Theodora’s hand flew to her mouth. “I think not! We have had this discussion before. I do not want to move on to the phys-”
He sat with that blasted rakish smile tickling his lips as he held up a hand and looked back at her. “I keep my word, sorceress. I wish you no harm...or pleasure.”
Theodora gulped audibly as she imagined what pleasures such a man as him could offer.
“The secret has to do with my sister,” he continued.
His jovial smirk disappeared and Theodora sat straighter.
“Your sister? I did not know you have a sister.”
He dipped his chin. “I do and I need help with her. She is physically fine, mind you, but she is…” His words dropped, leaving Theodora scrambling to fill in the blanks.
“I do not understand. How can I help her?” She frowned at him.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “That I cannot say, but I have tried everything else.”
Theodora caught movement just past the Duke. Evelina and Maria must have finally noticed who was occupying the bench next to her. She did not have much time before they decided to come and break up their conversation.
“May I think about it?” she said hurriedly.
“Of course, sorceress. But do not take too long. I like challenges, but I am also not a patient man.” His eyes darkened causing Theodora to shift in her seat once again.
“I am curious about you, Scarlet Duke.” She tilted her head as if she were summing him up.
He chuckled. “As I am of you. I am also curious to know what you have truly written about our last encounter.”
His hazel eyes travelled the length of her body and although she felt uncomfortable when other men did it, she felt exhilarated whenhesurveyed her.
The Duke of Hawthorne stood suddenly and adjusted the sleeves of his coat. With each pull, the material stretched over his lean muscles and caused her stomach to dip in a very pleasant way as she remembered how his hands felt wrapped around her waist.
Theodora barely noticed that Maria and Evelina arrived until the Duke bowed slightly and excused himself.
“What was that about?” Evelina inquired as she sat next to Theo.
Lying was something Theo despised, even more so since learning of her father’s extramarital affair but for the sake of her study, and the Duke’s own secret, she erred on the side of caution.She lied.
“He was just commenting about the weather.” She tipped her head back and looked at the looming clouds.
Maria laughed. “The weather? Does the Duke think it will rain?”
Theodora shrugged absently. “I honestly could not tell you because my mind was somewhere else. You know how I abhor discussing such mundane topics.”
“I understand, sister. My mind would have been elsewhere too if I was sitting next to the handsome Scarlet Duke.” Evelina winked at her before they all burst out laughing.
CHAPTER 7
Stage Six: The First Kiss
It is my belief that one can sufficiently prove the notion of ‘butterflies’ in one’s stomach in relation to a kiss is just distress caused by hysteria.
Mechanism: Sensory Overload & Gastrointestinal Distress
Aim: To prove that “butterflies” are simply the body’s panic response to overstimulation.
Method:
