Thwarting the Duke Read online

  “No,” Lucian interjected, wanting to spare himself and Emma from being thrust together alone. He’d be too tempted to kiss her, and now that he knew very well she would rather Nathaniel be the one kissing her, Lucian refused to play the fool. He forced himself to focus on her sister as he spoke. “I’ll partner with Lady Mary, if you’ll allow me?”

  Her eyes widened in surprise, but she nodded. Lady Albersey beamed at him, and he belatedly realized the woman, or perhaps Lady Mary herself, would take this as a definite sign of his interest in the lady. He’d have to be careful not to mislead her further.

  As his mother harrumphed and made all sorts of noises to convey her annoyance, Lucian’s gaze drew to Emma like a stupid moth to the flame that would scorch it. And as he devoured Emma with his eyes, he did suddenly feel as if his body were burning. She looked incredibly fetching in an emerald-and-white striped gown. It molded to her curves just enough that he could imagine running his hands over her body to explore the creamy planes. With her hair swept up to expose her neck, his lips tingled with the memory of the way she tasted. Did her neck taste as sweet as her mouth? He shifted uncomfortably with desire.

  When his gaze met hers, his breath left him in a whoosh. Was that disappointment he read in her eyes? No, it couldn’t be. She yearned for Nathaniel, not him. He was simply reading what he hoped to see there.

  She suddenly jerked her gaze from his as his mother mentioned her name. “Lady Emmaline, you and the Marquess of Salisbury can be partners.”

  Lucian narrowed his gaze on Salisbury, who had turned his openly lustful gaze to Emma.

  “I don’t think that’s the best pairing,” Lucian blurted, ignoring the tug of pity he felt for Salisbury. The best part of Salisbury, the part his deceased wife seemed to have temporarily brought out when they’d married, seemed to have perished with her and their unborn child. Word at the clubs was that the marquess was more of a reprobate than he’d ever been.

  Salisbury moved his hooded gaze to Lucian and then to Nick, who was Salisbury’s closest friend. Nick glared at Lucian. “Why the devil not?” Nick demanded.

  Lucian saw Nick’s wife elbow him, but his cousin ignored her.

  “Yes, Blackbourne, what is your objection to my teaming up with the enchanting Lady Emmaline?” Salisbury echoed.

  “I think we’ll make an excellent pair,” Emma piped up.

  Lucian clenched his jaw as he swept his gaze over the group. His mother looked utterly amused, as did his great-uncle. He forced himself not to look at Emma or her family, but at Salisbury. Lucian needed to convey a subtle warning to the man. “I know what a voracious appetite you have.”

  Salisbury grinned wolfishly. “For?”

  With a hard yank on his cravat, Lucian imagined pummeling the man. “For winning, of course. Lady Emmaline is a gentle creature. A lady. Just be certain you take great care.” He held the man’s gaze while further narrowing his own.

  “You may be certain I’ll be gentle as I hunt for the prize.”

  “Excellent!” Lucian’s mother pronounced, as his blood boiled. “Let us start the hunt. Here are the lists of items you must find.” As his mother handed out pieces of parchment, Lucian was drawn once more to Emma, who met his gaze with a frosty one of her own. He wanted to warn her of the man’s reputation, but there was no delicate way to do so. The only course was to quickly find everything on his own list and then track down Emma and Salisbury and keep a watchful eye on her.

  With that in mind, the moment everyone had their list in hand and Danby signaled the start of the hunt, Lucian wasted no time. “May I?” he asked Mary as he motioned toward the list.

  She nodded. “Please do. I’m afraid I’m not the best scavenger hunter.”

  He forced himself not to snatch the list from her. Once he had it, he quickly scanned the five items on their list: a golden goblet, a crop, a pair of quizzing glasses, a lady’s hair comb, and a cane. He went straight from there to the first clue.

  You’ll find the goblet where you fill it.

  He grabbed Lady Mary by the elbow and started tugging her toward the fountain in the distance. As they departed, he took note that Emma and Salisbury were still standing there staring at their list. Excellent. If he was very quick and luck was with him, he could have his list finished before they ever moved.

  Once they were at the fountain, he took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves while Lady Mary gawked at him. “Whatever are you doing?” she asked in a disbelieving tone.

  “Retrieving the goblet,” he replied. He knew his great-uncle well. For the pleasure of watching his assembled guests act like fools, the man would have made acquiring the items on the list as difficult as possible. That’s what he’d always done in the past. He’d once confided to Lucian that he stood at his window overlooking the grounds, drinking port and chuckling to himself at his own cleverness in hiding the items.

  “In the water? Surely your great-uncle wouldn’t—” Lady Mary abruptly stopped speaking as Lucian plunged his hands into the water at the deepest part of the fountain, felt around for moment, and secured the goblet. He lifted it up with a triumphant grin.

  “Certainly he would, Lady Mary. Danby finds watching us amusing, and the harder we have to work, the more merriment we provide.” Lucian swung toward the study window and raised the dripping goblet in salute to his great-uncle, who he could see standing there. Danby saluted back, and Lucian focused once again on the list.

  This helps you command but must be used with care.

  Lucian took Lady Mary’s elbow and hurried her to the stables, where they found the crop. They strode from there to the retiring room, where the lady’s hair comb was located. Once more he rushed them outside to the gardens and found the quizzing glasses on one of the benches often used for reading.

  He brought the list close to read the last clue.

  A cane is often necessary when climbing these.

  Lucian frowned. Danby’s house had many staircases. Which one would his great-uncle consider the most demanding? It had to be the winding stairs that led to the library. “Come! We need to get to the library,” Lucian said and started to take Lady Mary’s elbow once again, but she pulled back with a laugh.

  “Please, let us rest a moment. I’m fairly winded, and if you haven’t noticed, most of the other hunters are still standing about without even their first item secured. Salisbury and Emma seem to be the only two that have found anything. We’re sure to win even if we take a short break.”

  “I cannot,” he answered immediately and swept his gaze over the garden, searching for Salisbury and Emma. They’d just been near the maze and now he did not see them. His pulse ticked upward as he thought of two days ago when he’d been alone and in his garden with Emma. “I need to be finished now.”

  “Why?” Lady Mary asked with a frown.

  “I—” Tension knotted the back of his neck as he tried to think of what to say, but only the truth would do. “I want to be done so I can watch over your sister.”

  Lady Mary’s frown deepened. “Do you think Lord Salisbury would take advantage of their being alone?”

  “I’m not certain,” he admitted. “But I don’t want to chance it.”

  Lady Mary studied him for a long, silent moment. “I think,” she said slowly, “that you’ve shown a remarkable concern for my sister. I wonder why that is…” Her eyes had gone from contemplative to knowing.

  “It’s no more concern than I’d show for any lady,” he replied, not liking that Emma’s sister seemed to be uncovering things he’d rather not reveal.

  “I daresay you’re hiding from the truth, but,” she said with a smile, “I imagine we all do at times.” She held her hand out. “Give me the list. I’ll locate the cane and you can find Emma.”

  Lucian didn’t argue. He thrust the list at Lady Mary. “Check the winding stairs that lead to the library. I believe you’ll find the cane there.” He waited for her nod, and then he hurried away toward the maze.

  Emma sa
t under a tree, listening to the leaves rustling in the wind. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath of the fresh spring air, and then leaned back into her palms and curled her fingers into the cool grass. The megrim she had been positive was coming only minutes ago already seemed to be subsiding. Mother would probably love for her to get a terrible megrim so the rumors about her would appear true, Emma thought wryly. For a moment she entertained the idea of going to find Lord Salisbury, but by now he was probably at the stables looking for the next item on their list. She didn’t really care if they won or not. The only thing she’d really cared about today was getting to spend more time with Lucian, and that hope had been mercilessly quashed by Lucian himself.

  Her stomach knotted at the memory of him declaring his desire to partner with Mary. She plucked blades of grass out of the ground with a sigh. How could she have been so wrong about him? She snorted at her own foolishness.

  “Is there a clue under the tree?”

  Emma’s eyes flew open at the sound of Lucian’s voice above her. Her gaze traveled up his powerful legs, over his narrow hips and broad chest, to his square jaw, then up higher over his face. His lips curved gently upward, and his eyes crinkled ever so slightly at the sides with his smile. Her heart raced as she attempted to scramble to her feet, but she stepped on the hem of her skirts and nearly fell backward to her bottom. Lucian bent forward in flash, caught her, and brought her gently to her feet, snug against his chest. For a moment, they stood pressed scandalously close, pounding heart to pounding heart.

  Emma’s eyes widened as her mouth parted in wonder at the revelation.

  His eyes widened, as well, as he set her away from him.

  She frowned at the wariness that crept into his eyes. Emma swept her gaze past him in search of Mary. “Where’s my sister?”

  He motioned behind him. “She went on to the library to find our last item.”

  Emma felt her frown deepen. “Alone? Whyever would you let her go alone when you were so awfully keen to partner with her?” Emma knew she was being provoking, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.

  “I suppose I could ask the same of you. Where is your excellent partner? You seemed rather eager to get him alone, or is it only my brother whom you wish to have?”

  Emma gasped at his sharp words, and her temper erupted. “How dare you! You kissed me, if you remember, and you were my first kiss! I don’t make it a habit of being alone with gentlemen, and I have no desire whatsoever to be alone with your brother or with Lord Salisbury!”

  Determined to leave the arrogant man staring at her back, she swung away, but he grasped her by the arm and turned her back around. “Emma…”

  She stilled and looked up at him to find his expression a mixture of tenderness and hopefulness.

  “Please tell me now. Do you or do not still harbor an affection for my brother?”

  Heat rushed to her cheeks. He had apparently deduced that she had once had a fondness for Nathan. Regret immediately swept over his face, and he dropped his hand away.

  “I can see by your blush that you do care for my brother.” Lucian stepped back from her, and this time, she reached out and clutched onto him.

  She glanced quickly around the garden to ensure no one was near. “Lucian, you’re wrong. I did harbor a silly girlhood tendre for him, but at your home the other night, I learned rather quickly that my interest now lies elsewhere.” She stared at him purposefully, and a slow smile spread across his face.

  “Would it be too presumptuous of me to kiss you?”

  Emma shook her head. “It would be just the right amount of presumption.”

  Lucian’s gaze darted around them, and then he smiled down at her. “Scandalously alone,” he whispered. His warm breath tickled her face, she shivered in anticipation as his lips captured hers. He pulled her close, one arm encircling her waist and one hand coming to the small of her back. She allowed him to press their bodies firmly together; they fit like a glove.

  Heat pulled in her belly as his lips massaged hers in dizzying perfection. He slid his hands over her waist and to her hands, and his fingers intertwined with hers as he kissed her deeply before pulling away. He had a dark, almost predatory look in his eyes as he stared down at her.

  “A duke must always know when to control himself,” he said in a tone that sounded half-admonishing and half-teasing.

  She scowled at him. “Then I heartily wish you weren’t a duke.”

  Lucian smiled down at her, took her hand, and pressed a kiss to her fingertips. “Sometimes I wish that, too, but I think it might come in handy in obtaining your mother’s approval to allow me to court you.”

  Excitement surged within her. “I hope, but I daresay my mother truly wants you for my sister, and when she decides upon a course…”

  Lucian pressed a finger to her lips. “Ease your mind, Emma. I never lose a battle I set my mind to.”

  Emma smiled, even as his words whispered an echo of memory through her. Hadn’t Nathan said something similar about Lucian? That he always got what he wanted?

  Chapter 10

  Emma sat on her bed the next morning and waited until as late as she possibly could to go downstairs. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she did not want to miss breaking her fast. What she was hoping to miss was her mother.

  Mother had refused to speak to her on the ride home from Danby Castle yesterday after Mother had accused Emma of trying to ruin Mary’s chance with Lucian. Upon arriving home, her mother had promptly and dramatically exclaimed that Emma’s plotting against her had given her a megrim. She’d then retired to her room for the night. But later, as Emma had lain awake in her bed, she heard her parents arguing. Though she couldn’t make out the exact words, the fact that she could hear them despite their door being closed meant that they were shouting.

  Needless to say, she wasn’t looking forward to the very real possibility her mother was still angry.

  Emma forced herself to stand and proceed out of her room and to the stairs. She smiled when she saw that Mary had waited for her. As Emma came to stand by her sister, Mary, squeezed Emma’s hand. “Mother will come around,” she said as they proceeded together down the stairs. “His Grace wants to court you, not me, and that’s all the argument you need. The man cannot be forced to court someone he doesn’t wish to court.”

  Emma paused on the last step. “You’re not upset?”

  Mary scowled. “You’ve asked me that at least a dozen times since we returned home and the answer is still no.” She gave Emma a quick hug. “I’m pleased for you…and inspired. Truth be told, I never believed in fate. I considered it something foolish girls believed in.” She blushed. “I apologize.”

  Emma smiled. “That’s quite all right. I’ve done my share of foolish things.”

  “As have I, Emma, but seeing how you and Blackbourne seem so perfect for each other, it does make one wonder if a man will come along for whom I’m fated.”

  “I’m sure one will,” Emma replied, distracted suddenly by her father coming out of the dining room. He looked more disheveled than usual and had dark smudges under his eyes.

  “Emma, I wish to speak to you alone in my study.” Papa sounded very serious, and that was quite unlike him. Had their mother finally succeeded in swaying Papa’s good opinion of her?

  Emma sucked in a worried breath and her stomach turned as she nodded and gave Mary a parting glance before following Papa to his study.

  Once the door was closed and he was seated behind his desk, he spoke. “Emma, your mother has agreed to let Blackbourne court you without fuss.”

  She let out a surprised and relieved breath. “However did you do it, Papa?”

  “I reminded her of the young woman I fell in love with.”

  She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  “I know you don’t,” he said with a weary voice. He stood, circled his desk, and came to lean against the arm of the chair she was occupying. He took her hand in his and patted it. “I’m going to tel
l you something you’re not going to believe, and it’s something I should have told you long ago, but for selfish reasons, I didn’t.”

  Emma nodded encouragingly.

  “You’re exactly as your mother used to be.”

  She took a breath to object but promptly stopped herself at Papa’s warning look. “You are,” he said with a stern voice. “And I do believe I know better than you what your mother was like when she was your age. I was with her, after all, and you were not even born.”

  Well, she certainly couldn’t argue with that.

  “Your mother was full of life. She was fun and carefree, and the things she persuaded me to do…” He chuckled, and all Emma could do was stare at him in disbelief. “Somehow I made her fall in love with me and persuaded her to marry me, and then Emma, I changed her.”

  “No, Papa.”

  “Yes,” he said in tone that brooked no argument. “I’d inherited a good deal of money and land from my father, and though I appreciated the money because it allowed me to tinker and dream and do as I wished, I never appreciated that it might run out if the land wasn’t properly managed. And I could never bring myself to bother with that. I found it boring and mundane, and I fancied myself a scholar of life.

  “Slowly, your mother took control of the management and all the worries, and I let her. Our relationship has been strained for some time now, and until recently, I didn’t clearly see that she treats you as she does because she envies you. You remind her of the young woman she used to be, and I think she’s not only worried for you but also fearful that you’ll marry wiser than she did.”

  Emma swallowed the painful knot that had lodged in her throat. She could scarcely believe her father’s revelations. “What should I do?”

  “Give her time. She’ll come around. She already has begun to or she’d not have relented to Blackbourne’s request to court you.”

  At that moment, the butler knocked and announced Lucian’s arrival. Emma’s heart leaped with joy, and a smile spread across her face.