In Need of a Duke (The Heart of a Duke 0.5)(7)

“Michael?”

Michael lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “Lucifer needed to flex his legs.” That much was at least factual.

His brother’s gaze darted around, as if searching for the hint of the truth in the shrubbery around them. “I did see a young lady hurrying down the riding path moments ago,” he remarked, smothering a yawn with his hand.

Michael directed his eyes forward. Blast the woman’s stubbornness. He’d warned her off the riding path. Had she not learned from her near trampling that it was hardly safe or sane for her to be meandering down a riding path? “Did you, now?”

“Lovely thing,” St. James went on. “Her hair hung about her waist.” He chuckled. “She must have been a maid out for a morning romp.”

Michael’s fists flexed around the reins as he fought an inexplicable urge to drag his brother from his horse and plant a fist in his rakish smile. An odd burning flared in his belly, and Michael stiffened as he recognized the emotion as jealousy. As soon as the thought entered his mind, he shoved it aside.

He scoffed. Why would he be jealous over his brother’s admiration for Lady Aldora? After all, since she’d beaten a retreat, hadn’t he too thought about the satiny feel of her skin, the bow-shaped lips that had fairly begged to be kissed?

They continued riding while St. James shifted the conversation to a topic far safer, his tailor. It also happened to be a good deal less interesting than say, a young lady wandering alone in the park, and mistaking Michael for a lord.

Michael reflected on their meeting. What had it been about Lady Aldora that had so intrigued him? With her tumble into the shrubbery, her tightly coiled ringlets had cascaded down her back, drawing attention to the narrow-waist he could span with his hands. Even as her chocolate brown eyes had snapped with fury, he hadn’t been able to look away from the endearing smattering of freckles that dusted her nose. Respectable, young, and clearly in the market for a husband, she was by no means the manner of woman he sought. He would be wise to set her from his thoughts.

But as he entered his town house later that afternoon, he rather suspected it wasn’t going to be easy to forget Lady Aldora Adamson.





Chapter Two





Aldora scanned the crowd, not for the first time at ton events, glad that she stood a good deal taller than most. Her height made it easier to find her friends, or in this case the Marquess of St. James. She had it on good authority that the marquess would be present and so she, or rather, Mother, had managed to secure an invitation to Lord and Lady Havendale’s ball.

Two days had passed since she’d met St. James in Hyde Park. For all she’d told herself she only cared about pursuing the marquess for the security he represented for both her and her sisters, after two days Aldora was forced to admit to herself she wanted to see him. There had been something about him; his frank honesty, the touch of his fingers on her skin, the passion in his eyes, all of which had burned a mark upon her.

She settled back on her heels and perused the area, knowing even as she did that he hadn’t arrived.

Her mother, the Countess of Adamson, stood at her side prattling on about some such gossip with Lady Aldridge. Aldora may as well have been invisible for all the notice they paid her, which was nothing short of a blessing for Aldora.

“Are you looking for an escape?” a familiar voice drawled.

“Or are you looking for someone?” another piped in Aldora’s ear.

She spun around, shoulders sagging in relief at the sudden appearance of her friends. Valera, Lady Ravenswood, and Lady Alison stood there, curiosity fairly pouring from their like expressions.

“Hallo,” Aldora replied, her mind frantically spinning for a suitably evasive reply. “I didn’t think…” She snapped her mouth shut.

Valera’s eyes narrowed. “I believe she is looking for someone.”

Aldora glanced over at her mother, her heart racing. Fortunately her mother was fully engrossed and hadn’t heard her friends’ teasing. “No, I’m not! Uh—I mean I was looking for the both of you,” she said on a hushed whisper.

Valera snorted. Of all her friends, Valera knew Aldora better than anyone else. Valera was possessed of a like solemnity and inherent sense of responsibility. Valera’s family had despaired of her ever securing a match but ultimately the lovely woman had earned the Earl of Ravenswood. Not only had Valera found love, she’d found a powerful man who respected her and her intelligence. Aldora knew it was the height of foolishness, but it was the heart-shaped pendant and her friends’ matches that gave Aldora hope that she too would find herself wedded to the very marriageable marquess.

A smile turned up the corners of Alison’s lips. “It doesn’t take an in-depth medical study to determine you are lying.” With her somberness and preference for a lengthy scientific journal over a good soiree, Alison was so very different than most young ladies.

Which is why she and Valera made for the perfect company…and always had, since they were small children.

Valera looped her arm through her friend’s and whispered, “Perhaps you were looking for someone and an escape?”

Aldora felt her cheeks warm.

“Newton’s Apple!” Alison’s mouth opened wide like a fish on land. ”Based on the rushing blood and quickened breathing, I’d say Aldora is looking for a specific gentleman.”