Page 15 of His Duchess’ Wicked List (Duchess Deals #1)

CHAPTER 15

“ D aniel! Daniel!”

Daniel snapped out of his reverie at the sound of his mother’s strident voice. He had been spellbound, watching Maddie dancing. She was looking particularly delectable this evening in a white silk gown with a silver net overlay. Small sprigs of jasmine were scattered like stars throughout her dark hair.

His face soured. He wasn’t, however, enamored with her dance partner. This was the second time this evening that Christopher had asked her to dance, which was practically announcing their engagement, in this society.

“What is it, Mother?” Daniel snapped, turning to face the Dowager Duchess.

“I want you to go and ask Lady Augusta to dance,” she whispered, fanning her face dramatically. “She is in danger of becoming a wallflower for the entire evening. It is the honorable thing to do, my child.”

Daniel rolled his eyes. “Really, Mother? Could you be any more transparent in your matchmaking?”

“There is little harm in simply dancing with a lady, Daniel,” his mother retorted sharply. “And this is your home. You are the host! It is your duty . And it would please me.”

Daniel drained his champagne glass, placing it on the tray of a passing footman, and grabbing another. His mother raised pained eyebrows, staring at him pointedly. He just knew she wasn’t going to give up. She would be harping at him for the entire night if he didn’t agree to one dance with Lady Augusta.

“Oh, all right,” he relented. “I will do it—just once. But you must promise me that you will not interfere for the rest of the evening.”

His mother beamed at him. “Of course, dear boy!”

He passed her the glass of champagne, walking through the crowd, to where Lady Augusta was sitting. He didn’t believe his mother at all. She would find something else for him to do—some other onerous chore. He was sure of it.

Lady Augusta was watching the dancers with a pained expression on her face. She looked like she was about to expire from boredom. Clearly, she didn’t enjoy balls in this society any more than he did.

He bowed. “My Lady, Would you do me the honor of accompanying me in the dance?”

Lady Augusta looked amazed. “But… why?”

Why, indeed?

But he couldn’t back away now. He could feel his mother’s eyes boring a hole into his back.

“Because it would please me,” he replied, trying to be gallant. He lowered his voice. “And I would wager it would please our mothers even more.”

To his surprise, Lady Augusta burst out laughing, jumping to her feet. She took his proffered arm. “That is a good enough reason, Your Grace. Mothers can be so tiresome to deflect.”

They reached the dance floor, timing it perfectly, as one dance had just ended and another was about to start. Several people walked away, vanishing into the crowded ballroom, but he couldn’t help noticing that his cousin was commandeering Maddie for yet another dance.

He felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He had never seen Chris so openly enamored with a lady before. It just wasn’t his style. Could his cousin possibly be serious about her?

A quadrille started. He turned to his dance partner, bowing. Lady Augusta curtseyed. The dance was underway.

He tried to be attentive towards her, but his gaze kept drifting over to his cousin and Maddie. She was laughing at something his cousin had said. He scowled.

“Do you think they would be a good match, Your Grace?”

He turned to Lady Augusta. “Who?”

“Your cousin and my sister,” Lady Augusta replied, smiling slightly. “That is who you keep looking at, is it not?”

“Hmm,” he murmured noncomittally. “I hardly know.”

“I am serious,” Lady Augusta said. “Lord Christopher has been dancing attendance upon my sister ever since we arrived at this house party. His preference is obvious.” She hesitated. “But is your cousin a sincere gentleman? Would he love her if he were to marry her?”

Daniel’s heart plummeted to the ground. The jealousy was biting him again, quite viciously this time. He didn’t want to even hear about the prospect of Christopher marrying Maddie. But he couldn’t tell Lady Augusta that, of course. He tried to school his face.

“I doubt that Chris would love his wife any more than I would love mine,” he replied in a dry voice as they passed each other on the dance floor.

To his surprise, Lady Augusta burst out laughing. “I should be offended by that comment, but, alas, it eludes me.” She paused. “I assume that you are no more pleased by the plotting of our mothers to match us than I am?”

Daniel flushed. He had been gauche. But the lady seemed to be telling the truth—she really wasn’t offended. He suppressed a sigh of relief.

“It isn’t anything about you, My Lady,” he said quickly, trying to save himself. “You are charm personified. I am certain many gentlemen would be honored to have you as a wife.”

Lady Augusta raised her eyebrows. “I hardly think that is true, Your Grace, given my reputation.” She paused, gazing at him sharply. “Are you in love with someone else? Is that it?”

He stifled his surprise. Ladies weren’t usually so direct in their questions. But then, Lady Augusta wasn’t like other ladies. His cousin had declared her a fearsome bluestocking, and he wasn’t wrong. But that didn’t mean Daniel didn’t like her. It was quite refreshing, really, and he had always been fascinated by strong women.

The Cole sisters are unique, indeed . Both of them are beautiful and spirited.

He gazed at Lady Augusta carefully. She didn’t look anything like her younger sister, but she was lovely, with her golden hair and fierce green eyes, which shone with intelligence.

He felt a stab of pity for her. It was very hard for independent-minded, free-spirited women like her to fit into the ton. No wonder she always looked like she was about to wage battle.

“Your Grace?” Her voice was still sharp. “Are you in love with someone?”

He flashed a self-deprecating smile. “Alas, My Lady, I am not. Rest assured that is not the reason I spurn the idea of marriage with you.” He hesitated. “I simply cannot and will not marry for my own deeply held reasons, and in spite of my mother’s machinations.”

To his surprise, she looked displeased, which was odd, given that she had just confessed that she didn’t want to marry him any more than he wanted to marry her.

“Stay strong, Lady Augusta,” he said suddenly. “Do not let them change you or destroy you. Always be yourself.”

She looked surprised at his strange advice. He was surprised as well. He hadn’t been meaning to say that to her. Perhaps it was because he recognized another hounded soul, just like himself, and knew how hard it was to carry on in the face of eternal disapproval.

To his relief, the dance ended. He bowed, and Lady Augusta curtseyed, before vanishing into the crowd. His duty was done. He was just about to vanish himself, to try to find a hideout far from his mother’s eagle eyes, when he noticed that Christopher was whispering to Maddie, clearly entreating her for yet another dance.

He felt a stab of pure irritation and something else. Before he could stop himself, he marched over to them. They both looked surprised to see him.

“You really should not monopolize her, Chris,” he said, trying to smile at his cousin, to take the edge off his words. “And I am the host. I believe it is my duty to squire the lady for one dance, at least. What do you say, Lady Madeline?”

For one tense second, he thought she was going to refuse him. His heart almost stopped beating. This was the closest he had been to her since she had lain in his arms last night.

The scent of her perfume invaded his nostrils, making him so hungry for her that it was a herculean effort to not grab her and drag her to the ground this instant.

“Of course, Your Grace,” Maddie replied, her face looking pinched. “I would be honored.”

Chris didn’t look pleased, but he had no choice but to leave them to it.

The music started again. They bowed and curtseyed to each other. And then, the dance began.

Maddie’s heart was racing as fast as a rabbit as she danced with the Duke. To her horror, she discovered she was trembling. Why, oh why, hadn’t she just had the courage to refuse him? She could have begged off, found some excuse, claimed she was thirsty and needed some rest. He couldn’t have forced her to dance with him. Not with so many people around.

They skirted each other so closely that she felt his warm breath on her cheek. It was totally different from dancing with Lord Christopher. The air felt charged, like before a thunderstorm. Her traitorous body was already reacting to him, yearning for him, leaning towards him instinctively, even as her mind told her firmly to keep her distance.

“You look so fresh, My Lady,” the Duke whispered through gritted teeth, his grey eyes darkening to the color of flint. “Which is surprising, since you have been dancing with my cousin for practically the entire evening.”

Her breath caught in her throat. There it was again—the jealousy that lurked within him. It was still there. It seemed to have possessed him. His face was like thunder.

“I do not know why you care whether I dance with your cousin or not,” she retorted swiftly. “You just danced with my sister. And if our mothers have their way, you will be marrying her soon.”

He didn’t look pleased at that. “That will never happen.”

She eyed him scornfully. “Really? How comforting it is to hear that! Oh, but wait, I just remembered that you are a rake and a liar, so I simply cannot believe a word that comes out of your mouth, can I?”

His face darkened again, so much that Maddie felt a small stab of misgiving. He looked like a desperate man, one who couldn’t be pushed too far, for fear of the consequences. She knew she was playing with fire.

They drew so close to each other that she could see a small vein throbbing in his right temple. He glanced at her, his eyes filled with a tightly controlled anger… and something else.

“You need to remember our deal, My Lady,” he hissed. “You are allowed to cross off the items on your list with me and only me. I am the only one who is allowed to touch you.”

Maddie felt a thrill of desire course down her spine. Oh, she wanted him to touch her. He was the only man she wanted to touch her. Even the thought of another man touching her in such a way was anathema to her. She just couldn’t imagine it at all.

But it was too dangerous, for so many different reasons. It had already progressed further than it should have. She must resist him and try her hardest to convince him to just give her back the list and be done with it. Yes, he was a rake, but he must have some basic human decency, deep down. It was possible… wasn’t it?

“I want you to meet me in my study tonight,” he continued in the same strained voice. “After everyone has left for the evening and the house is asleep. Do you promise?”

Maddie’s mouth went dry. The thought of him doing the same thing he had done to her last evening again was just too much. As much as she yearned for it, she knew she would regret it, yet again. But she could appeal to him, when they were alone, to give her back the list and stop this ludicrous game.

She would be strong. She could do it.

“I promise,” she murmured, feeling a little faint.

Their eyes locked. She felt another frisson of desire run down her spine. Somehow, she felt as if he had undressed her and she was standing before him utterly naked and vulnerable.

Mercifully, the dance finally ended. She could make her escape—at least for now. Quickly, she curtseyed, then she rushed through the crowd and away from him. When she was at a safe distance, she stopped, taking three big breaths, trying to steady herself.

She saw Selina approaching, threading through the crowd.

“You look so flushed, Maddie,” Selina noted, with a curious smile.

“Indeed,” Maddie said, taking her fan from her reticule. She fanned herself vigorously. “I need a glass of lemonade. I danced so much, and you know how tiring it gets, dearest.”

Selina laughed. “I suppose it does! You have been the popular one tonight. Christopher has barely let you escape from his clutches for the entire evening. I am surprised he even let my brother take a turn with you at all.”

Maddie smiled weakly. “I am sure Lord Christopher was only being polite and dancing with me out of duty.”

Selina raised her eyebrows. “Do you? I am afraid you are quite wrong, dearest. My dear cousin is taken with you. He is not a ladies’ man, so if he is showing a particular interest in you, it is sincere. Believe me.”

Maddie shrugged. She didn’t know what to say. She had no interest in Lord Christopher at all, even if he was charming and attentive. It wasn’t that she disliked him. It was just that he seemed rather like an older brother, rather than a suitor. But she didn’t want to offend Selina.

“It was nice of Daniel to dance with you,” Selina continued, frowning slightly. “My brother seems fond of you, Maddie.”

Maddie burst out laughing. “Oh, that is not true, Selina! He was only doing his duty as well.”

Selina looked like she was about to say something, then changed her mind. She pursed her lips, looking over at her brother, who was talking to someone on the edge of the dance floor.

“Well, perhaps you are right,” she said in a strange voice. “He did dance with Augusta as well. That was a surprise. I am shocked that your sister agreed to it at all, as she hasn’t danced with anyone else this evening. Do you think that our mothers might actually succeed in their matchmaking endeavors?”

“I hardly know,” Maddie mumbled, her heart fluttering. She needed to change the subject. “I really need to get a glass of lemonade, dearest, before I expire from thirst. I will be back soon.”

She started navigating the crowd, seeking a footman. It wasn’t a lie. She was still so hot and aroused from the dance with the Duke that she felt quite giddy with it.

She felt his eyes on her as she passed by. But she refused to turn her head and look at him. Her mouth was dry, and her skin was tingling. She could still hear his commanding voice in her mind.

You are allowed to cross off the items on your list with me and only me. I am the only one who is allowed to touch you.

She shivered. It would be hours until they could be alone together again. And then, she must find the courage to end this, once and for all, before she lost her senses entirely.