To Marry The Duke by Julianne MacLean Read Free Book Online Page A

where here, everyone leaves the country to come to the city.”
    “It is indeed a fascinating contrast,” Lady Lansdowne said.
    “I don’t understand why you wouldn’t prefer to be on your estates in the summer,” Mrs. Wilson continued, “when the city can be so warm and…”
    Could it be that Miss Wilson was disappointed that James had arrived and cut Whitby’s visit short?
    He glanced down at his walking stick, chiding himself. What did he care if she was disappointed or not? All he needed to care about was the simple fact that she was as flagrantly rich this morning as she was last night. Richer probably.
    He gazed into her huge, unfathomable blue eyes. Lord, she was the most beautiful, exquisite creature he’d ever seen.
    Perhaps he should leave.
    At that precise moment, Miss Wilson interrupted. “It’s because of Parliament, Mother.”
    The fact that it was the first time she had spoken was not lost on James. His desire to leave vanished abruptly, and he wondered with some interest if that had been Miss Wilson’s intention just now—to keep him in the countess’s drawing room a little longer. He felt his mood lift slightly, felt the hot, glowing embers of attraction smolder. He was back in the game.
    “Well, of course I know that,” Mrs. Wilson replied, but James suspected that she had not known.
    Miss Wilson turned her attention to James. “Does Parliament take up a great deal of your time, Your Grace?”
    He was thankful to have the opportunity to at last speak directly to her. Her eyes sparkled as she waited for his reply, and with pleasure he finally let himself imagine what it would be like to make love to her. Would she be as spirited in bed as she was in public, breaking etiquette rules in London ballrooms?
    He felt a distinct tremor of desire as he studied the shape and line of her breasts and visualized her naked on his bed—with nothing upon her but
him
. Yes, it would give him great pleasure to make love to her.
    For the next ten minutes, they talked about lighter Parliamentary matters. Miss Wilson’s inquisitive nature and intelligent questions challenged him, and he managed to avoid thinking any more about taking her to bed. He considered more practical matters—like the obvious fact that she would be a fast learner, and a woman had to be such, in order to become a competent duchess.
    A competent duchess
. Perhaps he was getting ahead of himself.
    When the time seemed right, James set down his cup and smiled at the countess. “I thank you, Lady Lansdowne, for the fine discourse this afternoon.” He stood. She stood also, and walked him to the drawing room door. He handed her his card. “It was a pleasure, indeed.”
    He turned to take one last look at Miss Wilson, rising to her feet. “Thank you for coming, Your Grace,” she said.
    She watched him with some intensity, and again he wondered why she had been so quiet for most of his visit, for he had thought he’d made at least a little bit of progress with her the night before.
    James inclined his head at her and walked out.

    As soon as the duke left the room, Sophia turned to her mother. “I overheard you talking to the earl before I came in. You promised me you wouldn’t tell anyone how much Father is willing to pay.”
    The color drained from her mother’s face. “I’m sorry, darling. I wasn’t going to say anything, but the earl expressed an interest in you, and it was my intention to tell him that to propose now would be a mistake—that you wish to truly
know
a gentleman before you can even consider a marriage proposal. I was only trying to do what you wished, but he pressed for more information. I couldn’t lie to him. I tried to change the subject, didn’t I, Florence?” She looked helplessly at the countess.
    “Oh, yes, dear. She did. She was very discreet for as long as she could be, but the earl pressed.”
    Sophia suspected that wasn’t the case. She tried to keep her voice steady. “So now everyone will know