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"And you do not fear it?" He asked, wanting to hear her answer.

He had not known when it happened but his heart started to beat faster with anticipation of her answer. He tried to will it to calm. It was meant to be a test to scare her off and not him but his subconscious need to feel he was still desirable had surfaced and there was no escaping it.

"I have nothing to fear from you, Your grace." She answered, looking in his eyes.

He laughs low and long in disbelief.

Did she not know the rumors surrounding him?

Or perhaps she was blind.

The scar running down his face was too hideous for polite society but he was only accepted because his duchy was one of the most powerful in England.

"You think so?" he muttered putting the dark feelings that had surfaced aside. "Fortunately we are alone and unlikely to be disturbed soon. This is a good time to prove it."

"Your grace, I cannot…"

"I am not asking for much although it would not be unwelcome." He said nonchalantly. "One kiss would suffice."

"Your grace." She protested.

"Prove to me that you can perform the duties I expect my duchess to be able to." He added. "Kiss me and I’ll accept your proposition to convince me you’re a worthy match."

She laughed disbelieving and bit her lip, visibly struggling to make a decision. He admired her innocence, respected it even. It gave him hope she had not completely been debauched by society.

"Alright."

Her words had surprised him but not even more so than her lip pressing firmly against his and way less than the bolt of lust that shot through him.

She stepped back from him eyes wide with shock.

"I…"

"That wasn’t a real kiss." He told her not knowing why he was playing with fire. Already, his breeches felt too tight and even a cold shower might be unable to help him. "This is."

He pulled her to him and captured her lips in a kiss that was sure to leave her breathless. A moan escaped her that fueled lust through his blood.

Her hand went to his shoulders and then his hair and soon she was returning his kiss with a ferocity that had him wondering if she perhaps was not as innocent as she let on.

She gripped his hair tighter and his hand ran down her body to cup her buttocks. When she moaned again, common sense flooded him and he pulled back from her, turning away to hide the evidence of his desire.

"I accept your proposition." He said. "I will be writing to you later in the week."

He stepped out of the room as if the devil was after him, needing to get away from her as quickly as he could before he did something both of them would truly regret.

Damn. He thought. He had really bitten off more than he could chew with this one.

* * *

Victoria touched her lip as the door shut quietly. They were slightly warm and stung, a telltale sign she had not just imagined what had happened. She had really kissed the duke and she had...liked it.

Oh God.

She leaned back on the wall as shame filled her. She had acted no better than any of the previous women who had thrown themselves at him and engaged in such improper dalliances with him.

But even worse, the proposal she had made him had been ill thought out and she wondered now that if she really were to put in effort and somehow succeed in getting the Duke’s attention, would she be able to bear the brunt of theton’s judgement?

Her plan would require her stepping out of the shadows an away from the wall where she had been content to watch the game being played for years and to step into the actual playing field.