Page 6 of Duke of Wickedness

“The thing about men like Hershire,” the duke began.

“David,” Percy said warningly. Catherine shushed him.

“I want to hear this,” she said.

The duke darted his eyes over to his friend, then paused, apparently considering his words.

“The thing about men like Hershire,” he repeated, “is that they appear proper, not because theyare, but because they wish to…keep things separate.”

“What things?” Ariadne pressed.

“Well,” the duke said.

“No!” Catherine, the traitor, interjected. “I take it back. We are not going to be hearing this in the middle of a ballroom.”

“We could leave,” Ariadne suggested. She was happy to have an excuse to be finished for the evening.

“We are not going to be hearing about this anywhere,” Catherine clarified.

Ariadne gave her sistera look. Catherine was not deterred. Really, Ariadne should have known better than to even try.

“How about this?” the duke interjected smoothly. “I will see Hershire tonight at…an event that we are both scheduled to attend.”

What event?The words were halfway to Ariadne’s lips before Percy interjected again.

“David,” he repeated warningly.

“Yes, Christ, Percy, give it a rest,” the duke retorted. “I shan’t sully your innocent ears.”

“It’s notmy?—”

“But,” the duke went on, interrupting his friend, “I can, ah,encourageHershire to be more forthright with you, Lady Ariadne.”

This wasn’t exactly the information that Ariadne had wanted—and she doubted that Hershire would be honest with her following any sort ofencouragement. But she supposed it was a nice enough offer.

“I appreciate that,” she said, giving him a polite smile.

“Of course, my lady,” he said. The words were right, but there was something in the way that the duke’s mouth quirked up at the side that made Ariadne worry that she might blush.

Well, that wouldnotdo at all. She was not going to let herself feel any—anythingbecause of the Duke of Wilds. That would be even more foolish than sitting around, waiting, and hoping that the perfect match would simply fall into her lap. It wouldnotbe the move of a strategic young lady.

“Right,” Percy said briskly. “Well, that’s enough of that. I am going to dance with my wife now?—”

Catherine let out a small, quickly stifled giggle, and, despite herself, Ariadne found herself exchanging an amused glance with the Duke of Wilds. She quickly looked back at her sister, only to see Percy giving them both an extremely suspicious look.

“Go away, David,” he said. “Find someone else to corrupt.”

The duke smirked at his friend, but there was an edge to it. “I don’t corrupt anyone who isn’t seeking it,” he said with a mildness that Ariadne recognized from her own experience in acting just right. The duke very clearly did not feel as mild as he wanted Percy to believe.

And maybe Percy recognized this, because his expression dropped its sternness, adopting instead a hint of chagrin.

“Of course,” he said. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.”

The duke gave his friend a nod, the tension disappearing from both men in a flash.

“I actually think I will head home,” Ariadne said. “I’ve a half dozen other engagements this week alone.”

Catherine stepped briefly out of Percy’s arms to buss her sister’s cheek affectionately. “I shall see you soon?”