Page 58 of Her Ruse with the Rakish Duke

A vein ticked in Percy’s forehead.

“Behave,” Daphne scolded, squeezing the duke’s arm.

“I look forward to beating you today,” Percy spat. “Maybe then she will know who the better man is.”

“She has always known who the better man is,” Victor replied, kissing her hand. “You have just been too stubborn to accept it.”

Percy glared and walked away from them to his family’s side of the lawn.

“That was not very nice of you,” she scolded Victor again.

“He was not being nice either,” he pouted, earning a laugh from her. Of all the silly expressions he’d had on his face, that was by far the silliest.

“I know but you baited him.”

“I am trying to help him understand that you are mine.”

Daphne warmed at his words but remembered that they were not real. He was just really good at playing his role.

The game went as expected with the two men battling it out so forcefully they attracted an even larger crowd who stared and pointed at her.

“They think this rivalry between them is my fault." Daphne complained. "That I flaunt my charms to both men to set the two of them each other.”

“It isn’t, but thetonbelieve what they want to believe,” Amelia said glaring so hard at the crowd staring at her, they turned away uncomfortably. “You just have to learn to ignore it. Although I must admit it is rather exciting to be fought over.”

She watched Victor call out a taunt to Percy which made him lose another point and he laughed when the man launched at him.

“Oh, Percy you must not behave so.” Lady Suffork scolded her son.

“You are abominable,” Daphne scolded the duke when he strolled up to her, ecstatic about his win both ways.

“I never claimed to be otherwise, darling.” He smiled brightly. “We stole the game from you lovely ladies. What can we do to make up for it?”

“A picnic,” Melanie suggested.

“Charades,” Amelia added.

“You two can play. I need to rest.” Daphne told them.

“Come on! You don’t want to spend time with us anymore.” Melanie complained.

“That is not true,” she gasped.

“Go, darling,” Victor smiled. “I will see you at dinner.”

She nodded but as she passed him, he leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“You look positively ravishing right now,” he whispered. “Who are you trying to impress?”

She sent him a lopsided grin and was on her way to the library, adding extra sway to her hips.

She was starting to quickly get used to this feeling of being desired.

She was passing by the small drawing room, book in hand, when she heard her name. She turned back to see Victor’s mother. The Dowager Duchess of Kensington was having tea in the room.

“Lady Daphne,” she called. “Or Daphne? Do you mind me calling you by your name?”

“I do not mind at all, Your Grace,” she answered with a smile, sliding into one of the sofas. “How are you today?”