Page 31 of A Virgin for the Duke of Depravity
Leo offered his arm to Margaret, who wrapped a hand around the crook of his elbow and straightened her spine. She was the picture of a woman born to nobility, rather than the nun he had expected.
He was flummoxed by the juxtaposition of her as proper when his thoughts of her were anything but.
She was a proper lady in London, but he could only see himself doing things to her in his bed that no lady would ever approve of. And he had the feeling that she would not mind so much.
“Shall we take the carriage tonight, or would the ladies like to ride on horseback?” Aaron asked, a teasing glint in his eyes.
“I must insist we take the carriage,” Leo said, squeezing Margaret’s hand. “We want our ladies to look just as beautiful as they do right now when we arrive.”
Aaron helped Theresa up into the carriage. It took her a moment to heave her growing body into the carriage, but she somehow managed to do it with grace. Aaron stood aside and offered a hand to Margaret.
To Leo’s disappointment, she took the proffered hand and leapt gracefully into the carriage before the men followed.
“You have not been to the opera before,” Leo told her.
It was not something he particularly cared about, but he wanted it to seem as though he hardly knew her in the presence of his friends.
“But I have heard wonderful things,” Margaret responded.
Theresa and Aaron debated the finer points of the last opera they had attended. Their conversation suited Leo just fine. It allowed him to tune out the talk of silly happenings in the ton and simply watch Margaret with a detached stare.
He could hardly take his eyes off of her in that dress, but he knew he would have to try harder to hide his attraction to her.
“Leo?”
He started when he heard Theresa’s voice.
“I’m sorry, I was not listening,” he said, tearing his eyes away from Margaret. “What was the question?”
“I was asking which opera was your favorite,” Theresa repeated.
“None. The opera is not my idea of a good time, but I thought our guest might enjoy the evening out. Her time in London is so limited—why not let her explore all there is to offer?”
“And you will sacrifice your own entertainment?” Theresa asked, a sly smile turning up the corners of her mouth. “I have not known you to be so chivalrous.”
“There are many things about me you do not know, Duchess. Much like your husband, beasts can sometimes surprise you.”
“Indeed, they can,” she said softly, looking at Aaron.
CHAPTER 10
Margaret took in the theater from Leo’s private box. For a man who said that he did not enjoy the opera, he still retained the right to private seatingas a man of stature in the London scene.
She had never envisioned so many people in one place, all dressed in their finery. She saw ladies in pearls and white gloves, gowns that were so much nicer than she had dreamed possible. Looking down at her own gown, she suddenly felt inappropriately attired.
Leo must have been seen here on occasion. She tried not to think about whether he would show up with a fashionable lady from a noble family on his arm.
“Have you ever seen such wonderful seats?” Theresa asked.
She leaned over and took Margaret’s hand. The two women gazed at the stage, where the thick black curtain separated them from the actors, a sense of anticipation growing in the crowd.
“There is so much to see,” Margaret breathed.
She did not know where to direct her gaze first. When the lights would dim enough to illuminate the stage only, everything else would blur in the darkness. She wanted to drink in as much of the atmosphere as possible.
Leo and Aaron were deep in conversation with another man who had entered the box with them.The Duke of Hiverville,Theresa had told her. It gave Margaret a much-needed moment alone with her best friend.
“Is London always this extravagant?” she asked.
