Page 25 of A Virgin for the Duke of Depravity
“Absolutelynot,” Leo said, appalled by the suggestion.
He barely knew her, and she would soon take her vows. It would be best to stop this train of thought right now.
“You do not think she is pretty enough?”
“She is alright,” Leo muttered.
“Maybe she doesn’t like you back,” Annie said. “Women don’t like beasts.”
Leo ran a hand down his face and tried not to think about who might have told his nieces that he was a beast. Not only would they not truly understand what that meant, but they would not understand the reasons he could not marry Margaret.
“Are you not a little young to take an interest in such matters?” he said instead, hoping that they would scatter at the mention of their age.
“We have less than ten years until our coming out ball. We must be prepared,” Kitty said.
Annie nodded beside her. “Though we prefer climbing trees to dancing. Could we climb trees when we are older, Uncle?”
“You should not climb treesnow,” he said pointedly, looking at the tears in Annie’s dress. “It is not proper for young ladies of your station to frolic around as you do.”
The girls giggled, but eventually they left. They raced outside, and he knew he would have to ask the servants to hunt them down later. They would, no doubt, be climbing the trees in the orangery.
At least he had an idea where they would be this time. He could not imagine Margaret being interested in helping him find them, not after that kiss.
He wanted so much more from her. How easily he could have removed her robe and walked her to the bed in her chambers.
He was right when he told Aaron that he wanted to break her.
Leo took another sip of his whiskey and felt the burn run down his throat. Just one kiss was threatening to breakhim.
CHAPTER 9
Leo and Aaron had stayed up late last night, drinking whiskey. Leo would have done anything to drown out the memory of his body pressed against Margaret’s in her chambers. He did not tell his friend what had transpired, but he was certain that Aaron knew his intentions toward Margaret were not pure.
When he woke up in the morning, it was with a headache from the drink. He splashed his face with cool water, trying to force his eyes open. He dried off with a towel, a reminder of the robe wrapped around Margaret’s body.
Enough.
He could not continue to think of the little nun that way. She was to take her vows, and he was here to protect her from whatever she was running from. There was nothing else to be done, nothing else that he could do to her without jeopardizing her virtue.
Leo donned his usual black attire and fastened his pants. With a sigh, he left his chambers to meet his guests for breakfast. He walked past the door to Margaret’s chambers but did not knock to offer to escort her to the morning meal. Chances were, she was already there with Theresa.
When he entered the breakfast room, Theresa and Aaron were just taking their seats. They both had empty plates in front of them, the meal laid out in the center of the polished table. Theresa scanned it for sweets; she had a fondness for them, and he had asked the cooks to make something special for her.
“Too much to drink last night?” Aaron asked when he saw Leo wince in the sunlight.
“What gave it away?” Leo looked down, wondering if he looked as haggard as he felt.
His clothes might not have been fashionable in color or cut, but he was neatly dressed. There should have been nothing to hint at his discomfort.
“The frown on your face, my friend,” Aaron laughed. “You look like you could use a few more hours of sleep.”
“I was hopeful that the bacon would help,” Leo countered.
He took his seat at the head of the table and began to pile his plate with eggs and bacon. He took a bite and felt his stomachturn, but he kept eating. Surely, his stomach would settle as he grew full.
“I trust you slept well, Theresa?” he asked politely.
“It is harder to sleep with each passing night,” she lamented. “The child inside of me grows larger and has his own ideas of when I should sleep. But our rooms are very comfortable.”
