Page 108 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke
The taste of defeat to her father no more tasted like bile in his mouth but it was bitter all the same. William was willing to forsake his thirst for vengeance to be with his daughter, would the man be able to see past their duel and give them his blessings? William doubted that. A man with such character does not forgo past events as easily as that. William scratched his head, he was confused.
Joane pulled open the door to the corridor; William collected it from her and allowed her to get in before him. He closed the door behind them and walked behind her. They went past the door leading to the foyer and there was no one in it once again. Joane turned back to face William. William noticed that her gown had shifted in a way from the first time she wore it. The neckline had gone lower giving William full view of her cleavage. The stirring in his stomach had not gone down and now course up to his brain and back downwards below his stomach.
Would this always be my reaction when I see her body?
Joane could become the only thing that could satisfy his hunger and still never satisfied. William licked his lips and forced his concentration to what she was saying.
“I hope you are not yet leaving,” she said to him. There was a look on her face that told him to dare say yes. He knew better.
“No, let’s go under the sun and talk a bit, maybe your friend will come around,” William said.
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Joane replied.
She grabbed his right arm and pulled him to the exit. They pushed the door open together and walked to the staircase. William turned to push the door close but a tightening of Joane’s grip on his arm made him forget the door. The Duke was standing at the bottom of the stairway, staring at them with an ugly scowl-frown look.
His eyes are angry. This is not good.
Chapter 22
Another Chance
Her father was staring at them. It was a look she had never seen before and it scared Joane. It was hatred.
William has done nothing for father to hate him. In fact, William should hate father.
Her father held his favourite cane in his left hand which meant he had planned to go far.
He didn’t go far enough today.
The Duke climbed up the stairway, taking time to go up, one step after the other. He slowed when he was two steps below them, taking more time. William drew his hand out of hers.
Or was it the sweat on hers that made his slip out.
When her father got to the top, his frown was gone and replaced by a serene expression that Joane knew belied a glut of bad intentions. William bowed to him and extended a hand for a hand shake.
“Good day my Lord Duke,” he said.
Her father had his eyes on William’s face; totally snubbing William’s outstretched hand.
“What do you want William Marlow?” he asked with a calm voice.
William’s face was stoic; there was no fear in it, no emotion.
“I came to see your daughter sir,” William replied.
The Duke looked surprised but Joane knew it was just a ploy. Her father is never plain in his dealings. There was nothing surprising in William’s words.
“Why would you come to see my daughter? What purpose do you hope to achieve by forming affectations with any member of my family?” the Duke answered. He waited for William to open his mouth to answer before adding, “Especially given the history between us.”
William nodded.
“In the little time I spent with your daughter, her wit and charm has stolen my heart sir. She has shown herself to be well cultured and entirely suitable to help in the court of a Duke. And more importantly, your daughter has become a reason I wake up in the morning sir. I was hoping that we would receive permission so I can make her my wife,” William said.
Joane looked at his eyes when he ended and met him already looking at him. She was tempted to blush and saw the side of his eyes crease.
I do want to be your wife, William Barlow.
The Duke said nothing at first. It looked like he was assimilating all William said, and for a fleeting moment Joane thought he was about saying something in agreement but her experience with her father chided her.
