Read Dark Duke for Free Online Page B

askew.
    “Oh Kaitlin, darling,” Violet cooed. “Wherever have you
been?”
    She took her seat down the table, between Hamish and Sean.
“I’m sorry. I was…” She cleared her throat. Flicked a glance in Edward’s
direction. “Reading.” She tucked her napkin into her lap. “I fell asleep.”
    “Must have been a boring book.” Malcolm passed her the
sauce.
    She blinked behind those spectacles. “Um, yes. Of course.”
Her gaze danced over to Edward again.
    Something simmering in those lovely orbs lit a fire in his
belly. She’d been reading . He knew at once, exactly what.
    Oh. Excellent.
    His evening went from miserable to downright promising in a
heartbeat.
    He spent the remainder of the meal surreptitiously studying
her, listening in on her conversations and interpreting every gesture. Also
dodging carrots, as Sean and Dennis were flinging them at each other using
their spoons as catapults, continuing their ongoing battle.
    Aunt Hortense’s warbled admonitions fell on deaf ears.
    Though, by the end of dinner, deaf ears would have been a
blessing.
    Still and all, when the company rose and made their way to
the drawing room, he followed. Because Kaitlin went with them.
    At Violet’s urging, she sat at the piano and played
accompaniment as his cousin sang several songs in a lovely soprano. Then they
switched places and Kaitlin sang. Edward sat in the wingchair and watched,
oddly enchanted. Her voice was a rich, sultry alto. When the two sang a duet,
it was downright delightful.
    Edward was struck with the knowledge that he was attending
an impromptu musicale—and rather enjoying it. Quite unexpected, that.
    The boys then coordinated a rollicking game of Bouts-Rimés and then, of course, Rhymes with Rose. He found himself howling at some of the
verses they came up with. He suggested chess and, after a hunt for the missing
men, they sat around the table and partook in a tournament, with the winner of
each game playing the next challenger.
    Most games ended quickly. Hamish beating Taylor. Sean
triumphing over Hamish, Dennis and Aunt Hortense. Malcolm squashing Sean and
then Violet. Ned trouncing Malcolm.
    The game between Ned and Kaitlin took much longer. Edward
could tell she had played before, and many times. In the end, she won. Which
delighted him. Because he was the only remaining challenger.
    They took their positions, each sizing up the other. He knew
more about her than she did of him, because he’d watched her play. He deliberately
made a few foolish moves at the beginning, to throw her off her game. But she
quickly caught on to his ploy.
    She was a clever girl, his Kaitlin. She soon had him in a
corner.
    But he was a master at chess, and wiggled out of the hole.
    Their game went on and on, advance and retreat, loss and
triumph, until only a few pieces remained on the board.
    The boys lost interest after a while and drifted off to
explore other pursuits. Violet and Aunt Hortense became engaged in a meticulous
discussion of the ball. That left Edward and Kaitlin alone together in the
corner.
    He smiled at her as he moved his queen. “So, you were
reading this afternoon.”
    She started. Her gaze flicked warily to his face. “Yes.”
    “Anything…interesting?”
    She tried to hide her smile with a pucker. It didn’t work.
“Perhaps.” She moved her king out of danger.
    “Did it involve a harem girl, by chance?”
    She tipped her head to the side. “Do you intend to win the
game by distracting me, Your Grace?”
    “I think you should call me Edward now, don’t you?
After…this morning.”
    She colored, a lovely rose. “So you do intend to distract
me.”
    He moved his lone pawn.”Does it?” He glanced at her,
investing heat and promise in the look. “Distract you?”
    “Perhaps. A little.” She took his knight. “Quite sad,
though, that you feel you have to cheat to beat me.”
    “Cheat?”
    “Hmm.” She studied the board as he took her bishop. “One
would hope you could play