The Duke's Guide to Correct Behavior by Megan Frampton

navigate, what with her feeling as though she wanted to blush, even without going into the Blushing Room, and being so conscious of his being a handsome, wealthy, powerful titled man. A man who always got what he wanted—she could tell that even before she met him—and one who, she knew, would not hesitate if there was something—or someone—he wanted.
    She couldn’t think about it now. Not when she had to concentrate on finding Mr. Snuffles.
    She opened the door to the room gently, not
wanting to startle Rose with a sudden noise. The room was as she left it, with Rose sitting on the carpet, holding a cat. A cat that was all black with white spots.
    So not, in fact, all black.
    â€œMr. Snuffles, I presume?” the duke’s resonant voice said behind her.
    Rose looked up, tears still on her cheeks, but with a bright smile. “He came back right after you left, I think you might have scared him.” This, the girl addressed to Lily, who opened her mouth to protest. The cat had disappeared long before she arrived, but she stopped when she felt his hand on her sleeve. A conspiratorial touch that warned her not to argue.
    The touch felt so intimate, as though they were sharing something, some communality. As though they were already talking without speaking, that they both had something at stake and were united in their goals to get it. That was a far more frightening moment than when she had been admiring his nose, that was for certain.
    She took a breath—a deep, precise breath—and turned to meet his gaze. Noting, again, how intense his eyes were. Dark, dark brown, almost black, with strong, expressive eyebrows above. “Thank you, Your Grace. I believe we can manage on our own for the moment.”
    She swallowed as she realized she had dismissed him. And, by his expression, he was not accustomed to being dismissed.
    If only it were as easy to dismiss him from her mind.
    â€œIf you’ll excuse me, ladies.” His tone was clipped and precise. “I have some business to take care of.” He nodded and spun around to the door, every line of his body indicating he was irked. Perhaps even peeved.
    â€œDuke?” Rose spoke in a quavering voice.
    He turned back around, his lips curling into a warm smile.
    Oh, goodness, Lily thought, do not look at me like that or I will melt into a puddle on the floor. Which will just get the carpets soggy.
    â€œYes, Rose?”
    â€œThank you for taking me after Mama died.” Rose said it matter-of-factly, as though it were an everyday occurrence to be brought to the Mansion of Many Rooms. She returned to petting the cat.
    Leaving the two adults in the room entirely at a loss for words themselves.

A duke takes his entertainment as he wishes, as long as the entertainment is not detrimental to his reputation, his wealth, or society in general. Entertainment, therefore, should be limited to reading books of an edifying nature, cavorting speaking with in appropriate companionship, and perhaps the care and ownership of a ca respectable animal .
    â€”T HE D UKE ’ S G UIDE TO C ORRECT B EHAVIOR

Chapter 6
    H e didn’t say anything more, just gave Lily one last look from those dark eyes and left her alone, at last, with Rose.
    And Mr. Snuffles.
    Lily knelt down on the rug beside both of them, resisting the urge to smooth her hand over Rose’s hair, like Rose was doing to the cat.
    â€œOh!” Lily held the doll the duke had given her. “The duke wanted you to have this.”
    Rose’s eyes widened and she stopped petting Mr. Snuffles to take it, immediately cradling it in her arms as though it were a real creature.
    Lily did give in to her impulse then and smoothed Rose’s hair. “You’ll have to give her a name,” because goodness knows your father won’t .
    Rose screwed up her face in thought and then nodded. “Maggie,” she pronounced.
    â€œExcellent choice.” Lily hesitated,