Page 21 of The Not So Perfect Duke

“My mother said one of the names was a copper. And the name just below it? August Donaldson? A footman at Chellenham Park.”

“Are you certain you wish to pull on these threads, Damon?” Christian asked.

“I know there will be some who will be angry. Perhaps this is a selfish endeavor, as egocentricity has ruled my life. Olivia has accepted me with open arms. But I understand she is the exception, not the rule. Do not approach anyone as yet. As Althea said, the orphanage and the nunnery to start.”

Christian stood. “Then we will let you get to it. Eleanora and I are available if and when required. Please, say seated.” He said to Damon and Althea as he held out his hand to Eleanora to assist her in standing. “Condolences once again, Damon. Ash mentioned the dinner. We will arrange it for sometime next week. Do you wish us to stay, Althea, until Damon departs?”

Bless her dear brother-in-law for the offering. Althea glanced at the mantel clock. “Chellenham’s carriage will be here in less than ten minutes. I will be fine.” She smiled as she glanced at Damon. “Mrs. Bartle is within shouting distance if needs must. Our housekeeper uses her broom as if it was a broadsword.”

Christian and Eleanora laughed as they departed.

They were alone.

Althea wished she had asked them to stay, for the air between her and Damon was awkward yet electric. They gazed at each other, sitting in opposite wing chairs.

“Damon, I am sorry I was snappish with you at the reception. At your father’s funeral, of all things. It was not well done of me.” She meant it. The fact her emotions were all over the map when in his presence proved she would have to be more cautious from now on.

“I deserved your wrath. Always speak your mind with me. Never change that.”

“It is admirable that you wish to find any siblings.”

“Is it? I wonder. Guilt is fueling my actions. There was another time in my life I did not act when I should have. I will not turn away this time.”

“Can you tell me about it?”

Damon exhaled. “The drowning episode of so long ago.”

During Christian’s case, the investigation led to a former friend of The Rakes of St. Regent’s Park. The summer the boys were sixteen, Ford Whitney held one of their friends underwater until he drowned.

“While I lay there, drunk, thinking I was dreaming, Ford fought with Hayes Addington. I was completely oblivious to the tragic incident playing out under my very nose. Then, I shrugged and moved on. What does that say about me? Not much. I will not do that again nor abdicate my responsibility.”

“I admire that, and thank you for sharing it,” Althea replied softly. This confession made him all the more alluring. Layers to peel back, indeed.

Damon stood, took her hand, and pulled her slowly toward him. “Indulge me. For on such a day, I wish to feel alive. Just a brief kiss of farewell. Will you allow it?”

“To what purpose?” Althea whispered, thrilled to her toes by the suggestion.

“Because, my Thea, you have attracted me as no other.”

My Thea.

Oh, she liked that—very much.

“I will indulge you because of the day.” As if she could say no.

This had been building since that investigation interview in this room almost one year ago. That meeting where Althea, in not so many words, called him a deviant Dorian Gray, and Damon called her a stuffy, judgmental virgin. When she had stumbled, and he caught her from tumbling to the floor, Althea had wanted him to kiss her then. With those sinfully full lips.

Damon cupped her face, the pad of his thumbs caressing her cheeks. Already her face burned hot, and the anticipation grew as he gradually moved toward her. Heat pooled low in her belly and lower still. Her breasts felt heavy, and she ached to press them against him. Althea did not close her eyes as she wanted to see everything and commit it to memory.

Damon’s lips touched hers, a feathery contact, then he softly nibbled on her lower lip before taking the kiss a little deeper. The tenderness of it had her near to swooning as it was as tinder to flint and steel. A perpetual flame burst to life inside her.

The kiss was deft and gentle, revealing a hint of the devil within him. He then took the kiss deeper still, and the evident hunger spurred her desire. One of his hands trailed over the curve of her hip, leaving heat in its wake. Then he cupped her rear, bringing her in tight against him. Against that extremely hard masculine part of him.

Althea eagerly kissed him in return, her entire body throbbing with need. Briefly, their tongues tangled, and a husky groan came from deep within him. Soft whimpers of need escaped her lips as she plunged her fingers through his silky golden hair.

More. Althea wanted more.

She yearned to push him against the wall and touch him all over. Kiss every bit of exposed skin. Reach under his shirt and waistcoat and run the tips of her fingers across his flat stomach and lower until she boldly wrapped her hand around his erect shaft.