Page 14 of A Scandalous Love for the Enticing Duke
“Trust me, the pleasure is mine, and I do hope this is where you tell me your name, milady. Although, I am quite certain that it is going to be a lovely name, to suit its equally lovely owner.” When he saw her flush again, he felt as though he had just won a wager racking up to a thousand pounds.
“Eleanor. The name is Eleanor, My Lord.”
Eleanor… it sounded like a name an angel would answer to.
“Oh. None of that. To fulfil the purpose for which I disclosed my name in the first instant, you must drop these formalities. I insist for I find that I do not care for them.”
“Well, in that case, Nicholas it is.”
A big grin settled on his lips at his victory. He arose then and walked closer to her. As he stood right in front of her, he bowed, his hand held out so she would give him hers. He was simply observing propriety, he told himself. Yet, he knew no greater lie had ever been spoken.
He saw amusement flicker in her eyes, then understanding. Slowly, she raised her right hand and slipped it into his. It felt soft, delicate, just as he had thought it would. Holding her gaze, he pressed his lips to it, and gifted it with a lingering kiss. A surreal sense of satisfaction filled his blood, and his body thrummed with pleasure when he saw her take a sharp breath he had only caught because he had been watching so closely. So carefully.
“Thank you, Eleanor.” He withdrew his lips, and she quickly retrieved her hand. He watched as she immediately locked it with with the other, and he knew he had affected her so. A knowing smile lifted the corners of his cheeks, and he wondered if she would ponder on what he found amusing. Good, it would give her something to think about, along with that thrilling sensation he felt when his lips touched her skin, later when she was alone – and he willed that she thought about him. To think that her hands were covered and it had felt that way. He could only imagine what it would feel like, kissing her bare skin. A vivid image flashed though his mind’s eye, and he suddenly felt hot. It was time to return to his seat. With this proximity and how she affected his body, he doubted he could remain a gentleman much longer. What sorcery was this? Never had he met any woman who affected him so, in such a short time.
With these thoughts warring in his mind, he rose and turned around to walked back to his chair. It wasn’t until he was seated that he spoke again.
“Eleanor…”The name tasted exotic on his lips, and he knew he had been right. “It is such a lovely name. I do not think anything else would have been better suited.”
“You seem vast in the art of flattery. How does a man like you get off being modest about his capabilities?”
She was ever ready, he noted. Her retorts came quick and swift, never compromising her wit. Just for the sake of teasing her, he feigned ignorance.“I am not entirely certain I know what you speak of. Modesty? Capabilities?”
She huffed, and while many would have thought it improper, he thought it endearing, especially when her nostrils blew open, and her eyes narrowed. She dropped the book into her lap and shifted in her chair so that she could be closer to him.
“Pretence does not become you. While you contemplate becoming an author or not, I pray thee to do only just that and not entertain thoughts of the theatre. Having you on that stage, trying to act anything atall, would be such horror, I declare!”
The laughter that hadbegun building up in his belly travelled all the way to his chest until it became birthed through his lips. His ribs protested as the sound of his genuine amusement filled the library. By the time he recovered, a huge smile flirted with her lips. It warmed his heart to know she had taken his amusement well.
“I am beginning to wonder if perhaps you were right and I am a jokester,” she mumbled.
“Indeed. I was in the right when I told you so. Now that you have forbidden me from pursuing my life’s dream, would you be so kind to tell me what these capabilities you speak of are?”
“Why not? They are none other than your writing skills which I’m sure are quite commendable.” Stunned by this, he too sat up.
“You sound so certain. Pray, tell me, what is the basis of this unwavering belief in me?”
“Oh, it is quite simple, you see. Every lover of books has in one point or the other attempted to put something down. It is a pull that cannot be ignored or fought against. For book lovers who have read lots of republications, it comes easier. When a man is quick on his wit as you are, it is even so much better. You are well read, Nicholas. I reckon you have so much books you have tried your hands on already, and they did not come out terribly. Do not fish for compliments, I prefer to call a spade exactly what it is.”
Speechless, that was what he was. She was so perceptive, and the way her violet orbs twinkled as she spoke, bless holy Mary! The pull on his heart was getting stronger as the minutes passed.
“You seem to have it all figured out. I find myself at a loss for words to say.”
The smile that flirted with her lips became a full grin. He had no doubt she was immensely proud of herself. This was confirmed when she smugly said,“Yes, I am quite perceptive. Any published works? I have never heard of any author with the name Nicholas, but you may as well be using an alias.”
He chuckled at the accusation in her voice. “I assure you, Eleanor, while you might have been right about the former, you are quite off the mark on this one. True, I have written a handful of books, but I am yet to publish a single one. I’m afraid I do not have that much faith in myself. I have several manuscripts stacked up in my office, and they have only been seen by two eyes, asides mine.”
She settled into a pout, and he wondered if she was sad for him. If she was, how would that make him feel? Could there be any emotion he had not felt yet since encountering her? She pulled him out of his thoughts again.
“I do think you should take the leap. Who knows? It may end up being such a sensation. Everyone needs to have enormous faith in their selves, my sister would say; if you can’t have that much, then you can start from a little.”
He thought about those words for few seconds before tucking them to the back of his mind. He would surely ruminate on them later.
“Enough about me, seeing as we have whiled away so much time already, perhaps we should simply discuss these books we both have chosen?”
She looked at the book in her lap as if only just remembering it and smiled as she picked it up.
“An excellent suggestion! You love your Jane, and I love my Maria. Let ussee what we think about both women. You first, Persuasion. May I have a look at that?
