Page 20 of The Duke of Deceit

Jess glared at him.

“Actually,” he said with faint consternation as he wrapped her arm around his, “with your wholly proper reputation, everyone will think better of me for associating with you. You can’t deny that doesn’t play into your devious scheme.”

No, she couldn’t. But she wasn’t at all happy about it either. The blasted man had completely twisted the situation around on her.

“Fine. We’ll talk on the terrace,” she conceded, only to raise a finger in protest. “But we stay in the lamplight the entire time, and you keep your distance.”

“All right.” His slow, self-assured smile reminded her of a lion…right before it devoured a gazelle. “I do love a challenge.”

He led her through the French doors and out onto the terrace.

Only when her slippers touched the sandstone and the cool night air rushed over her skin did she realize she’d made a terrible mistake.

Chapter Seven

Lucien led herpast two other couples and toward the far end of the terrace, where the shadows were the darkest. A small space was tucked away between the wall of the house and the stone balustrade where they couldn’t be seen from the ballroom. It was exactly the kind of place a true rakehell would seek out where he could dally with an unmarried miss, bored wife, or merry widow—private and hidden with no possibility of being overheard, yet exposed just enough that nothing truly ruinous could occur. Tonight, with Jessamyn, this spot would serve his purposes well.

She quickly turned her back to the balustrade, keeping herself fully facing him. Just like a mouse who knew better than to turn away from the cat.

He bit back a grin of amusement. What, exactly, did the damnable gel think he planned on doing with her? Although, if he were the cat and she the mouse, he would certainly have enjoyed toying with her. In every way.

Yet tonight, he had more serious matters to address.

“I warned you in the carriage not to persist in rehabilitating my reputation,” he reminded her, “only to see my name plastered on bills up and down the Strand in gratitude for sponsoring the exhibition.”

“And I warnedyouthat I wouldn’t stop until you did right by my sister. This exhibition won’t be the last one you sponsor ifyou don’t.” She forced a bright smile. “But just think how happy you’ll make all those artists and bookmakers.”

He would have laughed at that peculiar threat if his situation wasn’t so serious. People were finding out about his connection to Ealing, which meant it was only a matter of time until they learned about Phillip and how their father had cast him from the Grenier family. He couldn’t let that continue. He had to protect his brother and the dukedom, and he certainly wasn’t going to let her put it all at risk.

Fighting in the wars had taught him that when the enemy failed to take warnings, the only alternative was a frontal attack. So he cut right to the crux of what she wanted from him. “Are you that desperate to snag a duke for a brother-in-law?”

His bold question stunned her, and her mouth fell open. “Pardon?”

“You think you and your sister are the first females to attempt to snare me into marriage? Many others have come before you. After all, who wouldn’t want to turn herself into a duchess, even if the dukedom of Crewe is far less than a stellar one? At the end of the day, a dukedom is still a dukedom, and having a duchess in the family is quite a social coup, however she became one.”

“I don’t care about any of that.”

He searched her face. Even with the shadows darkening her features, he could see confusion in her, not guilt. “Then why are you doing this?”

“To protect my sister. That’s all that matters to me.”

He believed her, which made his situation even more dangerous. “I won’t marry her, and if you don’t stop,” he warned, “I’ll have no choice but to counterattack.”

“I’m not cowed by your threats.” Yet he would have sworn he heard uneasiness in her voice. “I’m turning the wolf into a harmless puppy.”

“Oh, I’m very much still a wolf.” He couldn’t resist the dark urge to add, “And if you’re not careful, I’ll devour you.”

The foolish gel lifted her chin. “I’d like to see you try.”

His cock jumped. Thank God he was standing too close for her to see the effect her innocent challenge had on him.Devour her… Sweet Lucifer, he wanted to do exactly that. Would she be the same delicious contradiction on his lips that she was in their confrontations—innocent yet bold, sweet yet unexpectedly spicy?

He would never act upon that curiosity. He preferred his women experienced, world-weary, and uncomplicated. Jessamyn St Claire was none of those things. Yet he would let himself enjoy toying with her. No harm could come of that, especially on an exposed terrace only a few feet from the ballroom and her chaperone.

Better yet, maybe toying with her would keep her away.

When the orchestra struck up the next song, the two couples on the terrace with them went back inside to dance. He seized his opportunity and took a step forward.

“You’re a puzzle,” he murmured.