Scandalous Endeavors (Ladies and Scoundrels Book 1) by Amanda Mariel Page A
Authors: Amanda Mariel
Ads: Link
walked to the bookshelf and pulled one of the leather bound volumes. Turning abruptly, he moved to his sister’s side. “Here you are,” he said, handing her the book. Then took her elbow and led her away, leaving Amelia alone with the Duke of Goldstone.
The rogue came so close she could feel his warm breath against her skin as his smoldering eyes locked on hers. A million new sensations coursed through her body and the throbbing intensified.
“Fear not, Amelia. I meant what I said; all of your secrets are safe with me.” He turned and sauntered from the room without uttering another word.
SCANDALOUS ENDEAVORS
CHAPTER SEVEN
Amelia threw herself across the bed and fumed over the audacity of the duke. Then marveled at the way he had made her feel. Captivated and angry at the same time, but for different reasons. The nerve of him; he had even taken liberties with her name! He had called her Amelia as if it were natural to do so. Who did he think he was to refer to her in such an intimate way? As if his dreadful manors weren’t bad enough, he ruined her plan too.
She rolled onto one side. Gathering her blanket to her chest, she hugged a bunched-up area of it. She should have smacked him across his smug face. A sigh escaped her lips. Maybe he honestly meant to shield her from harm. Perhaps he believed he had done her a good deed, saving her reputation from certain ruin. How could he have known she wished to become compromised?
Another opportunity would soon present, and she would make sure nothing got in the way. Grace planned to host a dinner party next week, and Lord Roseington’s name appeared on the guest list. Amelia would make her move and succeed. She rolled onto her back, then opened her eyes and lay staring at the ceiling. Music from the ball seeped into her bedchamber like a serene lullaby. She closed her eyes and focused on it.
Candles flickered and their light illuminated the room around her, bounced off the walls, and cast shadows on the dance floor. Fresh flowers were scattered about in a romantic way and the quartet played a waltz. Lords and ladies dressed for the occasion in silks, velvets, and jewels danced all around her.
The Duke of Goldstone…no, Richard, approached as she entered the grand room. “You are a vision of loveliness in crimson and lace,” he said with a bow.
Amelia replied, “Oh, how you do go on,” then blushed a becoming shade of pink.
Richard smiled, his whole face lighting up. “May I have the honor of this dance?”
Amelia placed her hand in his and allowed him to escort her onto the dance floor. As he took her into his arms, her body warmed. He held her scandalously close. She threaded her fingers through his hair. They glided gracefully across the marble dance floor, eyes locked, unable to tear their gazes from one another.
“Amelia, my dear, I seem to be enchanted by you. I can no longer imagine my life without you in it,” Richard whispered in her ear. She beamed and tilted her head to accept his kiss.
Amelia sprang into an upright position, shaking the bird-witted thoughts from her mind. “I despise the Duke of Goldstone. I have chosen to marry Lord Roseington, and it is precisely what I am going to do.” Still, she could kiss the duke...one kiss would not hurt anyone. Then he would be out of her system, and she could focus on marrying Lord Roseington.
Her heartbeat increased. It was exactly what she would do. The next time she found herself alone with the duke, she would kiss him. After that, she would not think about him anymore. All of her attention would turn to Lord Roseington. Amelia felt much better as she lay back down and soon drifted into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.
* * * *
Richard entered the office, moving straight to the whisky decanter. The sight of Lady Amelia so intimately rapped in Roseington’s arms had sent a jolt straight through his core. Even now his hands shook. The urge to harm Roseington startled him. Why did he care so
The rogue came so close she could feel his warm breath against her skin as his smoldering eyes locked on hers. A million new sensations coursed through her body and the throbbing intensified.
“Fear not, Amelia. I meant what I said; all of your secrets are safe with me.” He turned and sauntered from the room without uttering another word.
SCANDALOUS ENDEAVORS
CHAPTER SEVEN
Amelia threw herself across the bed and fumed over the audacity of the duke. Then marveled at the way he had made her feel. Captivated and angry at the same time, but for different reasons. The nerve of him; he had even taken liberties with her name! He had called her Amelia as if it were natural to do so. Who did he think he was to refer to her in such an intimate way? As if his dreadful manors weren’t bad enough, he ruined her plan too.
She rolled onto one side. Gathering her blanket to her chest, she hugged a bunched-up area of it. She should have smacked him across his smug face. A sigh escaped her lips. Maybe he honestly meant to shield her from harm. Perhaps he believed he had done her a good deed, saving her reputation from certain ruin. How could he have known she wished to become compromised?
Another opportunity would soon present, and she would make sure nothing got in the way. Grace planned to host a dinner party next week, and Lord Roseington’s name appeared on the guest list. Amelia would make her move and succeed. She rolled onto her back, then opened her eyes and lay staring at the ceiling. Music from the ball seeped into her bedchamber like a serene lullaby. She closed her eyes and focused on it.
Candles flickered and their light illuminated the room around her, bounced off the walls, and cast shadows on the dance floor. Fresh flowers were scattered about in a romantic way and the quartet played a waltz. Lords and ladies dressed for the occasion in silks, velvets, and jewels danced all around her.
The Duke of Goldstone…no, Richard, approached as she entered the grand room. “You are a vision of loveliness in crimson and lace,” he said with a bow.
Amelia replied, “Oh, how you do go on,” then blushed a becoming shade of pink.
Richard smiled, his whole face lighting up. “May I have the honor of this dance?”
Amelia placed her hand in his and allowed him to escort her onto the dance floor. As he took her into his arms, her body warmed. He held her scandalously close. She threaded her fingers through his hair. They glided gracefully across the marble dance floor, eyes locked, unable to tear their gazes from one another.
“Amelia, my dear, I seem to be enchanted by you. I can no longer imagine my life without you in it,” Richard whispered in her ear. She beamed and tilted her head to accept his kiss.
Amelia sprang into an upright position, shaking the bird-witted thoughts from her mind. “I despise the Duke of Goldstone. I have chosen to marry Lord Roseington, and it is precisely what I am going to do.” Still, she could kiss the duke...one kiss would not hurt anyone. Then he would be out of her system, and she could focus on marrying Lord Roseington.
Her heartbeat increased. It was exactly what she would do. The next time she found herself alone with the duke, she would kiss him. After that, she would not think about him anymore. All of her attention would turn to Lord Roseington. Amelia felt much better as she lay back down and soon drifted into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.
* * * *
Richard entered the office, moving straight to the whisky decanter. The sight of Lady Amelia so intimately rapped in Roseington’s arms had sent a jolt straight through his core. Even now his hands shook. The urge to harm Roseington startled him. Why did he care so
Similar Books
