Helena rolled back her shoulders, then forced her body forward, her limbs moving jerkily as though she were a marionette. When she reached the bed, she knelt, bringing herself even with the Duke of Mansfield.
Her gaze slid down his body, searching his deep blue waistcoat for a flash of the gold fob. When she spied the piece, she whipped her hand out and grabbed the chain but couldn’t detach the fob. Gritting her teeth, she added a second hand, wrestling with the clasp.
The fob popped off, and she tumbled backward, landing hard on the floor.
Sitting up, the Duke of Mansfield opened his eyes again.
“Hello?” he slurred.
Holding her breath, Helena froze, staring at the carved ceiling. Her hand tightened around the chain, crushing the links into her palm.
How would she explain why she was in his chamber?
With a grunt, the Duke of Mansfield fell back and expelled a loud snore.
Quickly, Helena removed the watch from the chain, discarding the timepiece on the floor, then crawled across the floor on her stomach, using her arms and feet to propel herself forward. When she reached the exit, she stood, ripped open the door, and dashed out of the room. As soon as the door closed, she exhaled a nervous giggle.
Intending to enter the Duke of Warwick and the Duke of Beaufort’s chamber next, Helena turned to her left. However, when she reached the entrance, a strange shuffling sound, accompanied by a muted thump, crawled from beneath the door.
The Duke of Warwick was awake!
With a squeak, Helena darted across the corridor to the Duke of Lennox’s chamber and snuck into the room just as the Duke of Warwick opened his door.
Peering through the space between the doorframe and the door, Helena held her breath as the Duke of Warwick limped toward the staircase. When he reached the steps, he grasped the handrail, his fingers tightening around the bar, and descended the stairs in a slow thumping movement. Several moments later, his cane echoed in the downstairs hallway, heading toward the library.
She exhaled, closing the door, spun around, and swallowed a gasp. Unlike the Duke of Mansfield, the Duke of Lennox had chosen to remove all his clothing, leaving the pieces strewn across the floor.
Her stomach clenched as her gaze slid over the thick hair adorning his chest, which softly rose and fell in a hypnotic rhythm. Licking her lips, Helena edged toward the bed and a small table beside it, upon which glistened the Duke of Lennox’s gold chain as well as a ruby ring encircled with diamonds and his watch. She hesitated, her gaze flicking toward the Duke of Lennox.
He had offered the piece to her…
However, when her hand whipped out to grab the chain, it also closed around the ruby ring, snatching both items. She turned toward the door before she could change her mind and took one step.
“Miss Rowe.”
Helena froze, her eyes widening. He’d seen her.
She spun around, an apology forming on her lips, but the Duke of Lennox was asleep.
“Miss Rowe,” he said again, adding a sigh.
“Your Grace,” she replied, unsure what to do.
Before she could react, he reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled. Surprised by his sudden movement, she lost her balance, sprawling atop of him. One hand cupping the back of her head and digging into her hair, he brought his mouth to hers, sending a burst of flames flying through her body.
Unable to stop herself, she moaned, her lips parting, and he thrust his tongue forward, drawing a second, louder moan from Helena.
The Duke of Lennox’s eyes opened.
CHAPTER TEN
LEVI OVERTON, DUKE OF LENNOX
She tasted of sweet berries, the kind that ripens in summer and bursts the moment the fruit is placed upon the tongue, and he craved more. He deepened the kiss, drawing the most delightful mewling sound from Miss Rowe?—
“Lennox!” The Duke of Roxburghe pounded on the door, dragging Levi from his erotic dream. “I’m starving.”
A myriad of abuses filtered through Levi’s mind as the image of Miss Rowe faded. He crawled from his bed, snagged his linen shirt from the floor, and jerked the material over his head.
