Read Online An Unexpected Proposal (St Daine Family 1) by Leighann Dobbs - Free Book Online
Authors: Leighann Dobbs
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Adult, Regency, England, Friendship, 19th century, Marriage, Bachelor, Victorian, Britain, Forever Love, Single Woman, unexpected, Proposal, London Society, Marriage Minded, Third Season, Duke Rothwyn, Troubled Brother, Accusing Sister
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she clenched the garment close below her chin while her cheeks flushed with color just notable in the low light. “No, I-I was restless and thought I might find a book to read.”
She watched him, her gaze filled with cautious curiosity, and Lucien stifled a sigh.
The often wearying and much lauded constraints of propriety (the likes of which he had all but preached to Phoebe every single day of this past week, his conscience sarcastically pointed out to him) demanded he leave the room immediately. But the mulish, obstinate male side of him insisted he stay. “I am sure we have several volumes on animal husbandry, if your goal is to bore yourself to certain, witless slumber.”
Peering askance at her, fully aware he had a house full of guests, any one of which could also 'feel restless' and come stumbling upon them at any particular moment, he rose from his seat and moved toward where she stood poised for flight in the opened doorway. “I could recommend a particularly dreary tome, if you would like. Or perhaps you had hoped to find something much more interesting?”
6
C laire did not think anything he might suggest could possibly be more interesting than her peculiar reaction to his voice at the moment. He spoke and her body tingled. Her cheeks were sure to be permanently rendered the most ghastly shade of red from the many blushes his presence caused, she thought.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, his voice low and husky, and Claire was helpless against the flood of warmth flowing through her. She felt it to her toes.
Perhaps her reaction was due to the fact that he had come up in front of her and was now standing so near she could smell the very scent of his skin, she wondered, hoping it was so and yet knowing better, though she was loath to admit it.
He was far too close for her comfort, especially given the battle she waged in her head at the moment. Suppressing a shiver of uncontrollable pleasure at both his nearness and the sensual level of his tone, she said, “That I should not be here with you. I—”
“Should be tucked safely away in your bed, far from the dangers of being caught in a darkened library with a lonely old duke?” he answered for her.
Ignoring the 'old' bit of his comment, for clearly he was far from aged, Claire stared up at him, her brow creased in a slight frown. “You are lonely, Your Grace? How could such a thing even be possible when you are surrounded by a large and loving family?”
She could just see his brow arch upward in the darkness before he said, “Large? Yes. Loving?”
He shrugged. “Betimes that is debatable. My sister, Phoebe, for instance, likely hates me and the ground I walk upon.”
Claire knew she should find it odd to be discussing his family and their emotional attachments, or the lack thereof, with him in the middle of the night while she clutched her nightdress close, and yet, she found their conversation strangely normal.
“I am quite certain your sister does not hate you, Your Grace,” she hastened to assure him. “She merely feels you are being a trifle…overprotective.”
Lucien chuckled. “A trifle? Of course she does. But then, someone must keep an eye on her reputation while she rushes about willy-nilly and with nary a thought into yet another situation rife with possible scandal.”
“Your sister does seem quite determined to locate her brother,” Claire offered, remembering the one conversation she had shared with the younger St. Daine earlier in the week. Her tone hinted that she would not be adverse to learning more about the situation if he were willing to share, but he did not bother to explain his sister's preoccupation with their missing brother.
Rather, he asked, “And you? What is it that you are determined to do, Claire?”
Help Melisande win a proposal from you , she thought immediately, and again, she flushed hot, both from the guilt she felt at knowing being alone with him like this was both highly inappropriate
She watched him, her gaze filled with cautious curiosity, and Lucien stifled a sigh.
The often wearying and much lauded constraints of propriety (the likes of which he had all but preached to Phoebe every single day of this past week, his conscience sarcastically pointed out to him) demanded he leave the room immediately. But the mulish, obstinate male side of him insisted he stay. “I am sure we have several volumes on animal husbandry, if your goal is to bore yourself to certain, witless slumber.”
Peering askance at her, fully aware he had a house full of guests, any one of which could also 'feel restless' and come stumbling upon them at any particular moment, he rose from his seat and moved toward where she stood poised for flight in the opened doorway. “I could recommend a particularly dreary tome, if you would like. Or perhaps you had hoped to find something much more interesting?”
6
C laire did not think anything he might suggest could possibly be more interesting than her peculiar reaction to his voice at the moment. He spoke and her body tingled. Her cheeks were sure to be permanently rendered the most ghastly shade of red from the many blushes his presence caused, she thought.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, his voice low and husky, and Claire was helpless against the flood of warmth flowing through her. She felt it to her toes.
Perhaps her reaction was due to the fact that he had come up in front of her and was now standing so near she could smell the very scent of his skin, she wondered, hoping it was so and yet knowing better, though she was loath to admit it.
He was far too close for her comfort, especially given the battle she waged in her head at the moment. Suppressing a shiver of uncontrollable pleasure at both his nearness and the sensual level of his tone, she said, “That I should not be here with you. I—”
“Should be tucked safely away in your bed, far from the dangers of being caught in a darkened library with a lonely old duke?” he answered for her.
Ignoring the 'old' bit of his comment, for clearly he was far from aged, Claire stared up at him, her brow creased in a slight frown. “You are lonely, Your Grace? How could such a thing even be possible when you are surrounded by a large and loving family?”
She could just see his brow arch upward in the darkness before he said, “Large? Yes. Loving?”
He shrugged. “Betimes that is debatable. My sister, Phoebe, for instance, likely hates me and the ground I walk upon.”
Claire knew she should find it odd to be discussing his family and their emotional attachments, or the lack thereof, with him in the middle of the night while she clutched her nightdress close, and yet, she found their conversation strangely normal.
“I am quite certain your sister does not hate you, Your Grace,” she hastened to assure him. “She merely feels you are being a trifle…overprotective.”
Lucien chuckled. “A trifle? Of course she does. But then, someone must keep an eye on her reputation while she rushes about willy-nilly and with nary a thought into yet another situation rife with possible scandal.”
“Your sister does seem quite determined to locate her brother,” Claire offered, remembering the one conversation she had shared with the younger St. Daine earlier in the week. Her tone hinted that she would not be adverse to learning more about the situation if he were willing to share, but he did not bother to explain his sister's preoccupation with their missing brother.
Rather, he asked, “And you? What is it that you are determined to do, Claire?”
Help Melisande win a proposal from you , she thought immediately, and again, she flushed hot, both from the guilt she felt at knowing being alone with him like this was both highly inappropriate
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