Page 45 of The Trouble With Her Duke
“Oh, yes.”
“We got off track.” He pulled her back into his arms. “Because of the kissing.”
“Oh,” she said again as his lips captured hers once more. Lydia’s head was spinning. I just kissed Damon—the Duke of Danforth—my employer—three times in a row! I shouldn’t be doing this but I can’t seem to stop myself. I want more of his kisses. I want more of this. I want more of him. Lady Withers accused me of having an improper relationship with the duke, which made no sense at the time. She couldn’t have known—not when I didn’t even know. Exhaling, she placed her hands on his chest and stepped back. “Lady Withers recognized me in the modiste’s and accused me of stealing you from her.”
Damon frowned. “That’s preposterous. There’s nothing to steal. I am not in a relationship with Lady Withers. And besides, we didn’t plan this,” he said, anger flushing his face.
“I never responded to her rant. However, the children recognized her from the other day. The modiste removed her from the premises, but she followed us to Ivy’s Restaurant, where we ran into the Golden Duchesses. The Duchess of Glanville made her leave.
His angry expression turned to one of disbelief. “Aunt Rosalind made her leave? I’ve never seen her get annoyed at anyone.”
“It was truly something to see. The duchess literally backed Lady Withers out of the restaurant.” Lydia smiled. “We were all agape. She pointed to the door, and after a brief exchange, Lady Withers left. Your aunt can be quite fierce when someone threatens her family.”
“Good to know,” he said, smiling.
God! The dimple is back. How can I resist him? Lydia’s face heated, and she looked away, wrestling with her thoughts. “There’s something else—it’s about Lady Withers.”
“Tell me all of it. The woman is a lunatic.”
“She’s not pregnant. Her stomach’s as flat as mine.” Lydia’s face flamed even more. Oh, Lord! I can’t believe I mentioned my stomach to the Duke of Danforth. “At the modiste’s, I saw her pestering a poor seamstress, demanding that her gowns be let out to accommodate her pillows. She was wearing her shift at the time, and she was clearly not pregnant.”
Damon threw back his head and laughed. “Thank you for telling me, Lydia. I should have realized what that woman was capable of.” He shook his head. “I cannot believe we’re discussing my former mistress after I kissed you three times in a row.” Damon lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “I’m not sorry I kissed you, Lydia.”
“I’m not sorry, either, but I won’t be a mistress to anyone,” she whispered.
“Lydia, I would never suggest such a thing. Promise me you won’t leave and will give us time to sort out our feelings.”
Damon leaned down and gently brushed her lips with his. “Promise me.”
“Yes, I promise.” She nodded. “We should return.”
They walked to the house in silence, although Damon’s nearness sent Lydia’s thoughts into a tangle of emotions as she thought about their heated kisses, caresses, and his rich woodsy scent. Not to mention his reaction about Lady Withers. He wanted them to sort out their feelings. How in the world am I supposed to do that? Until minutes ago, those things had been unimaginable.
Chapter 16
Damon rode Hero to Bath, urgently needing to speak with Carlton. What had he done? Securing Hero with a stableboy across the street from the club, Damon took the steps to the club two at a time and handed his coat to a footman.
“Your Grace, Lord Richmond has not returned.”
“Quite fine. I’ll wait for him,” Damon said. “Tell him I’m in his office.”
“Your Grace, the Duke of Richmond left last week with instructions he could be gone two weeks.”
Impossible. Richmond hates leaving his business to others. “When did you say he left?”
“A week ago.”
“Did he say where he was off to?” Damon couldn’t recall a time Carlton hadn’t been there when he needed him. And he needed him now.
“He didn’t say.”
Carlton’s perfectly trained staff wouldn’t tell him if they knew. “Tell him to contact me when he returns,” Damon said. He retrieved his mount and trotted out of town. “You know what’s ailing me, Hero. You watched it happen. Why didn’t you stop me?”
The horse nickered and tossed his head about.
“All right. You like her—as do I. What do we do about it? I don’t want to walk away from someone who could be perfect for me. . . but the children need an excellent governess. They don’t have a mother.”
The horse neighed and shook his head side to side.”
