Until You by Jennifer McNare Read Free Book Online Page B

with a curt nod of his head, his expression now composed, the transformation lightening-swift.  Without another word, he once again shifted his gaze toward the window.  He knew that his behavior was discourteous, but much to his consternation he was completely disconcerted and disinclined to show it.
    Ashleigh, stung by the duke’s brusque tone and rude dismissal, was unsure how to respond.   Thus she simply remained silent.
    Madeline regarded her grandson in surprise, and then glanced curiously back and forth between him and Ashleigh, seeming to note the sudden tension between them, though she clearly had no idea as to its cause.  She looked as if she were about to question Nicholas, and then abruptly changed her mind.  
    “Perhaps we should be seated,” she said somewhat awkwardly, her smile overly bright.  “I believe we have kept Monsieur LeFeve waiting long enough.”

 
 
 
    Moments later Nicholas had taken his seat at the head of the table, with Madeline seated to his left and Ashleigh St. John on his right.  Glancing to his right from the corner of his eye, he sought to reassure himself that the elegantly clad young woman sitting beside him was indeed the same young vixen he had witnessed riding hell-bent across the grassy flatlands that very morning, and indeed she was.  Good lord, he thought in horror, he had actually considered trying to locate her with the intention of pursuing an amorous liaison, the granddaughter of the Earl of Dexter for Christ's sake.  And now here she was, sitting at his dinner table; it defied belief. 
    Ashleigh glanced uncertainly at the duke as the first course was set before them.  His features were taut and his demeanor indicated that he was anything but pleased by her presence.  She could only assume that he was still vexed by their earlier encounter, for she could fathom no other reason for his boorish behavior. 
    As the meal progressed, her attempts at conversation were rewarded with only the briefest of answers and her friendly smiles achieved only austere frowns in return.  He conversed amiably with his grandmother however, his tone filled with warmth and affection when it was directed toward Madeline.  Ashleigh could sense that the duchess was perplexed by her grandson’s seeming uncharacteristic behavior, though she refrained from making direct mention of it.  She did make a concerted effort to include her in their conversation however, and she appreciated the gesture.  
    After a while, Ashleigh simply sat in relative silence, uneasily shifting the delicious but scarcely touched food around on her plate as the duke continued to direct the majority of his attention to his grandmother.
    For Nicholas, ignoring Ashleigh proved far more difficult than he made it seem.   Seated only a few feet away from the ravishing young beauty, it was nearly impossible to keep his gaze from drifting in her direction.   In addition, whenever his grandmother managed to include her in the conversation, it became increasingly apparent that not only was she beautiful, but she was surprisingly intelligent as well.   Under different circumstances he might well have admired the unique combination, but unfortunately with the situation being what it was, he was only too aware that the combination could be exceedingly dangerous as well.   Past experience had taught him that lesson quite well and he wasn’t about to forget it.   Better to act the part of an ill-mannered boor now, he surmised, and promptly douse that initial spark that had flared between them earlier.
    When the last course was finally taken away, Ashleigh was immensely relieved to be able to rise from the dinner table at last.  Unable to endure another moment of the duke’s obvious disdain, she declined Madeline’s invitation to join them in the parlor for an after-dinner drink.   Pleading a headache, she bid them each a polite goodnight and then escaped quickly to her chamber.
    Watching her go, Nicholas felt a