AllFreeNovel
Share Us
If Benedict was an expert marksman, then the Duke was even more so. Emily even heard that he was one of the best with sabers, although, she had never heard him openly threaten another gentleman in society.
The Viscount looked at Emily in disgust as if she had somehow lost all her value as entertainment for the night.
“Well, you can have her Gilleton. See if you like scoffing after leftovers.”
With that parting remark, he turned on his heel and walked back in the direction of the ballroom.
As soon as Emily saw his back disappear into the bushes, she heaved a sigh of relief. However, her relief was short-lived as she found herself pulled up from the stone bench by none other than the Duke.
“Have you gone mad?” he asked her, his eyes alight with fury. “Why did you allow him to take you out of the ballroom without a companion?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I thought he was going topropose. You know, since that was my goal for this season.”
He looked at her with incredulity before a sound of extreme frustration escaped him. “Emily, I thought we have established that men are vulgar creatures and are not to be trusted at all costs.”
She flushed at the stern reprimand, feeling like a foolish child caught in some sort of mischief by a more knowledgeable adult.
“Well, I apologize for my extreme naivete,” she bit out. “I was just hoping that there was at least some man who would find me desirable enough to marry me and rescue me from the fate of a spinster.” Her shoulders slumped as she felt the hopelessness of her situation for the first time. “Unfortunately, all men ever see in me is either a mistake or…or a plaything they can amuse themselves with for a while before tossing me aside.”
She blinked her eyes, feeling the hot sting of tears as she tried to contain her emotions and preserve her dignity before him.
The night had started so wonderfully for her. For the first time since her coming out, she had felt beautiful, desirable. The confidence had buoyed her through the tumult of emotions that warred in her chest after their brief kiss in the salon.
Only to have it all crash down on her like this.
Maybe I was just a fool, thinking I could manage to succeed this season, she thought bitterly.How could a wallflower like me ever dare to hope for better?
“Emily.”
She wiped her cheeks hastily, averting her gaze from his. “I should like to return to the ballroom right now,” she announced despondently.
“Emily, come here.”
The soft baritone of his voice carried an undertone of authority, and Emily tried her best to resist his spell, standing her ground, her hands clenched into fists at her side as she glared at him with narrowed eyes.
“You have humiliated me enough tonight, Your Grace.”
The silence stretched out endlessly between them as they looked at each other, both unyielding.
“I apologize,” he finally said softly.
Emily’s breath hitched in her throat as she blinked in surprise.
“I apologize,” His Grace repeated, “for my rash words and for making you feel like you are worthless. You are not.” He took a deep breath. “You are not worthless, Emily, or undesirable. You are absolutely breathtaking, and I am a fool for fighting the truth.”
With a groan, he tugged her closer, his strong arms coming around her in a protective embrace as his lips descended upon hers in a fierce kiss.
Her eyes flew open in astonishment before they fluttered close as she reveled in the sweet, seductive spell he cast over her. With a sigh, her hands clutched at his shoulders as she surrendered to him, surrendered to the magic he was drawing out with his kiss. His tongue briefly touched the seam of her lips as if to wordlessly ask for permission. Shyly, she opened up to him, and with a groan, he kissed her all the more fiercely, his tongue plundering the cavern of her mouth.
“Oh God, you are the sweetest,” he groaned when they finally came up for air. “I just want to taste you…more and more…”
His lips trailed hot kisses down the side of her neck, and Emily felt her knees go weak as he evoked sensations in her that she had never felt before. She felt as if she was wrapped up in a warm haze of pleasure, vaguely aware of him lifting her up and settling her on a stone bench as he continued to where her neck met her shoulder. He bit her gently, and she cried softly, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she feltsomethingshoot down to that private area between her legs.
“Your Grace,” she gasped.
He lifted his head and looked at her in worry. “Did I hurt you? Do you want me to stop?”
She shook her head and smiled shyly at him. “I…I quite liked what you were doing…”
