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A drian lounged in a chair in the game room.

His thoughts kept wandering to the day before and his interactions with Miss Georgina.

She was so lovely and sweet. Far too sweet for the likes of him.

He should keep his distance but as he never did as he should, he knew he’d seek her out again at the first opportunity.

He wasn’t entirely certain what the dowager marchioness had planned for the day’s activity.

He hadn’t bothered to pay much attention when she or Easton had discussed it.

He hadn’t cared, and now he regretted that.

He would have to seek out the marquess and ask him.

Adrian wanted to plan some alone time with the lovely chit.

What he really wanted to do was to sneak a kiss or two.

Easton strolled into the game room as if Adrian had summoned him with his thoughts. “Amberwood.” The marquess nodded at the duke, and then at him. “Foxmoore.”

“Please tell me why you agreed to this infernal house party again,” Amberwood grumbled.

“One of those wretched debutantes thought it would be a good idea to corner me in the breakfast room this morning.” He shuddered.

Foxmoore barely suppressed a grin. He found it amusing how much his friend had to do to avoid the marriage minded misses.

“I’ll give you one guess what I will not do the rest of the time your guests are here. ”

“Eat breakfast?” The marquess raised a brow. “You cannot skip all the meals. Even you need food to survive.”

Amberwood should request a breakfast tray brought to his room. That would be one way to avoid the ladies. At least for the morning meal. Adrian could suggest it, but why should he be that helpful? It would take away some of his amusement at his friend’s expense.

“Very true,” Amberwood said to Easton. “But I do not need to eat here, now do I?”

The marquess laughed. “And where, pray tell, will you take your meals, then?” It seemed that both Adrian and Easton were amused by the duke’s predicament.

“I haven’t worked that part out yet,” Amberwood admitted. “But I will skip as many as I can. I do not want to be permanently attached to one of these mercenary young ladies while I’m here.”

Easton turned toward Foxmoore. “Are you having a similar time?”

He shrugged. “My reputation precedes me. Some are giving me a second look but haven’t acted on it yet.

Not so sure they want to take their chances with a lecherous rake.

I may not be gentlemanly enough to actually offer for them once they’re ruined.

” He doubted very much any of them would try anything with him.

His rakehell ways would serve him well where all the young debutantes were concerned.

Besides, there was only one woman who held his interest, and he couldn’t help being thankful she didn’t seem privy to his rakish behaviors of the past. For her he wanted much, much more.

Yes, he wanted to kiss her. She graced his dreams since their first meeting, and they definitely were of the wicked sort.

Adrian would love to take her to his bed and kiss every inch of her delectable skin.

As he felt differently toward her, he would not take advantage of her na?veté.

“Interesting,” the marquess replied, and then turned toward Amberwood. “Perhaps you should consider sullying your good name.”

“It wouldn’t work,” Amberwood drawled. “The title is too tempting. They all want to be a duchess.” He rolled his eyes. “They don’t much care about the man attached to it.”

“If it is too much…” The marquess sighed in resignation.

“Of course it is too much. I’ll talk to my mother.

She has to rein in her guests’ more scandalous behavior.

I told her I would not abide such actions.

” He scrubbed his hand over his face, his frustration evident in his gaze.

Adrian understood why. His friend hadn’t wanted to have a house party, and for good reason.

Some ladies didn’t care how they landed a husband as long as the end justified the means.

“It will be all right,” Amberwood said, resigned.

“He’s correct,” he said amicably. “This is not the first time we’ve had to resist the charms of ladies we did not wish to sample from.” Not that Adrian had ever done much resisting in the past.

Amberwood rolled his eyes. “That doesn’t always prevent you from stealing a kiss or several.”

The earl shrugged nonchalantly. “And that is a bad thing?” He fully intended to do just that with his Georgina. He had started to call her his in his mind, and once he’d begun, he couldn’t stop. Not that he’d wanted to.

“Still,” the marquess said in a thoughtful tone, “I will have a discussion with my mother. There are other gentlemen here as well. If they wish to remain as guests, then everyone needs to respect my wishes.”

Adrian leaned forward in his chair. “Now that we’ve settled that, I think we need to discuss the real issue.”

“And what is that?” Easton asked as he sat down. “Is there some other guest issue we need to discuss?”

“In a matter of speaking,” Adrian replied. “When are our neighbors going to arrive?” He had his priorities, after all. He didn’t give one wit about the guests actually staying at Easton Abbey. None of them interested him.

“I suspect they are meant to arrive in time for the archery today.” He tilted his head to the side. “Is there a reason why you want to know?”

“I always have a reason,” he said in a smug tone.

“Doesn’t mean I’ll share it.” He wasn’t ready to tell anyone how he felt about Georgina.

It was too new and unfamiliar to him. Adrian didn’t quite understand his fascination himself.

He wanted to explore this at his leisure.

When he knew more, then he’d explain it.

Even then he wasn’t so certain he could put his feelings into words. None seemed quite adequate.

“Don’t do anything to upset any of those women,” Easton told him. “Especially if you hope they will return.”

“I wouldn’t do anything of the sort.” Adrian held his hand on his chest. “You wound me.” He knew full well that his lecherous reputation was what prompted the marquess to issue that warning.

“That’s impossible.” Easton glared at him and then shook his head.

“I wouldn’t mind it if they stayed away,” Amberwood said.

“I’d be far happier if I never had to see them again.

” There was bitterness in his tone as he spoke.

The duke didn’t want to socialize with anyone, so that statement didn’t surprise Adrian.

But he’d also noticed he had bickered a lot with his partner in lawn billiards the day before. More so than custom.

“Let’s be honest,” Easton said as he met Amberwood’s gaze. “You don’t want to see one of those ladies in particular. Do you wish to discuss the reason why?” So Adrian wasn’t the only one who had noticed the duke’s discord with Lady Jaclyn.

“I’d rather not,” he said. “But you need not worry. I won’t cause any scandal or make anyone wish to stay away. I’ll be… good.” He seemed to say that last bit reluctantly.

“Well, this has been… interesting,” Easton said. “But I need to locate my mother and have that discussion. I’ll see you both outside in the next hour for the archery, correct?”

“I’ll be there,” Adrian said. “It should be entertaining, at least. Some of those ladies have trouble standing straight. I cannot wait to see them try to shoot an arrow.” He chuckled as he thought about how he’d gladly catch Georgina if she suffered such a fate.

He almost hoped she did. It would give him a good reason to have her in his arms.

“How about you, Amberwood?” Easton asked.

“I’ll be there,” he replied in a grudging tone. “I’ll even try to be friendly.”

“That’s all I can ask,” the marquess said and left them alone in the room.

Adrian tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. “What is your real reason for disliking Lady Jaclyn?” he asked. He couldn’t help himself. Amberwood seemed to thoroughly hate her, and he never felt that strongly about any woman.

“I never said I disliked her,” he said.

“You didn’t have to,” Adrian said. “Your actions speak for themself.”

“Well, I don’t,” he gritted out the words. “And I don’t wish to discuss it.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” Adrian said. “As you wish.” His tone was mocking as he spoke.

He wouldn’t push the issue. If Amberwood wished to speak more on the topic he would.

“I’ll leave you to your brooding then. I have an archery competition to prepare for.

” With that, he left the game room. The duke could stew in his own misery.

Adrian, on the other hand, had very scandalous intentions to see happen that afternoon.

*

Amberwood hadn’t stayed in the game room as Adrian had thought he would.

After he left, the duke had sprung up and followed him out of the room, then stayed by his side until he exited the abbey and went to the field where the archery contest was being held.

Adrian searched the grounds hoping to find Georgina, but he didn’t see her anywhere.

But then he spotted Lady Charlotte and Lady Jaclyn.

He held back a grin and started toward them.

Amberwood would not thank him for this, but he didn’t have to continue to follow him around like a lost puppy either.

Lady Jaclyn glared at the duke. The animosity in that gaze spoke much about her regard for him.

“You only think you know how wicked I can be.” Lady Jaclyn turned away from them.

Her words were directed at her friend, but Adrian believed they were meant for Amberwood.

She wiggled her eyebrows at Lady Charlotte.

“Trust me,” she said in a firm tone. “When I’m truly wicked, you’ll be the last one to know.

” With those words she walked away, leaving the Duke of Amberwood gaping at her.

“She’s too much,” the duke said under his breath.