Read Online A Duke's Temptation by Jillian Hunter - Free Book Online

completely true,” he retorted. “I thought your cousin would have been here to spoil the moment.”
    “So did I,” she confessed.
    His roguish grin returned. “Then you admit that it was a moment never to be forgotten.”
    “Never to be repeated, you mean,” she said with conviction.
    “I wouldn’t be too sure of that.”
    She shook her head in regret. “I have to hand it to you—your choice of Don Quixote as a disguise was inspired. You’re clearly full of dreams that won’t ever come true, and I doubt you’ve ever read a page of Wickbury in your life.” Of course, neither had Jonathan, but at least he was honest about it.
    He lowered his voice. “I’ve probably read those damn books more times than any other person in England.”
    She snorted. “Oh, really?” If that wasn’t the most outrageous statement she had ever heard in her life. “Then you consider yourself an expert?”
    He shrugged cautiously. “Expert? Fine. I suppose I am.”
    “Then how will Juliette break free now that Sir Renwick has abducted her?”
    Samuel narrowed his eyes. “Wickbury will rescue her, I assume. Isn’t that what a hero is supposed to do? Isn’t that what he does in every book?”
    Lily paused. The rattling of the iron gate distracted her. Chloe might be finally on the way, but she was too late for chaperone duty. “What if Juliette doesn’t want to be rescued?” she asked quickly. “What if she was waiting for Sir Renwick to take physical possession of her all along?”
    He frowned up at the two figures battling in the air. “Why is it that every woman who has read Wickbury fancies herself half in love with the villain? A hero has to be chivalrous.”
    She eyed him meaningfully. “Not every man dressed as a knight acts like one.”
    “Lily!” Chloe called to her from the top of the sunken parterre. “There you are! I went around the wrong way.”
    A cynical smile creased Samuel’s cheeks. “So you’re saying that you liked the abduction scene? You didn’t think that Sir Renwick should have been hunted down for spiriting Juliette off in his carriage?”
    “It was about time,” she whispered. “Now she can redeem him.”
    “He’s irredeemable.”
    “How do you know?” she challenged.
    “Because I know his type. It’s clear to me that he cares for nothing but power and won’t change for anyone.”
    Lily edged around him. “It’s clear to me that while you support the arts, you have no artistic sympathy in your soul.”
    He looked pleased. “Does it really show?”
    “I love Sir Renwick,” she said defiantly. “Next to him, Lord Wickbury looks like a twit.”
    The viscountess strode into view before he could respond. Which was a good thing, too. Lily had learned a lesson tonight—she wasn’t as sophisticated as she thought she was. To be fair, though, she had never come up against a man as bone-deep charming as the duke.
    If she had lingered in his company long enough, he might have persuaded her to do more than kiss him. He might even have persuaded her to join the league of Lord Wickbury’s followers, instead of the villain she loved.
    It was a good thing that she would soon be standing beside Jonathan at the altar. There were years ahead to ponder what she had escaped tonight. Or what she might have missed.

Chapter 9
    T he viscountess studied Lily in concern. “Forgive me for taking so long. You were all right?”
    “I was fine.”
    Chloe glanced back at the duke, who ambled up the path behind them, slowing to admire a yew sculpture here and there.
    “We never made it to the grotto,” Lily whispered.
    “The grotto!” Chloe shot the duke a look of alarm over her shoulder. “Well, then I’m glad I hurried to find you. A grotto is the perfect place for a tryst.”
    “You took forever,” Lily teased her.
    “I couldn’t get away,” Chloe complained softly. “Besides, I didn’t think there was any harm in letting the duke enchant you for a minute or so. Or are you a