Page 103 of His Grace, the Duke
“Anything would be better than this.” He placed the glass back in her hand, his fingers stroking along hers. “Will I be expected to dance tonight?”
“Only if you wish to,” she replied. “There will be some dancing later. Only a few songs to close out the evening.”
Before he could reply, James appeared at his shoulder.
Rosalie felt her heart squeeze tight. She didn’t want him to feel guilty about what happened between them last night. She didn’t want there to be any regrets. But now he was here, so close she could touch him. She remembered every kiss from his lips, every exquisite touch, his breath warm against her skin, his fingers buried deep.
Heavens, get ahold of yourself.
These men were murder for her self-control.
“Burke, I need you,” he said without ceremony, without even a nod in her direction. That helped calm her fires. It all but put them out completely.
“What for?” Burke replied with a frown.
“Quentin is here. He has some papers that need signing and I need a witness.”
“What... now? This is a party, James.” He gestured around at the festive atmosphere. “Surely it can wait until morning.”
James’ eye darted to Rosalie and then back to Burke. “No... it can’t. Come now.”
Burke set his glass down behind Rosalie on the sideboard. It was an excuse to lean in and run his hand along her back. “This won’t take long,” he murmured, moving away to follow James.
Rosalie watched them leave, their faces pressed close as they spoke quietly.
“Well, you certainly work fast, don’t you,” said a haughty voice, dripping with disdain.
Rosalie stiffened. She didn’t need to turn around to know who she would find standing behind her. The ghoul in the lavender dress had her cornered.
48
Rosalie
Rosalie took inthe porcelain features of Marianne Young. The lady was alone this time. Apparently, she didn’t want or need accomplices to drag her claws down Rosalie’s back. “Good evening, Mrs. Young,” she said with a tight smile. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
Marianne just pursed her lips. “I take no pleasure in your company, Miss Harrow. I only come to issue you a warning.”
“And what might that be?”
The lady inched closer. “Be careful. Thetondoes not take kindly to grasping social climbers on the best of days... but a licentious harlot who merely wears the trappings of a social climber? They will obliterate you. There will not be a respectable house in England where you may take your tea.”
“Heavens, you certainly have a very low opinion of me. I can only assure you that it is not deserved.”
The lady snarled. “You think I have not watched you tonight? You flit about like a horrible little butterfly. Every man is a flower to you. First this great lord, then that one. I know you warm the duke’s bed. I saw you in the garden just now.Those brazen sensual touches... and his fiancée stood mere steps away. You disgust me!”
“Sensual... what?” Rosalie’s mind whirred. Oh gracious, did the lady consider a tug of the ear a sensual touch? “Mrs. Young, you mistook what you saw—”
“Don’t tell me what I saw!”
“You saw the bickering of two friends who are as brother and sister. Ask the duke yourself, and I promise you he will be horrified to hear the words ‘sensual’ and ‘Miss Harrow’ spoken aloud in the same sentence—”
“And what excuse will you weave for your conduct with Mr. Burke? His behavior at least can be explained. I have never expected any better from his type,” she said with a haughty sniff.
Rosalie felt a protective surge of rage coiling in her gut. “Mr. Burke is a dear friend. A better man, I do not know. He is worth a thousand ofyourtype.”
“If you care so much for the man, then why don’t you marry him?” Marianne cried. “Or the duke? Or Lord James? Or any of the other men clearly under your harlot’s thrall? Why do you continue to dangle Tom so cruelly?”
It all circled back to Tom.
