Read Online The Theft of a Dukedom by Lyndsey Norton - Free Book Online

opinion. She’d never liked Robin
and her father had told her for years that Robin Stafford
was his preferred choice of a husband and if Thomas
Stafford would only bend in his ridiculous stance on
arranged marriages, she could look forward to being a
Duchess . A part of her sighed in relief.
‘So that makes Charles truly a Marquis, then.’
She ventured cautiously, with a sidelong look at her
friend. She saw a fleeting smile on Kitty’s lips and
relaxed. ‘Good. I couldn’t think of anything worse than
marrying your brother Robin!’ and Kitty laughed.
    ‘I think I’ll ask your sister to dance.’ Richard said
softly and Charles laughed.
‘It’s taken you a while to tell me that. I knew you
would ask her at dinner! You could barely take your
eyes off her décolletage!’
‘I have never seen a prettier girl.’ Richard sighed.
‘Not even when I was tupping the Donna’s in Lisbon.’
‘Be careful with her. After what Robin tried to
do, it frightened her to death.’
‘Just a dance, I promise.’ Richard smiled and
walked away.
Charles smiled gently as he watched his sister
blush and accept Richard’s hand. He stood calmly
watching them move through the steps of the set.
‘Who is that handsome man your sister is
dancing with?’ Lady Constance Beresford whispered in
his ear, making his heart pound.
‘Hello, Connie.’ Charles turned to greet her and
swept his eyes from her head to her feet in an instant.
She had the most gorgeous raven coloured hair swept
into a fashionable chignon, flawless alabaster skin,
bright blue eyes, a button nose and pert pink lips all set
in a heart shaped face. Her swan neck gracefully curved
down to her shoulders and her bulging breasts were
displayed provocatively by a scandalously low cut gown
of the finest silk in peacock blue. Altogether she was
very tasty and Charles remembered just how tasty as he
looked back up into her shining blue eyes. ‘Did you
make the mistake of marrying that fop Bristol?’ he
enquired hoarsely as he recalled that this was the
woman that taught him self-control because she was
insatiable.
Constance had done exactly the same to him,
noticing the growing bulge in his britches as well as the
stick he leaned heavily on. She engaged his hazel eyes
and smiled coquettishly. ‘Of course not. The blackguard
got himself shot in a duel with a French Count over
some little chit like your sister.’ And she smiled as she
saw anger flame in his eyes. ‘I see you haven’t lost any
of your fire. Maybe you can best Robin after all.’
‘Maybe I can, seeing as the stupid bastard got
himself killed in a duel in Jamaica!’ He said harshly and
was gratified to see shock in her eyes.
‘How careless of him.’ She murmured, but
Charles saw the sudden pain and recalled that
Constance had been very interested in Robin and not
for his title.
‘So who did you marry?’ he asked evenly.
‘The Earl of Rochdale.’ She said coldly. ‘We have
a very loose understanding.’
‘Have you produced the heir yet?’
‘No.’ She looked down at her hands. ‘He’s not
really interested. That’s why I have as much freedom as
I want. He would like somebody else to sire his heir.’
Charles leaned forward suddenly and whispered
in her ear. ‘So, who were you fucking last night?’ and
was gratified to hear her gasp as she became aroused. It
didn’t take much with Connie, just the right words at
the right time and she would do anything.
‘Actually I haven’t had a lover since I’d heard you
were back.’ She said and smiled invitingly at him.
‘And where would we enjoy our tryst?’ he asked
impertinently.
‘There is always your carriage.’ She murmured.
‘But if the Earl expects you to conceive, surely he
has supplied you with the facilities to do so?’ Charles
pointed out salaciously. She gasped again and shuffled
her feet. ‘One can’t really do a decent job without the
proper setting.’
‘I have a small townhouse in St. James’s Street.’
She smiled lasciviously