Read Online Lord Love a Duke by Renee Reynolds - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Renee Reynolds
Tags: Historical fiction, Regency, England, Historical Romance, London, Romantic Comedy, Comedy, english romance, peerage
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ached to touch the loose
strands or tuck them behind her ears. Shimmering threads of red and
gold peeked out of her disheveled braid. She dismounted, retrieved
her bonnet, and wound the long rope of hair to tuck inside as
before. "I have been riding Herring, I mean Hera, for six years
now. We are in harmony with each other's movements. And I must
confess, we do ride on this beach as frequently as the weather
allows when my family is in residence. Had I been unfamiliar with
the terrain we would have been far slower." She picked up his hat
and returned it to him before easily remounting.
They rode back to the stables in
companionable silence, retaking the path up the low cliff to the
manor property. At the top, the Duke steered his mount over to the
benches stationed near the edge that offered breathtaking views of
the Channel. He dismounted and stepped over to help Juliet follow
suit. He spanned his hands around her waist and lowered her to the
ground.
"My lady, as I am the winner today, I
believe you owe me a boon." He held her firmly by the waist a few
moments longer than necessary, before releasing her and stepping
away.
She moved to stand near his horse, rubbing
Paladin's nose and nuzzling his cheek. Jonas felt a strange feeling
he would have described as envy if it were not so absurd to envy a
horse. She turned her gaze on him. "You are quite right, Your
Grace. I await your request." She dropped an exaggerated curtsey,
accompanied by a mischievous smile. "I am all anticipation," she
joked.
He took a moment to think over the myriad
options running through his mind, but found they were all options
of a sensual nature. Better not to do this wrong and put fear in
her eyes. In fact, it would be better to keep this new found
friendship strictly that, but she was too tempting by far. He found
himself unable and unwilling to be his usual controlled and
sensible self.
"I am trying to decide between two
requests." He looked out over the sea and inhaled a salty, tangy
breath of fresh air. He swung his gaze back to her face and studied
her classic profile. She felt his stare and turned to meet it.
"Would you like to choose between the two, or have me make the
choice?"
She studied his face before answering. He
looked far too pleased with himself. "As the winner I fear you must
make the decision, Your Grace, or else it would not be your
boon."
"Prettily said, but as both options would
please me equally I will leave the choice in your hands." He turned
to face her fully and picked up her hand. "Lady Juliet, as winner
of our most enjoyable race, I claim as boon either a kiss," he
paused at her quick inhalation of breath, "or that you henceforth
call me Jonas."
Juliet was taken aback by her choices. The
suggestion of a kiss was naturally shockingly scandalous, but to
call him by his first name would generate much speculation and
interest in others. She warred within herself as to which option
would cause the least upheaval. She could avoid addressing him in
most instances, but she felt quite certain the Duke would go out of
his way to force her to call him by name in effort to unsettle her
and force his victory. A kiss would be for one time only, and
ostensibly no one else need know.
"I believe I would choose the kiss, Your
Grace . Both requests are quite scandalous in themselves, but I
shudder to think what spasms and fits my poor dear mother would
suffer to hear me address one of your rank so informally,
regardless of the longstanding friendship between our families."
She threw him a cheeky glance. "And I feel certain you would force
me to address you ad nauseam to goad me into impropriety around
friends and family. Yes, I am certain. I choose the kiss."
Jonas was stunned, having felt sure she
would choose the option of using his name. He had not considered
the personal nature of the act as his own sister addressed Juliet's
brothers rather informally, even insultingly, if he were honest.
Juliet had never addressed him
strands or tuck them behind her ears. Shimmering threads of red and
gold peeked out of her disheveled braid. She dismounted, retrieved
her bonnet, and wound the long rope of hair to tuck inside as
before. "I have been riding Herring, I mean Hera, for six years
now. We are in harmony with each other's movements. And I must
confess, we do ride on this beach as frequently as the weather
allows when my family is in residence. Had I been unfamiliar with
the terrain we would have been far slower." She picked up his hat
and returned it to him before easily remounting.
They rode back to the stables in
companionable silence, retaking the path up the low cliff to the
manor property. At the top, the Duke steered his mount over to the
benches stationed near the edge that offered breathtaking views of
the Channel. He dismounted and stepped over to help Juliet follow
suit. He spanned his hands around her waist and lowered her to the
ground.
"My lady, as I am the winner today, I
believe you owe me a boon." He held her firmly by the waist a few
moments longer than necessary, before releasing her and stepping
away.
She moved to stand near his horse, rubbing
Paladin's nose and nuzzling his cheek. Jonas felt a strange feeling
he would have described as envy if it were not so absurd to envy a
horse. She turned her gaze on him. "You are quite right, Your
Grace. I await your request." She dropped an exaggerated curtsey,
accompanied by a mischievous smile. "I am all anticipation," she
joked.
He took a moment to think over the myriad
options running through his mind, but found they were all options
of a sensual nature. Better not to do this wrong and put fear in
her eyes. In fact, it would be better to keep this new found
friendship strictly that, but she was too tempting by far. He found
himself unable and unwilling to be his usual controlled and
sensible self.
"I am trying to decide between two
requests." He looked out over the sea and inhaled a salty, tangy
breath of fresh air. He swung his gaze back to her face and studied
her classic profile. She felt his stare and turned to meet it.
"Would you like to choose between the two, or have me make the
choice?"
She studied his face before answering. He
looked far too pleased with himself. "As the winner I fear you must
make the decision, Your Grace, or else it would not be your
boon."
"Prettily said, but as both options would
please me equally I will leave the choice in your hands." He turned
to face her fully and picked up her hand. "Lady Juliet, as winner
of our most enjoyable race, I claim as boon either a kiss," he
paused at her quick inhalation of breath, "or that you henceforth
call me Jonas."
Juliet was taken aback by her choices. The
suggestion of a kiss was naturally shockingly scandalous, but to
call him by his first name would generate much speculation and
interest in others. She warred within herself as to which option
would cause the least upheaval. She could avoid addressing him in
most instances, but she felt quite certain the Duke would go out of
his way to force her to call him by name in effort to unsettle her
and force his victory. A kiss would be for one time only, and
ostensibly no one else need know.
"I believe I would choose the kiss, Your
Grace . Both requests are quite scandalous in themselves, but I
shudder to think what spasms and fits my poor dear mother would
suffer to hear me address one of your rank so informally,
regardless of the longstanding friendship between our families."
She threw him a cheeky glance. "And I feel certain you would force
me to address you ad nauseam to goad me into impropriety around
friends and family. Yes, I am certain. I choose the kiss."
Jonas was stunned, having felt sure she
would choose the option of using his name. He had not considered
the personal nature of the act as his own sister addressed Juliet's
brothers rather informally, even insultingly, if he were honest.
Juliet had never addressed him
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