Page 10 of The Duke’s Lessons in Temptation

The Dowager Duchess of Stanton beamed at him victoriously as he joined Lady Hannah. Damion said, “Remember, any hesitation, don’t continue forward.”

Stanton grinned at him but did as his mother said. The dowager duchess turned her gaze on Damion. “How are you doing, Your Grace?”

“I’m well and behaving myself, too.”

She didn’t feign confusion but nodded. “Wonderful. My son assured me that you would be. Shall I introduce you to some ladies?”

He shook his head. “No, thank you.”

A sigh escaped the older woman. “I suppose I should just be happy with the fact that both my children are creeping closer to marriage.”

Damion laughed, and she continued on. He turned back to the area he’d last spotted Cora. She stood by the refreshment table, practicing various facial expressions. Stanton was right. The lady was mimicking him. It didn’t suit her at all and was awkward.

He walked to her, even though it was probably the most unwise choice. Damion reached her and the refreshment table but remained silent, choosing to grab a glass of punch before he said anything. Her eyes widened at his arrival, but she offered him no greeting. Instead, they sipped their drinks.

Eventually, he murmured, “What were you doing with Bellamy?”

She frowned at him as if he were daft. “Flirting, of course.”

He shifted closer to her and said, “Were you copying me?”

Her cheeks turned red. “You are widely regarded for your skills with the opposite sex.”

“You can’t flirt like me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Why not?”

Was Cora really that clueless? “Because you look absurd.”

“No more so than when you smile or stand inappropriately close to a lady.”

Damion’s neck went hot. He couldn’t deny it. He enjoyed the art of tempting someone. Even if it went nowhere, it was fun. “You need to still be yourself.”

She nodded toward Meredith, who was flirting with a gentleman. He suspected it was also innocent fun, but she was very good at it. “I tried some of the things Lady Clark does. I don’t know how she flutters her eyelashes like that.”

“Again, you should flirt in a way that complements your personality. If not, you look strange and awkward.”

“Then teach me. Lord Bellamy is surrounded by far more skilled ladies than me. I have no chance unless I improve my flirting skills.”

Damion’s gaze darted toward Bellamy. He didn’t understand why she was so fixated on the man. He turned back to her, and she watched Bellamy with hurt in her eyes. Against his better judgment, he said, “Meet me tonight in the library, an hour after everyone goes to bed.”

Cora’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

“Call me, Damion.”

She smiled. “See you this evening, Damion.”

Cora excitedly rushed off as Damion took another gulp of the tepid punch. Why was he drinking the awful liquid? He placed his glass on the table and continued to stand there. Damion would help Cora, but hopefully, he could also make her understand she needed to look beyond Bellamy.

Chapter 5

Cora stood in the library waiting for Damion. She, for a moment, pondered if it was appropriate to be using his given name, but realized meeting him here was far more outrageous.

Her flirting with Christopher didn’t generate any different results. He continued to seem preoccupied with everyone else. Still, she was confident that no other lady had caught his interest. Maybe that meant he was still planning to choose her?

The day before he departed on his travels two years ago, he’d mentioned that if she were free when he returned, they should court. Cora had been thrilled, but now worried he’d changed too much. Honestly, she also worried she hadn’t changed enough.

The door opened and closed with a click. Damion moved with a silent grace that for some reason she found riveting. Cora imagined most women did. His mouth lifted on one side in a half-smile. “So you decided to come.”