Page 6 (2/2)

"I would be quite sorry not to , Your Grace"

"Leopold," he said

"What?"

"My naroup wandering toward theone

Chapter Three

Lady Eleanor ht the connotations of that pool full of violets, but the Duke of Villiers certainly did Once this party was over, his friend Elijah planned to lure his wife, Jerant bathtub and seduce her

Villiers found hiive a daover Jemma like a sick calf, it was a pleasure to think of her without a surge of desire and jealousy

Lady Eleanor Lindel, daughter of the Duke of Montague, ht well complete his cure She was certainly Jemma’s opposite Jenaled patrician blood enhanced by beauty, intelligence, and exquisite taste in clothing

But Eleanor? She wasn’t proud, as he had assumed when he heard of her express desire towas aboive a da the way she had tossed those curls into the bushes

If Jemma was slender, Eleanor was curvy, with lush lips that resehty opera dancer He could have sworn she wasn’t wearing lip color, although her mouth was a deep rose that hardly seemed possible in nature

People’s faces tended to enerally adorns herself with equally stern clothing, even though he hih character of his nose and chin by wearing outrageously luxurious garments But Eleanor’s mouth didn’t match her prim attire and absurd curls She was as mismatched as he was, albeit in a different key

She looked acerbic Peppery Delectable As if she’d get bored with chess, toss the board to the side, and clih presumably she’d be unlikely to cli for another iven up hope of that sort of adoration And certainly he had never wanted it from a wife

He pushed hio ho to be on the road, but the Bow Street Runner had sent the na After the third disappointment, he’d learned to wait until the presence of tas confire

"Villiers!"

He turned to find Louise, Lady Nevill, waving at hi with his former fiancée, Roberta, now the Countess of Gryffyn That betrothal had been a profound mistake, but, thank God, one from which he’d escaped And now that Roberta was happily ed civil conversation on occasion

"Villiers," Roberta cried, holding out her hand "I a so well You were still terribly thin last tiave him a lazy smile, accompanied by an appreciative survey fro," she drawled, "the h I wouldn’t call hiered for just a second at his crotch

Louise earing what he thought a in existence Her lush breasts threatened to spill free at anymen to types of food," she announced

"Louise says that Albertus Vesey resele of laughter

Villiers raised an eyebrow "Given his girth, I would suggest a melon"

"Believe us That rather exotic white kind" Her eyes twinkled wickedly "Pale, slim…overcooked Limp"

"Hush, Louise," Roberta said "You’ll make Villiers blush Nohat kind of food would the duke be?" They both looked him over