Page 31 of Her Rogue of a Duke

Joshua cleared his throat, trying to sound nonchalant, and replied, “I am merely fulfilling my end of our agreement… I will find you as many suitors as possible. This gown is a means to that end.”

As soon as the words left his lips, Joshua realized how cold and transactional they had sounded. He bit his tongue, inwardly wincing, bracing himself for her reaction to his seemingly indifferent remark.

Much to his surprise, Francesca did not take offense to his words. She simply accepted the gown with a small nod.

“Well, I hope it serves its purpose then,” she said, rather matter-of-factly. “It would be rather unfortunate if, for all your effort, it failed to lead to any suitable matches.”

Joshua gritted his teeth as his mind once more pictured Francesca dancing in the arms of another man while wearing the gown that he had bought for her. And again, he quickly suppressed this thought, reminding himself he had no claim over her.

“I suppose I should try this thing on,” she exhaled softly. “I shall need to see what adjustments might be needed before the seamstress arrives tomorrow.”

Joshua could only offer a silent nod in response. She spun and carried the dress back into the bedchamber, but as she moved, he noticed she was still favoring her injured ankle. Compelled by concern, he followed after her.

“Let me assist you,” he offered.

She turned back to him, her expression puzzled. “With the gown?”

“Yes,” he quickly clarified, pouncing on the opportunity, though it might not have been his initial intention. “You are still in rather noticeable discomfort, and that gown is quite elaborate. It might be challenging to manage alone. Please, let me help.”

Francesca wavered, her brows creasing in uncertainty. “I... I could ring for the maid...”

“I am already here,” Joshua insisted. He was not certain why he was pushing the matter except that he was not yet ready to leave her side. “Besides, as the owner of the gown, I should also like to be the first gentleman to see it on you.”

Her cheeks tinged with a lovely pink and she dropped her gaze from his, a hint of demureness in her demeanor.

“It seems rather unnecessary…”

“Indulge me,” he softly spoke.

After a moment, she met his eyes again and slowly nodded. “All right,” she whispered. “I suppose you should have the final say.”

Without another word, Francesca silently moved to lay the dress on her bed, turning her back to Joshua. She untied the sash of her dressing gown, letting it fall gracefully to the floor, revealing the delicate contours of her back. Joshua sucked in a sharp breath, his gaze tracing the curve of her spine down to her hips. His hands twitched as he recalled how soft and supple she had felt there. How perfectly she had filled his hands.

Glancing over her shoulder, Francesca's eyes, heavy-lidded and expectant, met his. “Are you going to help me?” she asked in a soft, inviting tone.

Joshua closed the distance between them, stopping just behind her. He could sense her tension and his fingers itched to trace her spine, but he refrained, his breath growing deeper with each passing second. Carefully, he reached around her to lift the gown from the bed. He succumbed slightly to his temptation and brushed his lips along her shoulder. She shivered and tilted her head to the side, as if offering him more access.

He resisted the urge to kiss her again but allowed himself the liberty of lightly tracing his nose along her neck, inhaling her fresh, enticing scent.

Her soft gasp was his cue to withdraw, a reminder of the delicate line they were treading.

He assisted her into the gown with silent attentiveness, allowing his fingers to lightly graze her arms while his breath lingered near the nape of her neck. She breathed out in short bursts, yet remained silent and never once turned to face him. As he buttoned the back of the gown, his fingers occasionally brushed her skin, every touch sending a shiver through him and causing her to wince. Once the dress was fully fastened, he gently guided her shoulders to turn her towards him. His gaze swept over her, and a profound feeling gripped his heart.

“You… you are a vision,” he whispered.

The dress, a shade of Aegean blue that complemented her creamy skin perfectly, accentuated her slim waist before flaring into a full skirt. The cap sleeves left her shoulders bare, enhancing her elegance. The silky fabric seemed to embrace her figure, emphasizing her bosom and curves in a manner that stirred a deep yearning within him. She was a vision of beauty, and the desire to undress her, lay her down on the bed, and ravage her… was overwhelming.

Yet, he restrained himself, holding onto the last vestiges of his self-control.

Francesca smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling. “Thank you,” she said with a small laugh. “This gown is gorgeous, Joshua. I feel… amazing in it.”

She looked amazing. He wanted to tell her so, but he pressed his lips together and stopped himself. He was already crossingtoo many lines with her. This dress was not for him. He had to remind himself of that.

He could not allow himself to forget that for even a moment.

“You will catch the eye of every gentleman at the ball tomorrow night,” he replied in a soft voice.

Her smile wavered as she looked up at him, and for a moment, Joshua found himself unable to decipher what she was thinking. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to delve into the thoughts behind her gaze at that second.