Accidentally Compromising the Duke by Stacy Reid Read Free Book Online Page B

Nothing in the duke’s mien indicated he was aware of her subtle pressure.
    “Thank you for receiving me on such short notice.” His tone was so bland and polite; Adel struggled to guess what he was actually feeling.
    His wintry gaze scanned the room and settled on her father. “You are no doubt aware of why I am here, Sir Archibald. Shall we speak alone?”
    Anger stirred in Adel. She was mightily tired of her life being decided for her. “No.”
    The caress of his eyes slid over her like a sharpened blade, then he lowered his lids and dismissed her.
    It stung.
    “By all means,” her father said.
    “You will have to bodily remove me, Papa. It is my future we are discussing and I should be a part of it,” she announced decisively.

Chapter Six
    “Are you here to offer for our daughter?” Lady Margaret asked, no doubt anxious to get to the heart of the matter.
    Adel gasped, and all eyes swung to her. This was all going dreadfully wrong. Of course the duke would not offer for her, she had nothing to recommend her for the lofty title of duchess. She’d had her first come out the year after her mother died, and in the three years since, only two young men had called on her and only Mr. Atwood had remained constant. Lord Vale was an anomaly and he’d not courted her. He’d stared, accidentally grazed her breast when no one looked, made suggestive whispers, and then attacked her. What made her stepmother believe the duke would do something so utterly implausible?
    “Yes,” he said.
    Shock stabbed through Adel. “What?”
    “You will do the honorable thing?” her father asked faintly.
    The duke strolled to the sidebar and lifted the crystal from the decanter. He poured a golden liquid into a glass, then faced her father. “Most assuredly. In fact, I believe it wise if Miss Adeline and I were to wed as soon as possible, Sir Archibald.”
    This was so unexpected she felt faint. Adel’s mouth went dry, and she was certain there was some misunderstanding. “Your Grace,” she finally said very carefully, “You wish to make me your duchess?”
    It seemed as if everyone in the library braced for his response.
    “Yes.”
    “Good heavens,” Lady Margaret breathed and gripped her husband’s arms, as if seeking support from swooning. “A very sensible arrangement, Your Grace. Your sense of honor does you credit.” She bobbed her head so vigorously the high purple turban with the plume feathers attached was in the precarious position of falling.
    Adel was too stupefied to do anything but stare at the duke.
    “Leave us,” he commanded to the room at large. “I wish to have a few words with Miss Adeline.”
    Irritation bubbled in her when her stepmother and father bowed and scrambled out. Lord Gladstone nodded and he too made to depart.
    They were leaving her alone with the man?
    “Your Grace, please—” Her teeth snapped together at the gentle closing of the door. She closed her eyes for precious seconds. “You cannot wish to marry me.” For some reason she had believed he would refuse her father’s demands, not that he had even given Papa the chance to bluster. The duke did not seem like a man easily intimidated.
    His eyebrow lifted slightly. “I do.”
    She searched his gaze frantically, and found nothing but sincerity. “But why?” she spluttered.
    “You were found in my bed, and I had been seconds away from drawing you underneath me and stealing your virtue,” he said so dryly they could have been discussing the weather.
    Embarrassment heated her cheeks. “There is no need to be so explicit,” she countered staunchly. “And my virtue was never in any danger.”
    “Even if our encounter has somehow slipped your memory, I am sure you remember our host and hostess discovering us.”
    He said it as if they had conspired to have a clandestine rendezvous. She narrowed her eyes. “I feel compelled to point out I was in the middle of the room when Lady Gladstone entered.”
    Provoking amusement lit his