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The Duke And I Thirty-One
Lord Hartford was a devilish charmer, even at the age of six and fifty. He was roguishly handsome, slick hair pulled back so his face appeared more prominent. Aunt Adeline said the reason he did that was so his dimples would be the first things one saw when meeting him. "I don’t understand the obsession of people with a little indentation in my cheek," he said to Cassy when they were first introduced, "but I can assure you that this little, seemingly insignificant things have gotten me out of many a tight corners."Cassy smiled at him, not bothering to point out that the numerous wrinkles on his face were starting to blend into his dimples. His hair must have been thinning in the middle, which was why he made sure to cover the evidence of his imperfection diligently. The ballroom was somewhat crowded, and Cassy had pulled aunt Adeline to the side so they could silently observe the comings and goings of the ton. Lord Hartford was a famously wealthy man, and his sons William and Michea
The Duke And I Thirty-Two
"But I told you, I didn't know!" Cassy said, her anger beginning to overpower her. Jonathan towered over her, demanding answers to questions when her head ached, and her heart was hammering loudly in her chest. Adeline sat in a chair in the corner, her face stern, making Cassy wonder why everyone seemed to be against her."There's nothing for it, Henry," the duchess said after several minutes had passed. "She's been compromised by you.""Compromised?!""Why on earth did you think it would be a good idea to drag Cassandra to the porch and kiss her?" she demanded crossly. "Now Cassandra's name will be on the lips of everyone in London, from kitchen boys to scullery wenches. Everyone will know that you and your ward are having an affair.""I'm sorry to hear that," Henry said evenly, "but I would hardly call it an affair. It was just a kiss.""I'm quite sure of that. But do you think the ton will see it that way?" Adeline asked testily."I don’t care what the ton thinks," he said crossly.
The Duke And I Thirty-Three
They were married at ten o'clock in the morning. It had been a private ceremony at Eastland's insistence and had been performed in the small chapel on the county estate. Only a few servants had attended, and when Cassy turned to walk back down the aisle of the chapel, she happened to catch Sheldon's eyes. He seemed pleased, as did the others, who were all smiling, and she managed a shaky smile in return.Eastland had agreed to the ceremony of wedding breakfast but insisted that it be before tenants and servants, with the gates thrown open to allow the villagers in to partake of whole roasted sheep, oxen and cows. There was even a multitiered bridal cake on one table, intricately decorated with festoons of icing and small pink roses. A variety of foods sat heavily on long tables on the broad lawns of Eastland's country house, and the gardeners had worked feverishly to trim grasses and bushes. An archway of roses cascaded over the chairs where Cassy and Henry were to sit, along with Adel
The Duke And I Thirty-Four
Excusing himself from Lord Craven, Henry strode to his bride, a faint, caustic smile curling his mouth when she flushed and took an instinctive step away from him. Did he look that angry? He wondered idly and thought that he probably did. It should do her some good to think he would give her the cruel treatment he was certain she deserved. Being forced into marriage was the most unpleasant thing that had happened to him in some time, and if he could derive any sort of satisfaction, he felt he deserved it."So, my lovely bride," he drawled, taking one of her hands in his and noting how cold it was even tucked inside her glove, "I trust that it has all gone according to your wishes?"She stiffened as the insinuation behind his words. "If it had," she said with a brief show of spirit, "I would be far away from here!"A dark brow lifted in ironic amusement, and Henry shook his head. "Somehow, I doubt that my sweet," he said softly. "I think you've had things your way since all this began."
The Duke And I Thirty-Five
Bending his head, Henry captured her lips with his, one hand moving to tangle in her hair, pulling it free of the ribbons that held it atop her head, his fingers winding in the heavy strands to keep her from moving away from his kiss. His tongue coaxed her lips apart, easing inside with a velvety pressure that took her by surprise and made her jerk away. He held her still."No, please," she gasped out when he released her mouth for a moment, hearing her own voice as if from far away. It sounded drugged, hazy and she realized with a start that was how she felt all over. Everything about her felt weighted, her arms, her legs, even her eyelids. Henry's searing mouth found no opposition when he kissed her again, long and hard, his lips moving from hers up to the curve of her jaw to her ear, pausing to tease that small satiny patch at the base of her neck."Don't fight it," Henry muttered thickly when she lifted her head, her eyes smouldering with blue embers beneath the heavy fan of her la
The Duke And I Thirty-Six
"When do you intend to let her out of your bed?" Adeline demanded testily, fixing her nephew with an irritable glare when he appeared downstairs for breakfast alone. "No one has seen Cassandra in two days!"Lifting his dark brow in a mocking gesture, Henry looked coolly at his aunt. "I thought you were anxious for an heir, aunt Adeline. I don't know of another way to provide one for you.""Henry!" He was still angry, she could see that, and Adeline hesitated before asking cautiously, "Is she...all right?""If you mean have I given her the beating she so richly deserves, then no. But if you mean, have I hurt her, it's almost impossible for a virgin not to experience some pain in the first time," he said so bluntly the duchess coloured like a schoolgirl before she recovered her composure."Yes," she said stiffly, hoping to shock him into realizing how cruel he sounded, "we all heard her scream after you took her upstairs."Her words only amused Henry, and he shrugged. "I suppose that's n
The Duke And I Thirty-Seven
She left the house and went into the sunshine, not even stopping to grab a parasol to shade her face. Freckles would probably take over her face one day, she thought ruefully, but she was in so much of a hurry to stop. The stables were some distance from the house, and he might be gone by the time she arrived.For some reason, she wanted to see Henry again; to hear the deep, rich sound of his voice, and see the way his jade eyes rested on her with an aloof expression. One day, she mused, she would banish the aloofness from his gaze and he would tell her that he loved her.Cassy found Henry talking to Smith, who had become the head groom. As she approached, Henry half-turned, his brow lifting. He excused himself and walked toward her with a lazy stride that made her heart catch."Your grace," she murmured almost shyly, aware of the interested gazes in their direction. "I thought I might see if you were in the mood for a picnic."She'd had no idea what excuse she would use for looking fo
The Duke And I Thirty-Eight
Her riding skirts were much bulkier than her usual outfits, and Cassy found it hard to keep up with Henry's long stride. When they reached the top of the hill, she was breathing hard and sat down on the surface of flat rock to catch her breath. Henry had been right, it was a beautiful spot, with the loud splashing of water cascading over the rocks and down into a natural pool.Moved by impulse, she began to remove her shoes and stockings, flashing him an impish glance when he raised an eyebrow at her. "My feet are hot," she explained, and tiptoed to the water and perched at the edge, sticking first one, then the other foot into the icy depths, much like she used to do at the lake. Eastland said nothing but watched her with a lazy indulgence as she splashed her feet in the water and sucked in her breath at its chill. When she invited him to join her, he just shook his head, his gaze resting on her bare legs as she hitched her skirts up to her knees. Shapely calves and flashes of ivory
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