning strike, passed between them.
Henrietta’s aggrieved exclamation shattered the moment. “Would youleavealready, Silas?”
Persephone and the earl jumped apart.
Lord Milford-Haven grinned. “Do you know, I don’t think I will, poppet.” He gently flicked the tip of his sister’s nose, and she immediately swatted his hand away from her person.
Persephone watched on warily.
The ease with which the charming gentleman’s expression went from smoldering to playful and unaffected was testament to his status of dashing rogue. And she hated that her heart should race so dangerously because of him.
As if he’d sensed her disquiet, he shifted his focus back to Persephone, his gaze cold sober.
