Chapter 2
“And you’re sure The Velvet Box is a tea shop?” Lucy asked, looking up at the odd, dark green painted sign.
“Yes, I’m quite sure,” Mirabelle tugged lightly on Lucy’s sleeve. “I’ve been here several times already.
Just about to enter the shop, a couple of men ducked in front of them murmuringexcuse me,andpardon me.
Once they stepped inside, the sweet smell of tea greeted them. “I thought this was supposed to be a small, quiet town?” Mirabelle mused to the tea shop owner as the two ladies stood near the front door. “Why have I seen so many people trickle into town today?” And bypeople, Lucy knew Mirabelle meantmen, since that’s all the two of them had seen all morning.
“Turns out someone found gold in the creeks running through town,” the shopkeeper answered while placing dainty teacups with saucers away in a cupboard.
“How did that happen?” Lucy asked.
“Some duke discovered it by accident.”
Mirabelle raised her brows in shock. “A duke?”
“Well, now that you mention it, I believe it was a couple of dukes. Odd, that.”
“But who?” Lucy started to ask just as the front door behind them whipped open.
“Speak of the devil.” The shopkeeper gestured to the dripping adonis—ahem, fully dressed version of the previously dripping adonis. “I believe that’s one of them.”
Thatone of themgave a small smirk and a nod to the shopkeeper who gestured to what must be his regular table. “He’s not here for tea,” she spilled to the two ladies quietly, but they had no idea what hewashere for. That question was not to be answered though as the shopkeeper turned to fiddle with the tea behind her. “Ouch,” she muttered as a droplet of boiling water caught her skin.
That outcry coincided perfectly with a small touch on Lucy’s back. A touch that zapped her with electricity and then warmed in concentric circles until it reached between her thighs. That hand was like a rod of fire against her body. Shivers danced up Lucy’s spine.
“Excuse me,” the adonis said in a syrupy tone. A syrupy tone that was altogether too close to her ear. A tone that was altogether too sweet to come forth from the devil. And then the warmth from his fiery body was gone as he moved past her to sit at a table. Fire, she reminded herself, straight from the pit of hell.
“That duke,” muttered Lucy, “I can’t believe he’s here. In this town of all places.”
“He doesn’t look so bad.” Mirabelle snuck a furtive glance in his direction only to be winked at by the duke, which of course turned her cheeks a slightly pinker shade than they had been.“He’s actually smiling. I’d say charming, but what’s wrong with him?”
Oh, yes. This was the kind of friend Lucy needed. The kind who immediately took her side and was not swayed by a charming cockroach.
“He’s the devil.”
Mirabelle’s gasp shouldn’t have been so rewarding, but it was. “What did he do?”
“He ruins women.”
“Oh my—”
“Not like that—well, yes, probably like that. But he ruins their reputation and leaves them in the none too gentle hands of the gossip mongers. He’s despicable.” Flashes of that night in the garden flew through her mind. She may have lost the battle of keeping them at bay, but she’d not let them rent space in her head. No matter how much they were willing to pay.
“Oh dear. But to be ruined by him…hmmm…” Mirabelle pulled her bottom lip into her mouth.
“Don’t!” Lucy clipped. “Do not fall under his spell.”
“No. I wouldn’t. I would never. He’s not my type. But I could see how he’d be someone else’s. Oh my—” Mirabelle placed her hand over Lucy’s “—Please tell me that he didn’t…you know…you?”
“God, no. I wouldn’t let that man touch me with a ten foot pole.” Never mind his ten inch pole. Not that Lucy was thinking that. No. Never. She had witnessed his cruelty firsthand, so she—better than anyone—knew how heartless he was. “Besides, you know that I’m not marrying. I’m not looking for a man, duke or otherwise.” And then, for whatever reason, she added, “Not that I could land a duke, anyway.”
“You could.”
Lucy’s head snapped up to find hopeful eyes. “Could what?”
“You could land a duke. Look at you. You’re beautiful. Self-assured. Intelligent. You could be with any man that you chose. If that’s what you wanted.”
