Page 32 of Duke of Wickedness

“Oh, enough of that,” Ariadne scoffed, which made her sister laugh.

“Sorry,” Catherine said. “I just…I want you to also be so happy that you annoy everyone around you, huh? That’s my dream for you.”

Ariadne twisted her mouth to the side. “And until then, I just wait for that happiness to walk through the door?”

Catherine shrugged. “I decided to have many bitter arguments with my happiness, instead, but that’s an unconventional method. But if you’re looking for someone to argue in favor of rushing…you’ve come to the wrong woman. I will remind you that I was an established spinster when I met Percy.”

Catherine had been six and twenty when she’d married. Ariadne simply could not make it through another five years of trying and failing to keep out of Xander and Helen’s way as they built families of their own.

“I’m not sure I wish to wait that long,” she said doubtfully.

Catherine gave her a sympathetic look. “I’m not saying that you will. I’m just saying that the whole ‘walking through the door’ bit? It can happen at any time?”

Ariadne was cursed. That was the only explanation she could think of for what happened next. For as she was sitting there, mulling over the wisdom of her sister’s words, she heard the sound of a man clearing his throat at the doorway.

And then, the Duke of Wilds walked through the door.

CHAPTER 8

When David saw Lady Ariadne Lightholder sitting on the settee in Percy’s drawing room, he first felt a flash of pleasure, then a flash of surprise, and finally, a self-directed reminder that he was anidiot.

He shouldn’t have been surprised to find her here, obviously. She was Percy’s little sister—by marriage, but still. She had more of a right to be here than he did.

He was, actually, an idiot in duplicate, because he shouldn’t have been surprised to see her,andhe shouldn’t be starting any sort of…illicit bargain with hisclosest friend’s little sister.

“Good day, Your Grace,” he said to Catherine. “Lady Ariadne.”

Catherine gave him a little smile. “Oh, it’s ‘Your Grace’ again, is it?”

He couldn’t resist his own smirk in return. “I’m trying to be respectful in your sister’s presence. Indulge me.”

“Ah, yes,” she said teasingly. “You need the practice.”

His smile grew a little brittle at that.

David didn’t hold with the idea that a woman was cheapened when a man found her attractive, nor did he think that it was a sign of disrespect to have a physical relationship with a lady. Any man who thought that, in David’s opinion, was really the one who deserved no respect.

Any man who thought that was also probably a selfish and mediocre lover, too.

Therefore, David did not think it was inherently wrong to desire someone’s little sister. Many women, after all, were someone’s little sister. They didn’t deserve respect merely because their elder brothers were dukes. They simply deserved respect.

Yet, he could not deny that it was slightly…awkward that David had known this particular ducal elder brother for more than a decade.

Still, Catherine was watching, so he made himself act like his normal self. He put a hand over his heart in mock affront.

“You wound me,” he said.

She scoffed. “I do not.”

It could be a curse, having friends who knew you so well.

He only turned to Ariadne when he was certain he wouldn’t reveal anything. “Do you hear this?” he asked her. “Such a tender welcome I receive.”

Ariadne saluted him cheerfully with her teacup. “Must be hard. I was received with refreshments.”

He grinned; he liked her fiery retorts. He saw, however, that Catherine was surprised by this, if the startled way she looked at her little sister meant anything.

When Ariadne followed his glance toward her sister, she quickly smoothed over her expression and cleared her throat rapidly.