Charmed By Knight (The Fielding Brothers Saga) Read Online Free

brilliant green eyes met his, and a wistful, tender emotion displayed in her softened gaze. He congratulated himself for saying the right words. Now he knew how to charm her. He’d have her in a passionate embrace very soon.
    Perhaps it would be worthwhile to find out what game she and her parents played with the Duke of Kelton .

 
    Chapter Two
     
    Megan couldn’t fail.
    If she didn’t capture the duke, her paternal grandmother would indeed kick Megan’s family out into the streets to live. She clenched her jaw. She must convince the duke of wedlock even though he wasn’t looking for a wife.
    Her nanny had raised her to be a proper young woman. Why, the poor woman would spin in her grave if she knew her sweet, innocent little girl planned to charm a man. And not just any man…the Duke of Kelton .
    Never in Megan’s wildest dreams would she think of blatantly playing the part of a wanton, yet, what other option did she have? She must proceed with her goal. She couldn’t disappoint her family and take the chance of being thrown on the streets to live like paupers.
    Then again, perhaps she didn’t have to go against her upbringing and act like a wanton. Being with the duke unchaperoned was reason enough to be forced into marriage. Yet, it was his word against hers, and what if he chose to lie?
    Her only option was to turn on her charm. She had to make him desire her enough to propose. After all, wasn’t this the very thing her mother had suggested Megan do to the duke?
    As much as she loathed the thought of being reduced to a pawn in someone else’s game, she needed to do it to survive.
    The duke strolled to the fireplace and grabbed a poker to stir the fire. Megan skimmed over his lean physique. Her face heated at the boldness of her gaze. He was certainly well put together. Such a strapping man; one who moved with confidence and was clearly in charge of his world. It defined his character well. She liked that.
    The duke moved away and came toward her. It wouldn’t be so awful to be married to one so handsome, either.
    When he passed the mahogany desk he stopped and turned. He opened the desk’s delicate cover to extract a deck of cards. “Are you a card player?” he asked over his shoulder.
    “I have played some games of chance.”
    “How about Commerce?”
    “Regretfully, no. My expertise is restricted to ladies’ parlor games.”
    “Since we are to be here for a while, let me teach you something new. I assure you it will help pass the time.”
    He motioned his hand for her to join him at a small wooden table near the gray-stone fireplace. She grasped the edges of the robe and clutched them together under her chin. She really shouldn’t get out of bed dressed as she was. Her proper voice screamed at her to stay. But the cordial invitation, the tempting warmth of the fire, and the necessity to win this man as her husband lured her from the safety of the covers.
    Megan pushed away her doubts and climbed out of the bed. His gaze traveled over her body in an unhurried exploration. Heated sensations shot up her spine and she tightened the material around her throat a little more.
    The Duke of Kelton pulled out a chair for her and walked around to the other side of the table. She took a moment to study him and the paradox he presented. At one point, he seemed like a true gentleman, yet, he didn’t hesitate to touch her knee or sit so close to her on the bed.
    But that didn’t explain the strange feelings running rapid through her. She trembled whenever he turned his heated gaze on her, which was not normal. No such man had been able to evoke such a response from her before.
    Kelton drew her attention away from her musing by explaining the game. As he continued to give the instructions, sounds fell from his mouth and carried across to her, but she couldn’t focus on mere words with all of her concentration aimed at his lips. They looked so smooth, so tender, and she fought the urge to reach out and touch