“Pah,” the Duke scoffed. “Cupid, or Eros to those in our company who might prefer Greek mythology, represents irrational, unreasonable love.”
He finally lowered his chin and met Genevieve’s gaze before locking his glittering eyes onto Phoebe.
“I prefer to think that human beings are capable of so much more than behaving like lovesick animals,” he said.
“You have no regard for passionate pursuits then, Your Grace?” Genevieve countered while giving the Duke an impish grin. “You do not believe we are capable of being swept away by our feelings?”
“On the contrary,” the Duke drawled slowly as he peeled his eyes off of Phoebe momentarily so that he might address Genevieve properly. “I have a great deal of respect for the feelings of others.So much so that I do not think one can be simply pierced by Cupid’s arrow and fall in love.”
“No?” Genevieve’s eyelashes fluttered vivaciously.
“A man may truly fall in love with a woman when he finds the missing piece of his soul. His lady must represent all the things he has been searching for and has never been able to find within himself.”
“Oh…” Genevieve exhaled in sigh so deep, it seemed for a moment as though she might swoon.
Because it was clear her cousin could not ask further questions because the Duke had already rendered her speechless, Phoebe seized the moment.
“And what are you searching for, Your Grace? What does your soul cry out to know better?”
The Duke of Talwyn’s face broke into a devilish grin. “You wish to know my secrets then, Lady Phoebe?”
Now that the full force of his stare and words was directed at her. Phoebe fell under his spell, just as Genevieve had done.
She could produce little more than a squeak when she spoke. “Yes…Yes, Your Grace.”
He laughed lightly. “The pair of you nearly had me convinced.”
Phoebe blinked as his words pulled her out of her trance. “What do you mean? You will not tell us your thoughts?”
“When I find a lady who makes my soul complete, I shall tell the whole world my secrets.” He leaned forward, closing the distance between them slightly. Phoebe exhaled deeply and caught a quick whiff of the posies in his buttonhole. “Until then, let us agree that Cupid is a cheery, yet misplaced, fixture in this household.”
Phoebe was stymied. She had nearly forgotten that Cupid had featured at all in any part of their conversation. She stood there for a long moment staring at the Duke, allowing him to see the way his words bewildered her.
Does he speak to everyone so glibly or is he only so relaxed in my presence because of what we shared during Lord Spencer’s Masquerade?
She did not dare ask him, especially not so publicly, and even if they were alone, she could not reveal that she had been at the party. No doubt he would deny his presence at it, too. A distinguished and respected Duke of his stature would not be seen in such an environment.
Genevieve dug her elbow into Phoebe’s side subtly, clearing her throat. “I believe His Grace is speaking to you, Phoebe.”
The Duke chuckled politely. “It is quite all right. Perhaps something else caught your eye behind me?”
He was giving her an excuse, and Phoebe silently nodded; her tongue suddenly stuck to the roof of her mouth. “Y-yes… yes, I was. I thought I saw somebody I recognized and got distracted.”
I listened to every word you said, even as I drowned in your eyes.
She mustered a smile and finally remembered to curtsy.
You know I was looking right at you.
When she straightened, the Duke took her hand and kissed it lightly as he had the last time. On this occasion, Phoebe could not stop her thoughts from wandering to the little story she had written the night before, not when the Duke’s mouth was warm on her skin.
He did not linger this time, but after he did the same to Genevieve, his eyes went back to Phoebe.
“Earlier, when you first mentioned the renovations, you said something about VeritydraggingHis Grace out to see this estate?”
“Oh, he will not mind you calling him Percy in conversation,” the Duke told her, a crooked grin on his face. “In fact, please do greet him as such; it will bring me great amusement.”
“I cannot!” Genevieve protested, her mouth falling.
