Page 50 of Undercover Duke
“Like Flora, you mean.”
His lips tightened. “Like you.” He pulled her into a corner of the garden where an overgrown box hedge and a conveniently placed plane tree formed a sort of private nook. Then he swept her into his arms. “I find myself curious to see how a respectable lady kisses.”
She stared up at him incredulously. “Here? Now?”
“Why not? Armitage isn’t here, and we both suspect he isn’t coming. Who knows? We might find that we suit. Besides, you must be at least a little curious to see how an unrepentant rogue kisses.”
With a lift of one eyebrow, she said dryly, “I think of you more as a reprobate than a rogue, to be honest.”
“That’s like saying a sandwich is different from a slice of ham between two slices of bread.” He lowered his head and whispered, “But if you make a distinction . . . Shall we see exactly which one I am, reprobate or rogue?”
She gazed into his ice-blue eyes and thought,Why not?She was unlikely to see the man she really wanted ever again, except at formal affairs. And she had to admit she was eager to compare Mr. Juncker’s kisses to Sheridan’s, against whose standard she would forever measure all others. Unfortunately.
That decided her. “Very well.”
She tipped her head back. He took that for the invitation it was and pressed his lips to hers. It was a chaste kiss, the only kind a respectable woman should like, and it was swiftly over, besides. It didn’t begin to give her enough of a demonstration for comparison.
“That didn’t seem remotely the way a reprobateora rogue would kiss,” she said lightly.
But when she started to pull away in disappointment, he kissed her again, this time with far more passion.
It was perfect. He used the perfect amount of pressure and moistness, and he held her tightly but not too tightly. His breath was sweet, and his scent pleasing enough, if not quite as good as Sheridan’s spicy one. Yet his kiss seemed practiced . . . the kind a devilish fellow like him was used to giving any woman who might allow him to kiss her. It left her cold.
She couldn’t quite put her finger on why it didn’t move her, why her heart didn’t race and her legs feel as if they’d buckle under her any minute. Unless it was because it didn’t begin to compare to Sheridan’s kisses.
That made her want to weep, since Sheridan was obviously not going to—
Something wrenched Mr. Juncker from her.Someone, that is. She opened her eyes just in time to see Sheridan punch Mr. Juncker in the face.
“What is wrong with you?” Sheridan growled as Mr. Juncker gaped at him. “How dare you take advantage of a lady?”
Sheridan pulled back as if to hit the man again.
“He didn’t take advantage of me!” she cried. When Sheridan froze, she stepped between them. “He merely stole a kiss. As a certain other gentleman did at least once before.”
Pulling out his handkerchief, Mr. Juncker dabbed at his lip. “You bloodied me, Armitage!”
Sheridan dropped his hands but kept them in fists. “And I’ll do it again if that’s what it takes for you to leave the lady be.”
“Leave her be! But I thought—” He halted, his gaze meeting Vanessa’s pleading one.
So help her, she would never forgive Mr. Juncker if he were to tell Sheridan the truth about her feelings.
Mr. Juncker rolled his eyes heavenward. “You were late. I was not. You can’t blame a fellow for trying.”
“Trying what?” Sheridan snapped. “To ruin her?”
“Good God, no,” Mr. Juncker said with a very convincing expression of outrage. “I’m not such a fool as all that. We’re practically out in public! Although I confess I didn’t entirely believe your reasons for insisting I come along with you. I thought you were inventing that nonsense about me distracting her mother while you expressed your affection to Miss Pryde in private. But clearly I mistook the depth of your feelings.”
“Clearly,” Sheridan bit out.
Mr. Juncker bowed to Vanessa. “Forgive me, Miss Pryde, for any insult I may have inadvertently made to your person. I shall leave you in the hands of your most persistent suitor.”
She swallowed. “Thank you, sir.” It was an inane remark, but she honestly wasn’t sure what to say. She was still trying to figure out what Sheridan was up to.
Mr. Juncker was barely out of earshot, heading for the garden gate, when Sheridan fixed her with a dark look. “He had you cornered, entirely isolated. I nearly didn’t see the two of you back here. What were you thinking, letting him get you alone and vulnerable like that?”
“I was thinking you weren’t coming!” She crossed her arms over her chest. “And how did you find us, anyway?”
