Page 68 of Dukes Are Forever
"Perhaps. Would you like that?"
"What young woman isn't flattered by such attentions?" she replied smoothly.
Devoncourt's thumb brushed against her palm; an indecent gesture that sent a shiver through her. Despite what she might think of him, he was good at what he did.
"Would you meet with me again?"
"I am meeting with you," she pointed out.
"Privately?"
"I've told you—"
"He doesn't have to know." Devoncourt boldly tucked one of her curls behind her ear, his heated gaze darkening. "I know you spend your nights alone, cherub. All alone in that big house while your husband gads about London doing... whatever he damned well feels like doing. It's not as though he keeps track of your schedule, does he? You could slip out for the night. Tell him it's a ball."
She'd promised Malloryn she'd stay out of this, but what if she could somehow twist Devoncourt to her plans?
Malloryn had already admitted he had nothing in regards to the SOG.
"What did you have in mind?" Adele whispered, looking up into Devoncourt's cerulean eyes.
This time his smile touched every inch of his face.
Reaching inside his coat, he produced a gold-rimmed invitation embossed with a rising sun.
Her gaze locked on the logo.
"What is it for?"
"A secret gathering. A masquerade, of course. There'll be music. Dancing. Little alcoves where one can steal away privately, if one has the need for it."
"A ball?" she replied cynically.
"Not a ball. It's a little more... exclusive. A little more like the old days, when blue bloods were allowed off their leashes."
"That sounds dangerous."
"Oh, it is," he purred. "But not for you. All I want to show you is another side of life. You have no liking for your husband, do you?"
"He's a cold, merciless prig," she said mechanically.
"And your marriage is barely that."
"So you keep saying."
"What if you could free yourself from such a marriage?" His voice lowered.
"The last thing I want is a divorce." Her heart started beating a little faster. Because she knew he wasn't speaking of divorce at all.
And suddenly the stakes were higher than they'd ever been.
What if someone was plotting Malloryn's murder?
Could she get Devoncourt to tell her more?
"There are other ways to end a marriage," he replied, "And as I said, Malloryn has many enemies."
Her heart skipped a beat.
