Read Online Rules to Catch a Devilish Duke by Suzanne Enoch - Free Book Online
Authors: Suzanne Enoch
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necessary assurances that she wasn’t about to be eaten.
“I apologize,” he said tightly, cursing whoever might have released them. And he had a very good idea who that must have been. “Despite app—”
“Which one is which?” she asked, offering a hand to the beast on her left.
“That one’s Caesar. He has that spot of white above one eye there,” Adam returned, beginning to wonder if anything frightened this chit.
“The pair in your father’s portrait are hounds. These seem closer to horses, I have to say.” The hand sniffing finished, she scratched Caesar between the eyes. He began pounding a rear paw against the floor in response.
“Half horse. Mastiffs, actually. An acquaintance of mine purchased them for me as pups two years ago. I don’t believe she had any idea what they were, other than dogs and dark brown.” In fact, nothing seemed to arise in Constance Biery’s mind at all. Her general obliviousness served her well as a mistress, but it hadn’t made her particularly interesting, otherwise. The arrangement had been mercifully short-lived as a consequence. “I believe they were in honor of that damned painting.”
“They’re darlings! Or will I be devoured if I turn my back?”
“You may be killed with affection, but you’re completely safe otherwise.”
Sophia rose from her chair and knelt on the floor. Adam watched as she divided her attention and her scratches between the two pony-sized dogs.
“I should have guessed that your spirit would match your hair,” he murmured under his breath.
“What was that? I had a dog snout in my ear,” she said with a chuckle.
“I’d forgotten,” he said in a more conversational tone, bending down to ruffle Brutus’s fur, “that you spent a morning petting lion cubs at the Tower Menagerie. These two must pale in comparison to that.”
“No, they don’t,” she cooed. “You’re such handsome boys, aren’t you?”
“Perhaps they should join us in the morning, then. For our ride.”
After another few minutes she straightened, and Adam held down a hand to help her to her feet. Her fingers were warm in his. Just her presence seemed to warm and brighten the entire room, in fact.
This estate in York had been a cold place for as long as he could remember. Even the annual influx of guests and festivities only made him forget for a short time how Greaves Park remained chill all year long. He’d thought it reflected the cold, calculating part of his character that had thus far served him and his purse exceedingly well. But the warmth—her warmth—had a very definite appeal.
“Do these big lads travel with you?” Sophia pursued, retrieving her fingers from his. “I don’t remember Keating speaking of them when he stayed with you in London, and they do seem rather memorable.”
“They’re a bit large for Baswich House. And many of my guests find them intimidating.” Even Constance had shrieked and fled the room when she’d set eyes on the dogs once they’d reached their full size.
She glanced sideways at him. “Perhaps you should use them as a test for your potential bride.” Her soft-looking lips curved in another slow smile. “I’m glad to have met your faithful companions. Dogs aren’t precisely welcome at boarding schools. Or in The Tantalus Club, for that matter.”
“I had them closed up in an upstairs sitting room. If it pleases you, though, I’ll give them the run of the house. Until my potential brides arrive, of course.”
Udgell made an irritated sound from the corner, but Sophia’s grin only deepened. “I would very much like that.”
For a moment he felt the distinct sensation that time had slowed, that the room had darkened except for the emerald-garbed woman smiling at him. He wanted to collect on that kiss, whether he’d meant the wager as a tease or not. He wanted to taste that smiling mouth of hers. He wanted to inhale the scent of her, feel her bare skin beneath his hands.
Realizing he was
“I apologize,” he said tightly, cursing whoever might have released them. And he had a very good idea who that must have been. “Despite app—”
“Which one is which?” she asked, offering a hand to the beast on her left.
“That one’s Caesar. He has that spot of white above one eye there,” Adam returned, beginning to wonder if anything frightened this chit.
“The pair in your father’s portrait are hounds. These seem closer to horses, I have to say.” The hand sniffing finished, she scratched Caesar between the eyes. He began pounding a rear paw against the floor in response.
“Half horse. Mastiffs, actually. An acquaintance of mine purchased them for me as pups two years ago. I don’t believe she had any idea what they were, other than dogs and dark brown.” In fact, nothing seemed to arise in Constance Biery’s mind at all. Her general obliviousness served her well as a mistress, but it hadn’t made her particularly interesting, otherwise. The arrangement had been mercifully short-lived as a consequence. “I believe they were in honor of that damned painting.”
“They’re darlings! Or will I be devoured if I turn my back?”
“You may be killed with affection, but you’re completely safe otherwise.”
Sophia rose from her chair and knelt on the floor. Adam watched as she divided her attention and her scratches between the two pony-sized dogs.
“I should have guessed that your spirit would match your hair,” he murmured under his breath.
“What was that? I had a dog snout in my ear,” she said with a chuckle.
“I’d forgotten,” he said in a more conversational tone, bending down to ruffle Brutus’s fur, “that you spent a morning petting lion cubs at the Tower Menagerie. These two must pale in comparison to that.”
“No, they don’t,” she cooed. “You’re such handsome boys, aren’t you?”
“Perhaps they should join us in the morning, then. For our ride.”
After another few minutes she straightened, and Adam held down a hand to help her to her feet. Her fingers were warm in his. Just her presence seemed to warm and brighten the entire room, in fact.
This estate in York had been a cold place for as long as he could remember. Even the annual influx of guests and festivities only made him forget for a short time how Greaves Park remained chill all year long. He’d thought it reflected the cold, calculating part of his character that had thus far served him and his purse exceedingly well. But the warmth—her warmth—had a very definite appeal.
“Do these big lads travel with you?” Sophia pursued, retrieving her fingers from his. “I don’t remember Keating speaking of them when he stayed with you in London, and they do seem rather memorable.”
“They’re a bit large for Baswich House. And many of my guests find them intimidating.” Even Constance had shrieked and fled the room when she’d set eyes on the dogs once they’d reached their full size.
She glanced sideways at him. “Perhaps you should use them as a test for your potential bride.” Her soft-looking lips curved in another slow smile. “I’m glad to have met your faithful companions. Dogs aren’t precisely welcome at boarding schools. Or in The Tantalus Club, for that matter.”
“I had them closed up in an upstairs sitting room. If it pleases you, though, I’ll give them the run of the house. Until my potential brides arrive, of course.”
Udgell made an irritated sound from the corner, but Sophia’s grin only deepened. “I would very much like that.”
For a moment he felt the distinct sensation that time had slowed, that the room had darkened except for the emerald-garbed woman smiling at him. He wanted to collect on that kiss, whether he’d meant the wager as a tease or not. He wanted to taste that smiling mouth of hers. He wanted to inhale the scent of her, feel her bare skin beneath his hands.
Realizing he was
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