Page 3 of Ravished by the Beastly Duke (Regency Beasts #1)

CHAPTER 3

“ W ould you kiss me?”

The words were out of Eveline’s mouth before she could think better of the consequences that would surely follow if he refused her and took offense at the request. After all, he had accused her of attempting to trap him in a scandal by locking herself in a room with him.

He was silent for a moment, but she saw a hint of surprise cross his features before he schooled his face into an unreadable mask. She wondered if perhaps she had made a grievous error in choosing him to help her enact Lily’s scandalous suggestion.

Damn her for putting such thoughts in my mind.

If she escaped this encounter, her friend would definitely be getting a thorough talking to.

She wondered why she suddenly decided he was a worthy candidate to explore such a salacious notion with, considering that only a few minutes ago, she had thought him a rude cad.

And he had been rude in his assessment of her as nothing more than a desperate lady seeking to secure a match by trapping a man in scandal. He had a haughty air about him that could only come from someone confident in his standing in Society. It was natural that she felt averse to him, considering how much she detested pompous men. Yet, she had found his voice pleasant and his brooding manner not uninviting.

Then, there had been his quiet perusal of her figure. She had felt his eyes linger more than was proper on certain parts of her, as though he found her attractive. That feeling reduced her insecurity.

She wanted to hold onto that feeling as long as she could. Almost desperately, in fact. She did not think herself ugly, but she also did not think herself desirable.

Seeing as he had not still said anything, and he seemed stunned into an even colder silence, she was quick to apologize, hoping he would at least forget that she had ever made such a request.

“I am sorry if I have offended you with my request,” she started. “It was only meant to be a joke, and?—”

“Why?” he asked, interrupting her.

“Pardon?”

“Why do you want me to kiss you?”

She felt the weight of his scrutiny and wondered if honesty was the best approach to dealing with the problem she had created for herself.

“I… I have been curious,” she admitted. “I will get married if my sister has her way, but I would rather marry for love than for anything else. But I haven’t experienced any passion as I have seen described in books to know what love looks like. Even if I end up resigning myself to a loveless marriage, I would at least want this one moment of happiness for myself.”

“And you think you can experience passion if I kiss you?” he asked, stepping closer.

He was more than a foot away, yet the heat of him warmed her, and she felt her face flush at his question. She wondered what it was about him that cowed her, when she usually was confident around men.

She could have chalked it up to the mystery surrounding his identity, but that would be an untruth. It was in the manner with which he held himself—an innate confidence that oozed from him. It was nothing like the practiced pride she had seen in the men she had been introduced to.

This man knew and carried himself as one of high standing, and while it humbled her, she found herself feeling excited too. No man had ever captured her interest as he had, and she was sorely tempted to inquire about his identity.

Her hand still tingled from where she had touched him, and if anything she read in the novels was accurate, then it meant she was attracted to him.

“I would like to know the answer for myself,” she answered, lowering her eyes.

The air felt charged with something she couldn’t place, which made her even more nervous.

Was he going to kiss her, or would he scold her for being improper?

While she hoped for the former, she hoped that if he chose to do the latter, it would end there and he would not be the sort to spread tales. It would hurt her pride greatly if she made a poor estimation of his character.

He stepped closer again, and she felt her breath catch in her chest, as there was barely any distance between them now. She smelled his sandalwood fragrance and noted that it wasn’t oppressive.

Everything about this man indicated that she had made the right choice, and yet she couldn’t help but worry.

“Why did you pick me?” he asked. “Is that why you came to this chamber?”

“No. I came to escape my sister’s matchmaking attempts,” she answered truthfully. “But seeing you here, it was almost as though fate was on my side. I am sorry if I have offended you, My Lord. I would thank you not to speak of this to anyone else. I do not think my reputation would survive the blow.”

She bit her lip as shame welled up inside her. He was going to reject her. She could sense it as clearly as one sensed the coming rain, and it hurt her more than she had thought it would.

Men hardly ever rejected women’s advances, except when they found them thoroughly unattractive.

“You really must stop this terrible habit,” he murmured.

“Wha—”

He gave her no warning before his lips met hers in a firm kiss. Her eyes widened at the odd sensation and then shut when he wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her flush against him.

She was kissing a man!

His lips ghosted over hers once and then twice, and then he captured them in another searing kiss. She sensed he was being gentle with her, for his body was taut against hers.

He was so much larger than her and stronger if the strength of his arms were anything to go by, and that difference in their sizes made her press herself against him.

Why did this man not frighten her?

Eveline thought she had known excitement before, but the way her heart raced and her blood sang as his lips moved over hers proved to her that she had been too hasty in her conclusion.

He kissed her softly then, but there was something utterly decadent that sang in her blood, which made her bury her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck. The softness of it had her sighing into his lips, the action causing him to stiffen and pull away from her.

She bit her lip again, fearing she had done the wrong thing by showing her happiness. She looked down. His finger slid beneath her chin and tilted it up as he placed one last chaste kiss on her lips which warmed her even more than the previous one.

When he pulled away this time, it took her a long while to open her eyes. But when she did, he was still standing so close to her, and her hands were pressed to his broad chest.

He was such a large man, with a brooding air about him, and she wondered why she felt safe around him.

She wanted to know who he was.

She wanted terribly to know this gentleman, who had had her blood singing before he had even kissed her.

“Well,” he said suddenly. “Was that to your satisfaction?”

She was still too stunned to speak, too stunned to place a hand on her tingling lips to make sure she wasn’t imagining things, but she did not miss the disdain in his voice.

He had no doubt formed an even more negative view of her character after what they had just done, but as long as they weren’t caught, she doubted he would recognize her or learn the truth of her identity enough to insult her.

That fact had her pulling away from him and removing every romantic notion her silly mind had begun to entertain. But how was she to answer such a question?

“I…” She cleared her throat. “Yes. Thank you.”

She watched a flicker of a smile cross his lips. But as soon as it appeared, he suppressed it, clearing his throat. His lips pressed firmly into the thin line they had been in since she had first seen him, and she wished he would stop punishing them so.

“Goodbye, then,” he said, moving away from her.

She felt his absence quickly as a cold draft rushed at her from the open balcony doors. Her body still tingled from the kiss, and her waist warmed where he had touched her. Nothing she had read could have prepared her sufficiently for the sensations she had felt.

Would it always be this way?

He was barely three feet from the door when it swung open, revealing Lord and Lady Yardley with some other guests.

Lord Yardley stumbled back, then took in the sight before him and bowed.

“Your Grace,” he greeted. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t informed you were using this chamber. I will escort the guests elsewhere.”

Eveline’s eyes widened as fear filled her.

Your Grace? He is a duke?

From where she stood, they had still yet to notice her because his large frame blocked their view. If he were to move even a slight fraction, it would spell a scandal like no other.

“It is all right, Lord Yardley,” he said, his voice not betraying anything. “I thank you for your hospitality.”

“It is my pleasure to host you, Your Grace.” Lord Yardley preened at his gratitude. “I surely feel special, as the famed Duke of Mayfield chose my ball to reacquaint himself with Society. I am truly honored to have… Miss Eveline?”

Eveline froze as his eyes landed on her, which caused the Duke and the other guests to turn to her.

“Why are you here?” Lady Yardley asked. “Where is your sister? Oh my.”

“This is a problem,” one of the other guests gasped.

“I… I must fetch the girl’s sister,” Lady Yardley stammered, rushing away.

“We must keep this between us,” Lord Yardley said, but he did not sound convinced that the rumors had not already begun to spread.

Some of the guests he was with had disappeared, no doubt to start spreading rumors. Even though Eveline and the Duke weren’t caught doing anything improper, they were still caught alone in a bedchamber.

No doubt by morning, she would scarcely know the truth of what had happened, with the tales that would have been spun by the ton. She cursed all the gossip she had ever heard and believed without confirming whether it was true or not. Now, she would be subjected to the same treatment as other victims of gossip.

She tried to imagine Ava’s or her father’s face, and knew it was better to throw herself off the balcony now than face their disappointment. Her father’s, especially. He would no doubt blame Ava and sell her off to the highest bidder, whether she approved of the match or not. It was only because he did not want to be bothered by their existence that he had left the matter of finding her a husband to Ava. Now that his reputation could be affected, he would no doubt involve himself.

She met the Duke’s eyes, hoping her apology was reflected in her gaze, because speaking would only blow the scandal out of proportions.

“Evie!” Ava cried, coming to hug her. “Are you well?”

Her sister looked frazzled but was obviously trying to hide her fear and anger behind checking on her well-being.

“I am sorry, Ava. I…”

“Do not say anything,” Ava warned softly. “Come, let us head home now.”

Tears welled up in Eveline’s eyes, but she let herself be led by her sister, only stopping to give the Duke another apologetic look. His reputation would not suffer a brutal blow the way hers would, but he would no doubt be inconvenienced by the rumors.

“You should take the back entrance,” Lord Yardley suggested. “Let her at least escape tonight without facing their stares.”

“Thank you, My Lord,” Ava told him. “And I am sorry this…”

“Think nothing of it, dear girl,” Lord Yardley reassured her. “I know your sister, and I am sure this is nothing more than a misunderstanding.”

Her silence was all the answer Eveline needed to know that she did not believe that to be true. It almost stung, but Ava wasn’t wrong.

The Duke had said nothing, and his face had been unreadable, but no doubt he would be livid, seeing as what he had predicted had happened. He would no doubt tell the truth of what had happened, and she would be ruined come morning, known as the wanton who asked a man she did not know to kiss her.

Lily was beside them in an instant, taking her other hand.

“I have already told them to prepare your carriage,” she informed Ava.

“Thank you, Lily,” Ava said tonelessly.

“Please, do not be upset with Evie. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation for why she was in that chamber. You know she?—”

“As much as I appreciate your counsel, Lily, I would rather not discuss this here or now. There are too many eyes and ears,” Ava interrupted. “I will write to you. For now, I must deal with this… We shall see you for tea later.”

“I will expect your invitation, then,” Lily said, hugging them both. “Safe travels.”

Eveline was still in a state of shock when she was helped into the carriage, but she was also afraid, seeing how still Ava had become.

Her sister was often loud when she was angry, but this cold fury scared her even more. She knew her sister was blaming herself already for the incident and wanted to assure her that she had not failed.

“Ava, I?—”

“I certainly hope whatever it was that happened between you two was worth your reputation.”