Page 88 of Dukes for Dessert

No, you kissed him.

“Did you just growl?” he asked from behind her.

“No,” she lied.

“Here I thought I was the only one who did that.”

“Are you smiling again?” she asked without turning. He’d sounded like he was smiling.

“Perhaps.” Now he sounded like he was grinning.

Oh, this was a disaster.

They arrived at the music room, but Marina wasn’t there either. But the piece of music they needed was.

It seemed likely that Juno’s suspicion was correct. She exhaled. “I think Lady Marina may have quit the hunt. You’ll need to continue on—or not—without us for now. I must go upstairs and see if she’s retreated to our chamber.” She set the list into the basket and handed him the lot.

“I’ll keep on it. How will you find me?”

“I’ve memorized the list. Though, I doubt we’ve any chance of winning.”

One of his impossibly dark, thick brows arched. “Planning the dinner seating was that important to you?”

She nearly giggled. “You’ve a sense of humor.”

“It’s rather dry. Some don’t appreciate it.”

Well, I do. She clamped her lips closed lest she say something she would regret.

Without a word, she swept from the music room and hastened to the chamber she shared with Marina. As expected, the young woman sat in a chair near the hearth, her head bent over a book.

“Is that the book for our list?” Juno asked brightly, hoping Marina had just been distracted.

Marina looked up, her cheeks pink. “Yes, actually. I wanted to read it.”

“You’re sure you didn’t want to avoid continuing?”

The pink deepened. “You know me too well,” she murmured. “I did try to wait for you in the library, but you took so long to come that I thought you and the duke perhaps went somewhere else. It seemed I should retreat, and yes, I wanted to.” She looked down at the book in her lap.

“It’s all right. We were caught in the orangery with other guests.” And with kissing. Guilt tore through Juno.

Marina looked up at Juno, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I just don’t like the duke. It’s not his fault. He was trying to be pleasant even though he didn’t want to be. It’s obvious he doesn’t like me either.”

Juno’s heart twisted as she sat down in the chair opposite Marina’s. “Please don’t feel badly about this. I can’t agree that he doesn’t like you. He was only trying to get to know you. He possesses a gruff nature. Just as yours is tentative. I think you would grow to like one other. Indeed, the duke surprised me with a sense of humor just a short while ago.”

“I can’t see any way that we would suit,” Marina said with a surprising edge of steel. “I know it will disappoint Mama—and you.”

“I could never be disappointed in you.” Juno felt the sting of failure. Lady Wetherby was insistent that her daughter wed the duke. Would she try to force her into it if the duke decided to offer for her? Was the duke even considering it after kissing Juno in the orangery?

What, you think he’d consider marrying you? You don’t even want to get married again.

No, she did not. The sooner she banished the unfortunate encounter in the orangery from her mind, the better. Even so, she knew this marriage wasn’t going to happen—she’d known it before she’d kissed him.

The door slammed open, making both Juno and Marina jump. Lady Wetherby stood at the threshold, anger emanating from her person.

This was bad.

The countess moved inside and closed the door with more force than was necessary. Her gaze landed on Marina and then shifted to Juno, who stood on wobbly feet.