The Duke's Indiscretion by Adele Ashworth Read Free Book Online Page B

replacedwith her true self, the Lady Charlotte Hughes.
    He continued to stare, if only to satisfy his eagerness to understand exactly how he could be so duped. She allowed him this time to gather his thoughts, to come to terms with his recent actions toward both of her personas, as she fluffed her skirts around her ankles, sitting erect once more, grasping her reticule with both hands on her lap.
    At last he shook himself and cleared his throat, leaning forward again with his hands tightly clutched on top of the desk, though he couldn’t hide the fact that they were shaking.
    â€œI’m—I’m sorry. Lottie—”
    â€œI’m more properly called Lady Charlotte, your grace,” she interrupted pleasantly, “but you may call me Charlotte.”
    He opened his mouth to say something, then shut it abruptly, frowning slightly by her change in manner.
    â€œCharlotte…I’m—I’m just—”
    â€œFairly speechless apparently,” she said for him with a twitch of her lips. “I assumed you would be, but then I wanted you to see it for yourself rather than have me simply tell you who I am.”
    He wiped a palm harshly down his face, then interlocked his fingers once more. “Why?”
    She shrugged, her eyes sparkling. “It was fun.”
    That simple answer caused his irritation to resurface. His slack features hardened again, his gaze narrowed.
    Her smile vanished as well as she returned to the point of her visit. “Your grace, I’ve obviously come here for a purpose today, and it wasn’t to embarrassyou, or to beg for my pianoforte, which never should have been sold to you in the first place.” She drew a long breath, watching him. “I was altogether serious about a mutual agreement between us, a marriage, legal and binding, but with…benefits, shall we say, for both of us.”
    â€œBoth of us,” he repeated, his expression flat.
    She completely understood the jumble of information that had to be going through his mind at the moment, and so she just continued, undaunted.
    â€œIndeed.” She leaned forward, her eyes darkening with purpose. “I’ll not play games with you, sir. I need a husband, a wealthy husband, who can afford my desire to travel abroad and build my singing career. I have no desire for marriage at all, as you very well know, just as I know you have no desire for marriage, either. And yet a simple marriage between us would satisfy exactly what we both need.”
    He sucked in his cheeks, perhaps to keep from laughing. “Did you say a—a simple marriage?”
    She ignored his rhetorical question, smiling negligibly as she remained steadfast. “Just consider for a moment, your grace, that I am a titled lady with an impeccable reputation, proper in every regard, tutored by the best. I can embroider, entertain, organize a household, and play the piano for any occasion. I’ll satisfy every need you have, including those of the bedroom, as you’ll certainly want an heir. I will have no reservations in giving you what you deserve as the married Duke of Newark.”
    Amusement lit his eyes, and he relaxed against the back of his chair, studying her with his head tippedto one side.
    â€œYou seem to have thought of everything,” he drawled.
    Coyly, she replied, “I’m also very practical.”
    â€œYes, that’s quite apparent.”
    â€œThere is one stipulation, however,” she added almost too casually.
    â€œThere usually is,” he interjected, placing his elbow on the armrest of his chair, his chin in his palm.
    She felt warm inside suddenly, as if he were intentionally teasing to fluster her. And it was working, too, though she refused to allow him to know it.
    Rigidly, with great care, she expounded, “I would like you to finance a tour for me. I want to sing, your grace, all over Europe. I can do it, and will be adored for my gift, but as the Earl of