Page 7 of A Virgin for the Duke of Depravity (Ton’s Beasts #2)

Leo let his words hang in the air between the four of them, not sure how much Margaret had told her friend—if she had thought that his offer was worth entertaining, worth sharing. Judging from her stricken expression, he assumed that she had not yet told Theresa or Aaron.

He could live with keeping the Duke of Blackwell in the dark.

“A house party?” Aaron asked. His eyes were slightly wider than usual, the only tell that he was surprised by Leo’s invitation.

“Why not? Morgan throws them all the time.” Leo shrugged, as if this were reason enough for him to host his own party.

He did not need to remind Aaron that he loathed attending Morgan’s parties and would rather pull out his own fingernails than host his own.

“Yes, I suppose he does,” Aaron said, narrowing his eyes with suspicion.

“It starts in a few days, but you—and your guest, of course—should join me sooner. So that we may have some peace and quiet before the other guests arrive.” Leo tried to sound diplomatic, as if this were the obvious solution for everyone.

“Alright,” Aaron said in a booming voice. “Excuse us for a minute, please, ladies. Leo and I will be a moment, and I know that Theresa ordered the strawberry pastry.”

Theresa turned back toward the breakfast room, and Leo took a final look at Margaret in that gown before he turned back to Aaron. It was nearly indecent for her to put her body on display for him in such a way.

Her dress was too tight, showing off every inch of her curves. His eyes trailed down the swell of her breasts to the dip of her waist, down to the curve of her round hips. This dress must have been one of Theresa’s because it surely was not made with Margaret’s figure in mind.

She knew he was coming and had dressed this way for him. Of that, he was certain.

Still, he could not help thinking that he did not want anyone else to see her in that gown. He did not want the men in London to have the same thoughts he was having about her figure.

A surge of jealousy surprised him at the mere thought.

He had to focus on Aaron now. He had to focus on not ruining the ruse that he had planned with Margaret to bring her under his protection.

Aaron motioned for Leo to follow him to his study. He opened the door and sat down at the small table within.

“It is not too early for a drink,” he said, pouring two tumblers of whiskey.

“It absolutely is. But I’ll take it regardless.” Leo accepted one gratefully and took a fortifying sip.

“Have a seat, if you will, Leo.”

Having no other option, Leo took a seat at the table across from his friend. Aaron pinned him with a fierce look. His eyes seemed to penetrate through Leo’s armor even more than they did when he used to wear his mask.

Aaron was a force to be reckoned with, but Leo held his tongue.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?” Aaron demanded, clearly unable to wait for Leo to speak first.

“I do not know what you mean,” Leo replied.

“I saw the look you gave Margaret. You looked at her like she was something you could devour. And you come here, announce a house party, and invite us to stay with you beforehand?”

“It is an innocent proposition.”

“You should be careful how you tread here, Leo.” Aaron took a long sip of his whiskey. “What is the appeal of trying to corrupt the nun when she is so close to taking her vows?”

“I seem to remember that you once had your own little nun,” Leo said, hoping that the joke might land with Aaron and lighten the mood.

Aaron had no right to judge him, considering where his own lovely wife had come from.

“It was literally required by the Queen—and I am pleased with the outcome,” Aaron responded. “Why are you suddenly so determined to spend time with Margaret?”

Leo thought about how she had known exactly where the girls were hiding the night before. How she asked him to read the books to her. How she had no shame in showing up at Olympus uninvited. How her lips had parted and her eyes widened in that instant before he startled her.

What would it be like to see those brown eyes go hazy with knowledge and desire?

Everything about her was unexpected—from her time with the nuns to her fear of someone or something here in the city. Leo tried to put his finger on the word he would use to describe her.

“I just… I suppose it is her defiance,” he said finally.

It was the only word that made sense. She defied the expectations of a lady in London. She defied the expectations of a nun.

Would she defy him?

“And her inability to follow the rules intrigues you?” Aaron arched an eyebrow at him.

“The truth is that I want to break her. But of course, you know I will be the perfect gentleman.” Leo shrugged.

The truth was that he intended to be a gentleman—unless Margaret asked him to act otherwise, which he was certain she would.

“How do you know she is defiant?”

Leo paused, the words stuck in his throat. He had forgotten that this morning was supposed to be the first time he and Margaret had met. Of course, he would not have been able to know that about her from their very brief interaction that morning.

“These things are quite obvious,” he said, rolling his eyes.

“She came home very late last night. What do you know about her whereabouts?”

“What do you know about her life in the convent?” Leo decided it was best to ignore the accusation in his friend’s voice. Besides, he was more concerned with why she was hiding away when she should be here in the city. Here with him.

“That she’ll be taking her vows in a week,” Aaron said pointedly.

“But she must be afraid of something to end up in there,” Leo pressed, hoping that Aaron might know more than he let on. But if Theresa had no idea what Margaret was doing there, it was impossible that Aaron would have the answer.

Aaron opened his mouth to answer, but they were interrupted by a loud thud in the hall. Leo stood up quickly and threw open the door to see what the commotion was. He was quicker on his feet than Aaron and closer to the door.

Margaret tumbled into the room and landed directly in his arms, where he was more than happy to catch her and steady her on her feet. But as soon as she regained her balance, she was quick to slap his hands off her.

Leo smirked—an involuntary reaction. Of course, she obviously would not want her friend’s husband to think that she was causing a scandal or that she had visited a very specific book club last night. It was a desire he shared, but he would gladly hold her in his arms again.

“Theresa is looking for you, Aaron,” she said. Her eyes never left Leo’s. They stood there, facing off against one another. “She is craving those cream puffs from the kitchens.”

“She knows the kitchen staff better than I do,” Aaron mumbled, but he excused himself nonetheless. He walked quickly in the direction of the breakfast room.

Margaret turned her attention away from Leo to watch Aaron retreat down the hall. Leo felt a pang of jealousy that his friend might have more of her attention than he did, which was ridiculous. Margaret was not interested in Aaron.

Once Aaron rounded the corner, Margaret turned back to Leo. She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the study, where the servants could see and overhear their conversation. She led him down an empty corridor to a staircase, forcing him to stoop beneath it.

“I do not think this is necessary, My Lady,” he said with another smirk. “You did not have to go to such lengths to get me alone. I believe you knew where to find me after the evening we shared.”

“You must promise never to ask such questions again,” she said with an intensity he remembered from the night before. It was the same fear he had seen on her face when he threatened to throw her out on the streets.

“What are you running from?” Leo asked, already knowing she was not likely to tell him.

Not yet. But soon, perhaps.

“Theresa is with child,” Margaret said, jabbing one finger into his chest with each syllable. “I do not want her or Aaron worried about me. I do not want to put them in danger.”

“And how could asking questions put your dear friends in any kind of danger?”

“If I become yours for the next week, I become your problem. Just yours.” Her voice was a mere whisper, a ghost of the booming voice he was used to.

Whatever she was afraid of, she did not want anyone to know.

A small wrinkle creased her forehead, and she avoided looking him in the eye. She was clearly afraid of something—or someone—and she would not let him in on her secret.

This woman standing before him was not the feisty lady he met yesterday at Olympus.

This version of her was somehow even more appealing.

It was vulnerable. It was more than he deserved from a woman he barely knew.

He could not remember the last time a lady had entrusted him with her care. With her secrets.

He nodded, tacitly agreeing to her demands.

She extended a hand toward him for a handshake to seal their deal. He relished the way her rough palm felt in his own. The convent had not been kind to her skin. He knew, from Theresa, that the sisters spent long hours cleaning and doing chores.

“Now, let’s go,” Margaret said, turning to walk away from him.

He watched her walk for a moment, but eventually she grabbed him by the hand again and pulled him after her.

With that settled, he knew he would be having guests at his house party in just a few days. He would have the little nun under his care and protection, and he could only think where it might lead.

He hoped it would lead to her bedroom. Even just one night with the nun-to-be would be enough to cure him of his lewd thoughts. The way he fantasized about what her skin would feel like. The way her cheeks flushed when she was frustrated or embarrassed.

Would she blush for him?

All he had to do was play his cards right over the next week and hope that Margaret’s secret would come out. He would offer her the protection she sought in the convent. Leo was certain that he could charm the woman who had captured his attention.

Now, he just had to hope that it was not misplaced optimism.

One week was not much time to make so grand a difference, but he would do his best to persuade her to postpone her vows. He had to try, or he would always wonder how he had let the little nun slip through his fingers when she expressed interest in his little club.

He would always wonder what could have been if he had opened himself up to caring about someone for more than one evening.

Maybe this could be good for both of them.