The Duchess's Desire

golden frames housed oil paintings of stern-faced ancestors who seemed to disapprove of every hushed conversation and sidelong glance ex

egantly around her. In one hand, she held a porcelain teacup, though the tea had long gone cold. Across from h

dress the rather intriguing figure of James Parker*loitering in shadowed corners, or a

d write novels, Catherine. Your imagination would kee

he names, of course. The Duchess and the

ly, though the corner of her

ticed arrogance. Lord Alexander Windsor entered uninvited, his cravat carel

le, bowing dramatically. "I trust I'm n

t you enter every room as though you're the

g his chest. His piercing blue eyes flickered to Victoria, and the humor in his exp

ia replied coolly. "To what do

hout shame. "Thomas summoned me for some urgent political discussion, though I suspec

recedes you," Cath

his glass cradled in one hand. "You wound me as well, L

audible clink. "If you're going to disrupt my aft

toria-how is Thomas these days? I hear he's spending more an

r of the drawing room. Catherine's smile faltered as her eyes darted

y, her voice low and steady,

ng briefly across his face before he look

ia said, rising to her fee

nterrupted them, and James Parker stepped into the roo

ghtly. "His Grace, the Duke, requ

k you, Mr. Parker. Inform His

turned to leave, but Alex

s if studying a peculiar artifact. "You've been wit

lmly, his gray eyes meeting Alex

trust you find your

ake of breath was ne

James replied,

d before turning his atte

a, James exited the room, leavi

gown. "Well, that was thoroughly awkward. I do believ

to her. "You'r

red a playful curtsey before sweeping from th

and sighed, rubbing the bridg

f, her voice firm. "Don't

longing, guilt-but he said nothing as she turned and l

-

y. The room smelled of leather and aged paper, and a heavy mahogany

clasped behind his back, his profile

me, my lord?" Vic

is blue eyes cold but co

armchairs across from his desk,

voice measured, "circulating among

kept her expression carefully neut

on balconies. About lingering glances with

r chin slightly. "Surely you don't g

"I would hope not, Victo

suffocating, broken only by th

my lord?" she

, turning back

he clasped them together. She turned and left th

eath. Shadows clung to the corners, and somewhere in the

s were grow