Page 5 of A Virgin for the Duke of Depravity
“You are Theresa’s friend?” the Duke interrupted, suddenly looking more interested in her instead of being intent on kicking her out of the club. He leaned over the desk, his elbows propped up on the surface.
“Yes. She has been my best friend for years.”
“But Theresa grew up in a convent.”
He must have known Theresa well.
Margaret felt relief sweep from the crown of her head to her toes, along with something else. A heat, a tingling—something like a fire that lit her up from the inside out. It pooled in her core, but she tried not to think about it as she considered her response to the Duke.
“I am aware that Theresa grew up in a convent,” she said confidently.
“Please do not tell me a littlenunsnuck into my private party,” he said with exasperation.
He dropped his head in his hands for a moment before shaking it, as if trying to make this situation disappear. He raked a hand roughly through his dark brown hair.
“Almosta nun,” Margaret corrected him. “And in my defense, I did not know I needed an invitation. I just… I needed to leave, and your driver was kind enough to bring me here. I thought it was about books, and I do love to read.”
“What is your name again?”
“Margaret.”
“Well, Margaret, I must ask you to leave.” The Duke rose from the desk and crossed to the door.
Margaret panicked, certain that she could say or dosomethingthat would convince him to let her stay. She would do just about anything to avoid running into the Earl again.
Before he could make it to the door, Margaret realized that she would have to beg him to allow her to stay.
“No! Please, I can’t go out there! I just…” She tried to think of how she could explain her situation, but she did not have enough time. “Can I just stay at your club? I want to know all about those books!”
Truthfully, the booksdidintrigue Margaret. The actions of the couples in the room intrigued her less, but she could not deny their allure.
She forced down her budding curiosity. Just because it would have been forbidden at the convent did not mean shehadto investigate such… activities.
“Please, let me stay. Y-You could even read the books to me. Aren’t you a member?”
She blushed from just making the offer to the Duke. Her own body was betraying her. She wanted to feel his warm breath tickling her ear as he whispered the words to her.
Part of her lit up at the thought of his hands on her, his lips on hers. She shook her head, trying to redirect her thoughts to more chaste directions.
Despite her desperate offer, the Duke shook his head. “A nun should not walk into the Devil’s den.Leave.”
Margaret did not move for a moment, her eyes fixed on the man in front of her. That confident bearing, the unyielding gaze—she had a sense that he was a man used to getting what he wanted from the world. Surely, that was part of the reason why he was one of the Beasts she had heard so much about.
Her gaze trailed from the crown of his head down to his rigid shoulders until it landed on his hands. They were clenched intofists, and she finally understood that he was not only frustrated with her but also angry with her.
She stood up to leave, as he had bid her to. Determined that she would go with dignity if she had to be escorted out of the club, she rolled her shoulders back and stood as straight as she could. The sisters had taught her to have a proper posture.
But before they could make it to the door, someone knocked.
Could this be her savior?
CHAPTER 3
Leo sighed. Hosting this club was fraught with challenges, not the least of which was the beautiful little nun who was standing across from him. When she heard the knock on the door, her gaze flicked to him to see if he would answer it.
As if he would be able to ignore it.
“This is not an excuse for you to stay,” he told her.
