Rules to Catch a Devilish Duke

Rules to Catch a Devilish Duke by Suzanne Enoch Page B

Book: Rules to Catch a Devilish Duke by Suzanne Enoch Read Free Book Online
Authors: Suzanne Enoch
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Regency
Ads: Link
you be very subtle.”
    That reminded him—as if he needed a reminder—that she noticed far more than he’d realized. Considering some of the machinations in which he’d been involved over the past Season and her own part in them, she had seen him being subtle. And not so subtle. And she’d kept her mouth closed about it. “The time for subtlety seems to have passed,” he returned, attempting to sound witty rather than annoyed by the entire damned situation.
    Sophia cocked her head at him, a lock of her scarlet hair drifting across one green eye. “I’m assuming you selected ladies of the most impeccable bloodline, an appropriate age, and … a modicum of attractiveness, because, well, why wouldn’t you? Any number of single women would cut off their own legs to marry you.”
    “That would prevent any stampedes, at least,” he noted, reflecting that this was closer to a conversation he’d expected to be having with his good friend Keating Blackwood—if Keating hadn’t been on the far side of the river Aire at the moment—and not with a pretty young chit with whom he had a wish to sin. “But yes, I take your meaning, and yes, I did do some research into each of the chits.”
    “Then why am I here, again? Surely you don’t consider me eligible to join the marriageable parade.”
    She spoke briskly enough, but from the swift glance at him then away, his sole guest had some pride resting on his answer. Damn. He hadn’t meant to insult her, but neither did he intend to go to the effort of spinning a lie that neither of them would believe. Adam picked up his fork and knife again, mostly to give himself another moment to think. “You are here because firstly you’re a friend to one of the few married women I’ve invited, and secondly, because I find that I enjoy having a conversation with a chit without her assuming that every other damned thing I say is a promise of betrothal.”
    “You didn’t know that when you first asked me here. You only thought I was shocking and relatively harmless.”
    Adam laughed. He couldn’t help himself. “Very well. You’ve stunned me by having a wit and the gall to use it as you please.” Lifting his glass of wine, he tilted it in her direction. “A pleasant surprise, to be certain.”
    She smiled back at him, her warm countenance half a league away from Eustace’s calculating use of the same expression. “Thank you, then,” she returned. “But when the remainder of your guests do arrive, I ask that you keep in mind the fact that I do have some pride, and a heart that yearns for love as much as any better-born lady’s. Please attempt not to stab too deeply when you begin your comparisons.”
    For a bare, mad moment he opened his mouth to comment that she was likely to be the most interesting of any female he’d asked to Greaves Park, and that she had nothing to worry about when he began making his lists of flaws and attributes. At the last second it occurred to him that not only would that be an inappropriate thing about which to commiserate with her, but that it would also be rather cruel. After all, Sophia White was interesting and pretty and charming, and most of that seemed to be despite the efforts of the world at large to grind her spirit into dust. But she was also the daughter of a lady’s maid—a fact that neither of them was likely to forget.
    “I shall do my utmost,” he said aloud, “if in turn you will refrain from gossiping that I nearly lost a game of billiards to you.”
    “Agreed.”
    Just as they were finishing a very fine roast venison and a rather interesting conversation about the perils of wagering and drink, the dining room doors burst open. Two large, dark brown streaks lunged into the room. “Damnation,” Adam said, shooting to his feet. “Brutus! Caesar! Down!”
    The two huge mastiffs halted, one on either side of Sophia’s chair and their heads an inch below her shoulders. Adam rounded the table, prepared to offer his guest any

Similar Books

Cat 'N Mouse

Yvonne Harriott

Father's Day

Simon van Booy

Haunted Waters

Jerry B. Jenkins, Chris Fabry

The Alpha's Cat

Carrie Kelly