Page 29 of Corrupting his Duchess

“I’m not asking you to play,” he said quietly.

She hesitated—just long enough for him to see the war in her eyes—then turned, the scent of wildflowers and tension clinging to the air behind her.

He didn’t stop her.

Anna, sitting quietly beside Natalie, tried to focus on their voices, but her mind kept skimming back to Henry and worse, to the amused sparkle in his eyes when Julia teased them. She could feel it still, like warmth on her cheek. And his eyes on her.

Gretchen leaned toward Anna with the quiet precision of a practiced lady and murmured, “Walk with me.”

Anna blinked. “What?”

Gretchen was already rising, smoothing her skirts with that restrained elegance only a duke’s daughter could perfect. “Stretch your legs, Lady Anna.”

It wasn’t a request.

Anna stood, ignoring the heat still prickling her skin, and followed. They stepped away from the low chatter, past where the picnic rugs gave way to scattered trees and the sun pooled warmly through the leaves.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Gretchen asked without preamble.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“You do.” Gretchen cast her a glance, not judgmental, but shrewd. “The moment between you and Henry. Half the group was pretending not to watch, and the other half forgot to breathe.”

Anna groaned, pressing a hand to her face. “It wasn’t, We were only talking.”

“According to Julia, witty jabs delivered like courting birds, yes, I noticed.”

Anna dropped her hand, aghast. “Gretchen!”

“I am not incorrect.” Gretchen looked ahead. “It’s not my concern, only…” She paused, choosing her words. “You are not a girl prone to foolishness. You know what the season demands of you. What your family expects.”

“I do.”

“And yet,” Gretchen stopped beside a tree, hands clasped. “You are not composed around him.”

“I’m perfectly composed.”

“You flushed three times and looked at him like he set you on fire. That’s not composure, darling.”

Julia joined them, her eyes bright with interest, “If Duke Henry were any more obvious, we’d need smelling salts for half the unmarried girls in the county.”

Anna exhaled hard. The silence stretched.

“I didn’t mean for it to happen,” she said finally. “I wasn’t even meant to speak to him today. I’ve been trying to,” She stopped herself. “I’m supposed to focus on Lord Vaun.”

“Matthew didn’t even blink,” Gretchen said softly. “Which is worse, somehow. Either he didn’t care, or he’s very good at pretending.”

Anna swallowed. “It doesn’t matter. He’s a good match.”

“Besides we can't tell with Duke Henry and his dark gazes,” Gretchen rubbed her temple.

Julia snorted. “Please. He practically devoured her with his gaze.”

“Oh, do stop,” Anna muttered though her voice lacked conviction.

“You say stop, but your cheeks are going positively crimson.” Julia leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “That man looks at you like he’s planning some elaborate act of larceny. And you look like you might just let him steal everything.”

Anna shot her a look. “He doesn’t look at me like that.”