Page 13 of A Scandalous Love for the Enticing Duke
It had been easy to spot the freckles splayed over her small, pointed nose. Her lips, those lips that did sinful things to his imagination just by watching them move, were pink and pert, just right for her oval face. She was slim and petite. He found her height perfect, at just a couple of inches below him. The lack of excess fat gave her chin a chiselled look, filing out into fine jaws. Her auburn hair sat atop her head in a tightly held bun, a few tendrils allowed to escape and cascade down the side of her face in waves. For a moment, he had wondered what that hair would look like, unbound and spread over the silk sheets that covered the king sized bed in his town house.
Oh God! Why was he having such illicit thoughts about a woman whom he had only just met? It didn’t help that her skin was lovely. Filled with colour, leaving no doubt that she was a healthy lady who had been a healthy child. She was perfect, absolutely perfect, and he was only a man. It was above his power, that she tugged at his heart strings, as much as she did his groin. A deadly combination. Perhaps he should be taking his leave to find his betrothed before this woman drew him deeper into a deep pit, causing him to sin. How ironic was it that he had to meet her now? Tonight of all nights? The world must be playing some twisted joke on him.
Despite his resolve, he could not get himself to move. He remained where he was, watching her as she moved so gracefully, searching the shelf for which book to pick. He told himself he was only waiting to see what her choice would be, gauge if she had good taste after all. It wasn’t an outright lie. He actually was interested in her choice.
“Mother taught my sisters and I that it is rude to stare. Especially at strangers.”
Embarrassed at being caught staring, he gave a cheeky grin and decided to do some finding of his own. He had come here for that, after all, and if he could not bring himself to leave, he could put this time to good use.
“Sounds like she brought you up good. Any brothers?”
He could not see her but heard the smile in her voice as she responded. “None. It’s just my sisters and I, and you are right. She brought us up good, too good.”
“How many are there? Your sisters?”
“Two. I am the last. They are wonderful, we are all very close. What about you, any siblings?”
“No. It’s just I. Although, I have a very good friend. We’ve known each other since we were four, and we are so close that he’s practically family now. You know, the brother I never had.” Nicholas smiled as a memory of childhood pranks they perpetrated together flashed through his mind. He continued to move, taking notes of the nice books on these shelves. Notable authors like Jane Austen, Henry Fielding, Sir Walter Scott, Maria Edgeworth. He had to confess, Lord Fortham had good taste.
“That sounds nice, does he like books?”
Nicholas chuckled at this. If Benjamin ever read a book, he would lose consciousness- except the book had to do with business news or secrets on how to woo young, clueless maidens.
“Benjamin? No. We are almost nothing alike, but he is a good man and a good friend. Mother says he makes a good son too. I guess that is all that matters, is it not?”
“Indeed. It is.”
He finally decided on a book, ‘Persuasion’ by Jane Austen. He plucked it out of the book shelf and turned to find a sofa. As he reached one, he saw that his fair lady was already seated. He took the sofa nearest to her, positioned so that he faced her, slightly.
One look at the book she held in her hand had him smiling.
“That’s a good book,”he commented as he sat.
She looked up at him, her lips slightly parted in an unasked question, and he instantly got drawn to them for the umpteenth time that evening. Shaking his head as he gave himself a mental shake, he spoke,“Belinda, it’s such an interesting read. One of Maria’s gold.”
“Am I to take that to mean that you have read the book, My Lord?”
“Ahh, you may for in fact, I have. A long time ago, but I still remember its details clearly. It is something I happen to have a knack for. A photographic memory, you may call it. You have never read it?”
Her mouth opened and closed several times as though she was looking for the right words to say. He found even that endearing. Bullocks! But something must be wrong with him. She finally answered with a small smile on her face.
“I have. I find it a good read too; I must have finished these pages a thousand times. There is only so much time until I have to leave; I didn’t want to start a book I would not be able to finish, or allowed to borrow.”
It sounded reasonable, and it was the same reason he had made his own choice. So he nodded, thoughtfully.
“That makes sense. I have read this book too.”He lifted the copy and waved it to her. ”However, one never gets tired of reading the literary excellence that Jane always exhibited in her books. Many times, I think of writing, but I get discouraged when I think of how greatly my book will pale in comparison to these great pieces.” He watched as a chuckle escaped her lips despite her attempt to catch it with her hands, and he smiled.
“You find that amusing?”
“Aye. For some reason, I beg to believe that you are being awfully modest. You strike me as a very intelligent man, My Lord. If your book will pale in comparison, I reckon the only thing they would have on you is years of experience. Practise does make one perfect, My Lord.”
Awed, he looked at her, marvelling at her wise words and apt deduction. True, he hadn’t had such conversation with many women, but all the ones he had tried to do so with, had yawned, proclaiming the topic boring even before they began, and here was this lady, surprising him in the most pleasant of ways.
“The name is Nicholas.” He was getting tired of being referred to as “My Lord” and seeing as she did not recognise his face, he would rather not give himself away by telling her his full name. If he did, she may remember his father and make the connection to figure out who he was. Something told him things would change if that happened. He didn’t want that. He was rather enjoying this cosy setting. This little space with her, in such proximity made everything feel familiar, feel better.
She looked quite taken aback like she had not been expecting him to make such revelation.
“Oh, Nicholas. Well, in that case, I guess I should say it is a pleasure making your acquaintance, Sir Nicholas.”
