How To Seduce A Duke

Wetherly leaned on his cane and lowered his gaze to the pavers.

“I beg your pardon, Lord Wetherly.” Mary swung her head around to look at him again. “You have done naught wrong, I assure you.”

“I should not have suggested a walk…alone.”

Blast. She was going to lose him if she didn’t focus her attention better.

“Lord Wetherly, I would greatly enjoy a walk in the garden with you. Nothing would please me more.” Mary turned her head slightly to the side and gazed coyly up at him. “However, I neglected to inform my sisters where I was headed before you and I left the drawing room. I only thought to remain near the house…in the event they come to look for me. You understand, don’t you?”

“I do, and I admit, I am greatly relieved.” The viscount exhaled a sigh. “For an instant I was sure my invitation might have been misinterpreted and that you thought me a horrible rake intent on whisking you into the darkness for a wickedly passionate kiss.”

“Lord Wetherly-”

“Please, do call me Quinn. I know we have only just properly met, but I feel…I know you so very well.”

Though she had no experience in the stages of love, she was fairly certain he was smitten, and because of this, a proposal was likely in the weeks to come.

She could almost feel it.

Mary’s head began to dance with thoughts of a future with…Quinn.

She could see their wedding clearly in her mind even now. They would live in a grand house in the country. They would have three beautiful children, all with Quinn’s golden hair.

And…and…Suddenly she was being summoned back into the moment.

“Miss Royle?” There was that concerned look in his eyes again. “Miss Royle?”

W-what? Oh goodness. Focus your attention, Mary. Focus!

“Mary, please call me Mary.” She laughed softly. “Do forgive my inattention, please. I confess, I was off gathering wool.”

She looked into his eyes and he smiled.

God, he’s so beautiful when he smiles.

“And what so consumed your thoughts, Mary?”

Well now, that was a good question. Just what had she been thinking? Or, rather, what might he like to hear?

She fluttered her eyelashes.

Lud, was that a bit much? She squinted her eyes and studied him.

No, no, he is smiling. Everything is well.

It is. Has to be.

And then, she suddenly knew just how to answer his question. “I wondered if I would think you a horrible rake if…”-go on, say it-“if you kissed me here, right now.” She widened her eyes in feigned innocence.

Quinn’s eyes widened too, and he paused for several seconds before his look of surprise was replaced with one of eagerness. “I suppose there is only one way to know the answer to your question.”

A tattoo thrummed in her chest and in her veins.

He was actually going to do it. At any moment, Lord Wetherly was going to press his lips to hers.

Zeus, should she close her eyes? Or wait until their mouths touched? Close them. Yes. That felt right.

Mary squeezed her eyes shut and tilted her lips upward and waited for Quinn, the man she would one day marry, to kiss her.

Any moment now. Any…moment.

Suddenly, she heard him shuffle his feet most peculiarly, and then the sound of his breath left his lungs.

A cool swoosh of air blew between them, and she knew for certain he had moved away from her.

Could she have read his ardor incorrectly?

She was about to lift her lids and blame her wanton behavior on the wine-well, she had no tolerance for the juice of grapes, so it made perfect sense, didn’t it?

In the next instant, before she could say a word, he swept her into his arms and crushed her against his hard, muscled chest.

She scarcely had a moment to gasp a small breath before his lips came down and claimed hers, hot and moist, moving so…so…passionately.

Oh my…oh God.

All at once, her legs softened to the consistency of marmalade, and heat surged through her entire body.

Heavens above, she never knew a kiss could be like this.

Or that Quinn, gentle Quinn, was the sort of man who could make her head spin so deliciously.

She had to be in love.

Of course, that was it. There was no other explanation for it. She and Quinn were meant to be together. She ought to tell him. Admit her feelings now.

He had to be feeling it too. Had to be. No one could kiss like this without being in love.

Do not think, Mary. Just tell him.

Tell him!

And so, the moment his mouth lifted from hers, she confessed her feelings. “I-I think I love you.”

Then she heard his voice. “Stop!”

How odd. He sounded so far away.

“Stop at once!” he pleaded.

“W-what?” She held her eyes closed, not wishing to break the moment, and leaned into him for another kiss.

“Rogan, I demand it.”

Rogan? Mary suddenly went stiff. She wrenched her head toward the garden. Her eyes flew open, expecting to see Quinn’s beastly brother stepping from the bushes, just as she’d imagined. Just as she’d feared.

Instead, she saw Quinn standing beside her. Quinn?

Then w-who had been kissing her? She turned her head and blinked up. Oh perdition.

“Love me, do you, Miss Royle?” The Black Duke, still crushing her against his chest, chuckled wickedly. “And here I thought you despised me.”

Tears pushed into Mary’s eyes. “Let go of me, you-you vulgar beast.”

“You heard her, Rogan. Do it now!” Quinn shouted. “I can’t believe you did this. You are my brother. My brother!”

“Very well, I will release you, Miss Royle,” the duke told her in an insulting whisper. “Anything for the woman who loves me.” He straightened and settled her to her feet.

Mary glared at him. Her breath was coming so fast she spat out her words. “How dare you!” And for the second time, she drew back her hand and landed a stinging slap across his cheek.

She could not even bring herself to look back at Quinn as she flung open the French windows and ran, blinded by tears of humiliation, inside the house.

“Let her go, Quinn. For now.” He rubbed his cheeks with the back of his hand. “I daresay she might need a few minutes to settle her head.”

Quinn looked from the French windows to Rogan. “I ought to level you for what you’ve done.”

“But you won’t because I did it for your own good.” When Quinn opened his mouth to protest, Rogan raised a hand to silence him. “I know an apology is not nearly enough, Quinn, but I vow someday you will thank me for this.”

He reached a hand to his brother’s shoulder, but Quinn swatted it away.

“Why? Tell me why you did this?” Quinn looked straight into Rogan’s eyes. His own were glistening in the soft