“Ah, Baldwin. Is Lady Felicity’s carriage ready?”
Silence fell. Ash refused to look at Lady Felicity or his daughter.
“Unfortunately, Your Grace, after the storm last evening, the roads are impassible. Word has it the River Arun has flooded in many places.”
Ash’s heart faltered, stopped.
“So, I cannot leave?” Lady Felicity asked.
Ash slowly turned toward her, her gaze locked on him.
“No, my lady,” the butler said. “Based on the reports, it may be a few days.”
Ash’s heart kicked up again:Shite, shite, shite.
A slow, seductive smile spread across Lady Felicity’s face. One of those smiles that was all lips and all secrets. All knowing.
But it would be fine. He would just find a way to avoid her until the roads were traversable again. It would be fine.
Fine.
Maybe if you say it enough times, you’ll believe it.
Fine.
6
Felicity
“Perhapsyouwillbeable to attend my party after all! It’s like a dream come true.”
Felicity hid a smile behind her tea as Pandora bounced in her chair like there were springs in the cushion.
Little did the young girl know Felicity was brimming with just as much excitement and wanted to bounce in her seat as well.
She couldn’t leave the estate.
She had more time.
Pandora popped out of her chair, exclaiming she had more planning for her party now, dipped a curtsy—which looked utterly absurd in breeches—and skipped from the room. The attending footman gathered up the young girl’s discarded dishes and promptly followed suit.
Felicity set down her tea, her grin growing. Well, that was bloody convenient. She had just been granted more time with the Duke, and now here they were, just the two of them.
Alone.
She turned her smile on him, and her heart stuttered as she was met head-on with a pair of soul-swallowing cobalt blue eyes. “This is the best of news, Your Grace. Definitely a step toward my dreams coming true.”
He inhaled sharply, and she thought she might have even heard a muttered curse. She let her gaze trail over his features, tight and tense, his freshly shaven jaw sharp, the muscle ticking subtly. From this change of fates, no doubt.
Change of fates in her favor. She hadn’t thought she’d have this extra time, so she had planned to be extremely daring at breakfast. Her only obstacle had been working around Pandora’s presence. But even granted the extra time, she needed to use every opportunity she had.
She let her best friend’s words flow over her.
Men love skin. Show off those glorious tits, Fliss. Expose a little nipple, and he’ll be putty in your hands.
Felicity reached for the tie of her wrapper just below her bust, proud that her fingers barely trembled. She sank her teeth into her bottom lip, focusing in on that small bite of pain rather than her nerves.
And pulled the ribbon loose.
