Read Online Duke of Deception (Wentworth Trilogy) by Stephie Smith - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stephie Smith
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back, parting like two ships facing off for a skirmish, and Lady Callister rushed to her niece’s side.
“She needs air,” Derek said in an urgent voice. “Where can I take her?”
“This way.” Lady Callister hurried into the hall and toward the staircase. “Evans,” she said to the butler who stood awaiting instructions, “please see the gentlemen out. Bridget, thank goodness!” she exclaimed with relief as a red-haired buxom young maid came traipsing down the stairs. “Run and fetch the salts!”
The maid stopped short and stared, dumbstruck at the sight of Derek holding Lady Louisa in his arms. Her eyes were as round as cannonballs as she boldly assessed his face and the breadth of his shoulders. Her appreciative gaze continued downward and then came to an abrupt halt, resting on Lady Louisa’s still form. “Oh, my!” she said, her eyes widening again.
At that moment the butler reappeared beside Lady Callister, his voice lowered so that the departing gentlemen, who directed outraged looks at Derek as they passed, could not overhear.
“Excuse me, my lady,” he said, “but Lord Harlech is somewhat agitated. He refuses to leave without speaking to you. He’s becoming rather loud and is threatening to make a scene. And he is helping himself to Lord Chelton’s brandy,” the servant added with a pained look.
A bemused Lady Callister looked first at Derek and then at the maid, hesitating. A loud thump followed by the sound of breaking glass and a man’s foul curse came from the drawing room, and her decision was quickly reached. “Bridget, escort the captain upstairs and send for the salts. I’ll join you momentarily.”
“Bridget!” Derek’s voice startled the maid, who was still staring at him, into movement. She began to run up the stairs, turning every few seconds to look behind her, slack-jawed, as though she couldn’t quite believe what she saw.
Derek’s lips curled in resigned amusement. “If you’ll point out the room, I’ll put Lady Louisa down. But you must get the smelling salts immediately,” he added, knowing the errand would send the maid away for at least a moment or two, and that was all the time he needed to say what was on his mind.
“Oh, yes, sir! Thataway, sir!” Bridget waved toward a door that stood ajar at the end of the hall without ever taking her eyes off Derek. “I’ll fetch the salts!” she said, finally springing into action.
L ucy wanted to open her eyes more than anything. This would be the closest she’d get to the captain until that night, not far off, when she’d be in his bed. The room would be dark then; she might not have the chance to see his face up close as she’d be able to now.
She cracked open an eye when he shoved the bedchamber door with an elbow, his movement crushing her breasts against him, and for a fleeting moment the mental image of her naked breasts pressed against his equally naked chest made her giddy with excitement. A strange sensation throbbed deep in the pit of her belly, and she braced herself for the physical onslaught she would experience when he slid her slowly down his body as he had at the ball. A thrill raced through her as she anticipated what might come next, and she decided to let him kiss her again. Yes! That’s what she would do. Why not start her seduction of him this very moment and pave the way for what would later be her ruination?
“You can open your eyes now,” the captain said as he roughly set her down.
Lucy’s eyes flew open to find him studying her with shrewd amusement. She blinked hard and steadied herself, fighting for composure.
“The next time you play a role, try doing a little research first.” He continued to regard her with a mocking gaze. “When a lady faints, her eyes close at the same time, not after she has been safely caught and picked up. What was it, an afterthought? The perfect way to clear the room?”
“Well, it did seem so at the time,” Lucy retorted as she quickly
“She needs air,” Derek said in an urgent voice. “Where can I take her?”
“This way.” Lady Callister hurried into the hall and toward the staircase. “Evans,” she said to the butler who stood awaiting instructions, “please see the gentlemen out. Bridget, thank goodness!” she exclaimed with relief as a red-haired buxom young maid came traipsing down the stairs. “Run and fetch the salts!”
The maid stopped short and stared, dumbstruck at the sight of Derek holding Lady Louisa in his arms. Her eyes were as round as cannonballs as she boldly assessed his face and the breadth of his shoulders. Her appreciative gaze continued downward and then came to an abrupt halt, resting on Lady Louisa’s still form. “Oh, my!” she said, her eyes widening again.
At that moment the butler reappeared beside Lady Callister, his voice lowered so that the departing gentlemen, who directed outraged looks at Derek as they passed, could not overhear.
“Excuse me, my lady,” he said, “but Lord Harlech is somewhat agitated. He refuses to leave without speaking to you. He’s becoming rather loud and is threatening to make a scene. And he is helping himself to Lord Chelton’s brandy,” the servant added with a pained look.
A bemused Lady Callister looked first at Derek and then at the maid, hesitating. A loud thump followed by the sound of breaking glass and a man’s foul curse came from the drawing room, and her decision was quickly reached. “Bridget, escort the captain upstairs and send for the salts. I’ll join you momentarily.”
“Bridget!” Derek’s voice startled the maid, who was still staring at him, into movement. She began to run up the stairs, turning every few seconds to look behind her, slack-jawed, as though she couldn’t quite believe what she saw.
Derek’s lips curled in resigned amusement. “If you’ll point out the room, I’ll put Lady Louisa down. But you must get the smelling salts immediately,” he added, knowing the errand would send the maid away for at least a moment or two, and that was all the time he needed to say what was on his mind.
“Oh, yes, sir! Thataway, sir!” Bridget waved toward a door that stood ajar at the end of the hall without ever taking her eyes off Derek. “I’ll fetch the salts!” she said, finally springing into action.
L ucy wanted to open her eyes more than anything. This would be the closest she’d get to the captain until that night, not far off, when she’d be in his bed. The room would be dark then; she might not have the chance to see his face up close as she’d be able to now.
She cracked open an eye when he shoved the bedchamber door with an elbow, his movement crushing her breasts against him, and for a fleeting moment the mental image of her naked breasts pressed against his equally naked chest made her giddy with excitement. A strange sensation throbbed deep in the pit of her belly, and she braced herself for the physical onslaught she would experience when he slid her slowly down his body as he had at the ball. A thrill raced through her as she anticipated what might come next, and she decided to let him kiss her again. Yes! That’s what she would do. Why not start her seduction of him this very moment and pave the way for what would later be her ruination?
“You can open your eyes now,” the captain said as he roughly set her down.
Lucy’s eyes flew open to find him studying her with shrewd amusement. She blinked hard and steadied herself, fighting for composure.
“The next time you play a role, try doing a little research first.” He continued to regard her with a mocking gaze. “When a lady faints, her eyes close at the same time, not after she has been safely caught and picked up. What was it, an afterthought? The perfect way to clear the room?”
“Well, it did seem so at the time,” Lucy retorted as she quickly
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