Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

A Chance To Fool Them All

"I appreciate your words," Leah replied.

She could see the hunger in his eyes, but he had not leaned forward to kiss her yet. With what he had said and the way he looked at her hungrily, she was ready to kiss him back. She craved the touch of his lips but knew it would be wrong.

"If you respect my motives, then I hope you will respect my plan," Leah said.

The warmth of his hand on her cheek was too much, and she had to step away from the Duke only to keep her clouded mind under control. She needed to do this for her sister.

But I can still have some fun along the way.

The Duke moved back and perched himself on the table, unperturbed by her removing herself from him. He picked up his drink and took some. He gazed at her not as if he lusted for her but as if he wanted to hear what she would say.

It threw Leah off for a second. She was used to him being someone else.

"I, um, I know we do not see eye to eye all of the time, and I am sure it is no secret that you have irked me at times. I am sure I have annoyed you, too," Leah said.

"You would be correct in that estimation," the Duke said.

"And there are times when we have been close to each other," Leah continued.

"Are you talking about our kiss on my grounds? You certainly made yourself very close to me," the Duke said.

"I don't deny that, Your Grace. Perhaps it was not ladylike of me, but yes, I admit that in that moment, I wanted to know how it might feel to kiss. I take responsibility for my actions, but you would have kissed me anyway."

"No, please don't claim that you only kissed me because you wanted some control over the situation." The Duke chuckled. "You wanted the kiss, and there is nothing else to say. It is done now, so let's move on."

"Yes, it is done," Leah stated as if it was her idea all along.

"Let us not talk about how much you wish to kiss me and instead, we talk about what you truly need from our time here." The Duke pushed himself up onto the desk so he was fully sitting on it.

Leah twisted her lips and narrowed her eyes. She told herself not to be goaded into an argument with him. He was right: there were things to talk about.

"If we will make this work, we need some ground rules," Leah said, maintaining her calm. "My sister is worried about our impending nuptials as is your sister."

"My sister?" the Duke asked.

"I don't think she likes me," Leah replied.

Solomon shook his head. "I am sure that is not true."

"Then she does not like the idea of you marrying me."

Solomon scratched his chin. "I have noticed something off with Christianna recently. Don't worry about her. I shall speak to my sister and sort all of this out."

"I am hoping that what will please my sister will also please yours," Leah told him. "Bridget came to me earlier today and wanted me to call off the wedding. She does not believe that we like each other."

"We do a good job of not liking each other at times. I still can't believe it has only been a little over a day since you arrived. What do you have in mind?"

Leah nodded slowly. "I want for us to prove to everyone we are in love, especially Bridget. I don't believe she will be at rest until she is wed, but I need to be wed before that, and I need her not to worry about me. We will be married no matter what, so we might as well make it easier for everyone. Perhaps if we prove we are in love, Christianna will be content, too."

"An interesting proposition," the Duke said. "You spoke a lot to me about being truthful, but you wish to deceive everyone?"

"For the greater good," Leah said.

She expected the Duke to tease her about her plan, but he didn't. He listened intently, and when he answered, it was measured and welcome.

"The plan is sound, and if it helps the people around us, then I will be a part of it."

It was infuriating to Leah how reasonable he was and how it made her feel to see him this way. He was supposed to be the rakish rogue, and she was the sensible one. Yet, she had come up with the plan of deception and gotten him to go along with it.

We have become partners in crime.

She felt a deep relief that he agreed to it. She had been unsure, searching for him so late at night.

The look of relief disappeared when he lowered his head and looked over at her with dark eyes. The candle had burned down to almost a nub, and the light would not last longer.

"If we are to make this work, we must do it properly," the Duke told her.

"Yes, that is clear," Leah replied.

"We must look for all intents and purposes to be in love. We must act compatible in every way." The Duke rose from the desk. "We must both be happy with the plan."

Leah had forgotten just how tall the Duke was until he stood up from the desk. The candle was behind him, cloaking his face in darkness. She could barely make out the white of his teeth through his parted lips and the glimmer in his eye. The look made her cower back, but she wanted him to come to her. She had been in control in the room, but he took control back.

"What do you want from the plan?" Leah whispered. Her voice had become far too breathy.

The Duke stopped before her, towering above like a grand oak tree. Leah did not need to ask a second time what the Duke wanted. She could see it reflected in his eyes.

"I will pretend with you to fool your sister into believing we are in love, but I need something in return. Something to keep me interested, to drive me to do this for you."

"You will get my father's dowry," Leah commented.

"And your father will get much in return from my Dukedom. We will be even on that front when all is said and done. What I want in return is much more personal."

Leah felt her tongue dart out to lick her lips, and the tingle came back for a third time.

"What do you wish for?" Leah managed.

"When we are in public together, I will be more than charming. You have seen how I can be and how I can charm anyone. You will barely need to do a thing for us to convince the world we were made for each other. You have my guarantee that your sister will be more than happy. That will make you more than happy. In return, I wish for you to make me more than happy."

"What will you have me do?"

"You must spend some time alone with me," the Duke said.

Leah wanted him to kiss her right then, but she could not make it so easy. She would not lay down for him.

"Alone with you?" she asked. "And you expect me to give my body to you as so many other women have?"

"Some," the Duke clarified. "Not many!"

"And what if I say no?"

The Duke leaned in a little closer, barely visible in the dwindling light. "I don't think you want to say no. I can see your want in your eyes. You don't see this as repayment for the favors I will give you. You see this as something else to be gained from the deal. We spend some time alone, and we let happen what will happen."

"Oh, you are a rake," Leah scoffed, turning her head to the side.

"Yes, I am." Solomon took her by the chin as he had before and turned her to face him again.

"Well, I can't imagine why you think I would want to be alone with a rake," Leah stated.

"As we are right now." The Duke kept a hold of her chin and smiled. "As we have been on occasion previously?"

Leah raised her hand and took the Duke's to move it from her chin. "We must put on the pretense."

The Duke wrapped his hand around Leah's, holding it between them. "And we will. We will keep up the pretense in public and private." He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them gently.

"I don't know if this is a good idea," Leah gasped.

"I shall not make you do anything you do not want to. I will agree to your ruse with our families, and if that is all we do, then so be it. Still, I ask for this in return. I demand nothing that is not given willingly, and you have given very willingly so far." The Duke nibbled on Leah's fingers.

Leah could not think anymore. She was not sure if she would accept it or not; she only wanted to feel what the Duke could do to her. She needed time to think about it with a clear head, not when he was clouding her judgment.

"You know what I can do to you, and I have only just begun," the Duke said.

Leah should have pulled her hand back already, and she finally managed it, but she did not move from before the Duke.

"I shall have to think about it," she told him.

"Yes, you should think about it."

Before Leah knew what was happening, the Duke leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. She let out a small moan, and she opened her mouth to accept him, closing her eyes also. She quickly opened her eyes when he realized the kiss was over as quickly as it had begun.

"A small kiss to help you think," the Duke said.

Leah quickly clamped her mouth shut. She could not say a word, or a moan would escape her lips first. She merely nodded, giving him nothing. She wanted to be alone with him, but to admit it would make her as awful as him.

Leah took three deep breaths before she was able to open her mouth again.

"I will think about it," she said. "Perhaps the decision will be made by how much you infuriate me. Your charm is so very false, but I can see through it if no one else can. How about that?"

"I would expect nothing less."

The reply infuriated her, but only because she expected him to fight back with a barb.

"Good," she said as she slipped from under his gaze. "Then I shall see you in the morning."

"I look forward to it." The Duke blew her a kiss.

Leah almost smiled. She quickly left the study before he could.