The Forbidden Duke Read Online Free Page B

trifle…colorless next to Miss Lockhart. Her hair was pale blond, while Miss Lockhart’s was a vivid auburn. Isabelle’s eyes were an incandescent blue—beautiful—but simple, as if she were only capable of a studied range of emotions. Miss Lockhart’s had possessed a feral quality. Somehow he’d detected a fierce independence buried in their depths.
    Titus turned his head to look at Satterfield and to see if he could catch a glimpse of Miss Lockhart. She stood on the other side of the room, engaged in conversation—a vibrant addition to the mundane tea. Indeed, she didn’t look much like a companion at all. Weren’t they supposed to sit out of the way and observe?
    “Kendal?”
    Feeling as though he’d been caught stealing a biscuit from the kitchen when he was six, he snapped his attention back to his stepfather. “Yes. Last night proved most favorable.”
    Today, however, was proving strange. Miss Lockhart was provoking him to feel things he hadn’t in years. First was his inconvenient attraction to someone who wasn’t his mistress. He hadn’t been beleaguered with such nonsense in an age, and he’d be damned if he’d start now. No, that nuisance could be thwarted or at least ignored.
    Second, however, was the memory of who he used to be. How, once upon a time, he might have flirted with Miss Lockhart, perhaps stolen a kiss in a dark garden, and never given her another thought.
    He inwardly flinched, despising that callow young man. He caught his stepmother looking toward them meaningfully.
    “Genie’s giving us the evil eye,” Satterfield said. “I’d best go and smooth her feathers. I’d ask you to join me, but I know what your answer will be.” He clapped a hand on Titus’s shoulder. “Never you mind. She’s just happy you’re here.”
    Titus watched Satterfield join the group, then turned his gaze back to the street where it was safer. However, despite his intentions, he found himself sneaking looks at Miss Lockhart several times throughout the tea.
    And that simply would not do.

Chapter Three

    N ora’s heart had been racing at the outset of the tea this afternoon. This was her first official foray into Society, and she’d worried about how people might react when they saw her again. So far, however, things had gone swimmingly. In fact, she hadn’t expected Lady Satterfield to include her quite so…robustly. As a paid companion, she’d expected to help serve tea or ensure that no one was excluded from conversation. Instead, Lady Satterfield had introduced her to everyone who arrived. It had felt—just a bit—like her first Season.
    Except she was ten years older and far wiser. She hoped.
    Lady Satterfield interrupted Nora’s thoughts by introducing her to a new arrival, Lady Dunn. Past middle age with dark gray hair swept into an elegant style, Lady Dunn raised her quizzing glass and surveyed Nora from the top of her head to the tip of her shoe. “I remember you, gel.”
    Nora braced herself for what might come next. So far no one had come out and said whether they recalled who Nora was. And Nora didn’t remember Lady Dunn.
    Lady Satterfield opened her mouth, but Lady Dunn spoke first. “It’s good that you came back.”
    It was? Nora felt a surge of relief and smiled.
    Lady Dunn lowered her glass. “Come and sit with me for a few minutes.” She led Nora to an empty settee.
    Nora glanced at Lady Satterfield, who nodded encouragingly.
    Lady Dunn sat on the pale gold brocade and patted the space next to her.
    Nora dropped down beside her. She had the sense Lady Dunn wanted to impart some bit of wisdom or advice.
    “You’re a brave young lady,” Lady Dunn said without preamble. “I recall precisely what trouble you found however many years ago that was, and I can only hope you’ve learned your lesson.”
    Nora wasn’t sure what to make of the woman’s candor. On the one hand, it was comforting to have things out in the open, but on the other, she felt more vulnerable than