An Unlikely Duchess by Nadine Millard Page A

not given him leave to use it.
    “Why not?” she croaked.
    “For one thing, I have no interest in having a marriage arranged for me.” He stopped mere inches from her. Rebecca inhaled deeply and almost swooned. He smelled delicious, of smoke, of sandalwood, of man .
    “For another, I do not intend to marry at all for quite some time.” His hand reached up and smoothed a stray hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear, lingering there until her breath was coming in short, and sharp gasps.
    “And even if I were to marry soon, my choice certainly could not be your sister.”
    All at once Rebecca looked offended and he could not help the smile that stretched across his mouth.
    “Why ever not?” she demanded.
    “How could I marry her?” he continued and this time his arms reached out and pulled her slowly against his body. And she, like the wanton she obviously was, went willingly with no objection.
    “How could I marry her, when all I can think about is this? And you?”
    And with that his mouth came down to crush hers in a fierce kiss.
    And Rebecca was lost.

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Edward had lost all sense of reasoning by the time his lips met Lady Rebecca’s. In the back of his mind he knew he was courting absolute scandal. He knew he was on the way to ruining the lady. He knew that she was all wrong for him. And he did not give a damn.
    Heat exploded through his veins as he wrapped his arms around her slim frame and crushed her closer, ever closer to his unyielding body.
    Dear God, had ever a more sensual, tempting vixen walked the earth? How could a man be expected to control himself? She was the very embodiment of desire and he could not bring himself to pull away.
    The kiss went on and on. He kissed her like his next breath depended on it.
    The stars could have fallen from the heavens and he would not have stopped.
    He had no idea what was happening to him. The feelings coursing through his body were beyond mere lust. He heard her soft moan and felt her arms cling to his neck and his heart clenched almost painfully in his chest.
    He was afraid that this was more than attraction. He could almost believe that he was developing real feelings for the minx.
    And that thought was like a jug of iced water being poured on his head.
    With a jolt he pulled his lips from hers and set her bodily away from him, holding on to her arms as she staggered slightly.
    Rebecca opened her big, dark eyes and he noticed, somewhat smugly, that they were glazed over. Her lips were bruised and swollen from his attentions and her breathing seemed as rapid as his own.
    They stared at each other in silence, neither one sure what they would or should say.
    There was a sudden noise from behind them, the sound of raucous laughter coming from the drawing room. It seemed to jolt Rebecca into action.
    She lifted a hand to her lips and blinked rapidly.
    “Oh dear,” she sounded so distressed, so horrified that he wanted nothing more than to comfort her. He reached out to do so and she jumped back like a skittish colt.
    “Your grace, I – that is you. Oh, I cannot do this!” And with this last distressed cry she brushed by him and ran right down the darkened balcony, presumably toward the door to another room where she could enter the house undetected.
    Edward did not know how long he stood staring after her. His mind in turmoil, his body screaming for release.
    He heaved a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. He needed to do his social duty then retire to his room to try and figure out what the hell had just happened.
     
    ****
     
    Rebecca threw up a silent prayer of thanks when she found the door to Father’s study open and slipped inside. The room was in complete darkness but thankfully she knew it like the back of her hand and was able to get to the door without mishap.
    She hadn’t made her excuses so could not just run away, much as she’d like to.
    She could feel panic well up inside her and knew she’d have to get herself under