Home > Author > Kathryn Smith
41 " He hadn’t been aware of staring, but when her questioning gaze locked with his, Grey felt as though he’d been smacked upside the head by the open palm of idiocy.“Is something troubling you, Grey?”He loved the sound of his name on her tongue, and hated that he loved it. She made him weak and stupid. One sweet glance from her and he was ready to drop to his knees.It wasn’t love. It wasn’t even infatuation. It was pure unmitigated lust. He could admit that. Hell, he embraced it. Lust could be managed. Lust could be mastered. And lust would eventually fade once she was out of his care and out of his life. That was the cold, hard, blessed truth of it.“I was wondering if you were eagerly anticipating Lady Shrewsbury’s ball tomorrow evening?” How easily the lie rolled off his tongue as he lifted a bite of poached salmon to his mouth.She smiled softly, obviously looking forward to it very much. “I am. Thank you.”Camilla shared her daughter’s pleasure judging from her coy grin. “Rose has renewed her acquaintance with the honorable Kellan Maxwell. He requested that she save the first waltz of the evening for him.”The fish caught in Grey’s throat. He took a drink of wine to force it down. “The same Kellan Maxwell who courted you during your first season?”Rose’s smile faded a little. No doubt she heard the censure in his tone, his disapproval. “The same,” she replied with an edge of defensiveness.The same idiot who abandoned his pursuit of Rose when Charles lost everything and scandal erupted. The little prick who hadn’t loved her enough to continue his courtship regardless of her situation.“Mm,” was what he said out loud.Rose scowled at him. “We had no understanding. We were not engaged, and Mr. Maxwell behaved as any other young man with responsibilities would have.”“You defend him.” It was difficult to keep his disappointment from showing. He never thought her to be the kind of woman who would forgive disloyalty when she was so very loyal herself.She tilted her head. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m no debutante, Grey. If I’m to find a husband this season I shouldn’t show prejudice.”Common sense coming out of anyone else. Coming out of her it was shite. “You deserve better.”She smiled a Mona Lisa smile. “We do not always get what we deserve, or even what we desire.”She knew. Christ in a frock coat, she knew.Her smile faded. “If we did, Papa would be here with us, and Mama and I wouldn’t be your responsibility.”She didn’t know. Damn, what a relief. “The two of you are not a responsibility. You are a joy.”For some reason that only made her look sadder, but Camilla smiled through happy tears. She thanked him profusely, but Grey had a hard time hearing what she was saying-he was too intent on Rose, who had turned her attention to her plate and was pushing food around with little interest.He could bear this no longer. He didn’t know what was wrong with her, or why she seemed so strange with him. And he couldn’t stand that he cared.“Ladies, I’m afraid I must beg your pardon and take leave of you.”Rose glanced up. “So soon?”He pushed his chair back from the table. “Yes. But I will see you at breakfast in the morning.”She turned back to her dinner.Grey bid farewell to Camilla and then strode from the room as quickly as he could. If he survived the Season it would be a miracle. "
― Kathryn Smith , When Seducing a Duke (Victorian Soap Opera, #1)
42 " Let’s go home,” she said.He arched his brows. “Already? I thought you would want to stay for a while.”Dark eyes flashed. “No, I want to take you home where women can’t stare at you like hyenas after a baby chick.”He laughed-loudly, which caught a fair bit of attention. “Surely I’m more threatening than a chick?”She smiled, ruining her petulant expression. “A puppy perhaps.”Grey stepped closer so that their torsos touched. It was totally improper behavior, but the gossips already had so much to talk about, one more thing would hardly matter. “Is that all you want to take me home for? To protect me?”Her gaze turned coy. “I received the newest edition of Voluptuous today. I thought I might read to you.”Was it just him or had the temperature in the room suddenly climbed ten degrees. “Let’s go.”He grabbed her by the hand and started weaving their way toward the door. People stopped hi to say hello, and he was forced to speak to them rather than be as rude as he wanted. A good fifteen minutes passed before he and Rose finally made it to the entrance of the ballroom, only to have Vienne La Rieux descend upon them.“Monsieur et Madame le Duc!” she cried, clasping her hands together in front of her breast-abundantly displayed above a peacock-colored gown that must have cost a small fortune. “Finally, you leave my club together, non?”Grey winked at her. “At last, madam. But we may want a room again someday.”The French woman grinned, delighting in Rose’s obvious embarrassment. “Mais oui! An anniversary present, Your Grace. On the house.”He thanked her and bade her farewell.“She knew?” Rose’s tone was incredulous as they made their way closer to the exit. “How could she know?”Grey shrugged. “The woman seems to know deuced near everything that happens here. "
43 " I hate when I take a woman to my bed who has already been in yours. I feel like they’re comparing us.”Grey grinned. “And find you lacking?” As much as he regretted some of his past, he was still a man, with a man’s sexual pride.If looks could kill, he’d be on the grass gasping his last. “I doubt it. "
44 " And if she were an honest woman, which she was known to be on occasion, she could readily admit that hearing about his escapades had bothered her on so many levels. And, yes, it affected how she looked at him, how she thought of him.But not, unfortunately, how she felt about him. Which either made her very generous, or very stupid.She was also very hungry, despite the ache in her head. So, she climbed out of bed, rang for Heather, and set about getting ready for the day. She told her maid to tell Cook that she would like to take breakfast out on the terrace since it was such a lovely day and she doubted anyone would join her. Her mother had no doubt eaten long ago, and Grey was probably passed out somewhere if his condition of last night had worsened after her departure. She rather fancied him drinking himself blind after she made her grand exit.Not that she wanted him to be miserable-she simply wanted to think that her words and opinion mattered. "
45 " What is there about me that makes me the least bit desirable?” She wasn’t fishing, she truly wanted to know. Right now she didn’t feel very attractiveThere was no joy in the laugh that seemed to catch in his throat. He closed the scant distance between them, taking her face between the warm hollows of his palms.“Foolish girl. You are everything that is good in life. Don’t you know that?”She would have shaken her head were she not afraid that he would release her. “No. I’m manipulative and spoiled. And I think only of my own happiness.”“You are good and sweet and true.” His thumbs brushed the apples of her cheeks. “Everything I am not. Everything. I want you so badly I may go mad before the Season ends. "
46 " And what is the popular color for gowns this Season?” he asked with a smile when it became necessary to announce himself.She gave a little start, and when she raised her face to look up at him, her cheeks were pink, her eyes wide. She looked, for lack of a better comparison, like a child caught doing something she oughtn’t.“Oh! Hello, Grey.” She glanced away. “Um, blue seems to be very favorable this year.”Arching a brow, he nodded at the periodical in her hand. “Beg pardon. I thought you were reading a ladies’ magazine.”“I am,” she replied with a coy smile. “But fashion is not one of its main areas of interest.”With an expression like hers-very much like the Cheshire cat in that book by Lewis Carroll-he doubted it was an article on housekeeping that put such becoming color in her cheeks.“May I?” he asked, holding out his hand.Her grip on the magazine tightened, reluctant to give it up. “Only if you promise not to tell Mama you saw me reading it.”Oh, this was trouble. Still, it was none of his business what a grown woman of three and twenty read. He was curious, that was all. “I promise.”She hesitated, then put the pages into his hand.Placing his fingers between the thin sheaves to mark her spot, Grey flipped to the cover. Christ on a pony! The magazine looked fairly harmless-the sketch on the front showed a demure young lady in a stylish gown and hat, sitting on a park bench. Only upon closer inspection could one notice that the object of her attention-and rapturous smile-was the young man bathing in the lake just on the edge of the page. He was bare-chested-quite possibly bare everywhere, but that key part of anatomy was carefully hidden with a line of text that read, “Ten ways to keep a gentleman at home-and in bed.”He didn’t want to see what she was reading. He had heard of this magazine before. Voluptuous was a racy publication for women, filled with erotic stories, advice, and articles about sexual relationships, how to conduct oneself to avoid scandal, etc.He could take her to task for reading it, but what would be the point? No doubt the information in it would serve her wisely someday. He gave the magazine back to her. “I have to confess, I’m a little surprised to find you reading such…material.”She shrugged. “I was curious. My parents were so happy in their marriage, so very much the opposite of most of what I’ve heard. If I’m to make a match as good as theirs, I need to know as much as I can about how to have a satisfying marriage.”Grey almost groaned. The image of Rose “satisfying” herself filled his mind with such clarity it was difficult to remember he’d never actually seen such a delightful sight. His body stiffened at the delectable images his mind conjured, and he had to fold his hands in front of him to hide his growing arousal. "
47 " I shouldn’t mind being his wife at all, if he ever asks me.”It was at that moment that Mr. Gregory looked up and caught them watching him. He smiled and raised his glass of champagne to them.Eve smiled in return before turning to snatch a similar glass for each of them off the tray of a passing footman. “See? He catches me staring and he barely reacts. Most men would be halfway across the floor already.”Rose took a sip from the flute her friend had given her. “Perhaps he is so confident in his intent to have you that he feels he needn’t exert himself.”The blonde made an indelicate sound. “He’d better reconsider exerting himself, otherwise I’m likely to find someone with less confidence.”How Rose wished she had that kind of self-value. "
48 " You look lovely tonight, my lady,” Kellan said for her ears alone as he took her into his arms-not too close, of course.His flattery pleased her but did not discompose her as Grey’s did. Rose smiled sincerely in response. “Thank you, sir. Might I say that you are in very fine looks as well.”“You always know exactly the right thing to say to woo me, Lady Rose.” He grinned as they moved through a turn. “Have a care, else you’re likely to break my heart.”“If it is so easily broken, perhaps you should hold it a little more dear,” she advised archly.He winced, but it was apparent that he had taken the remark with the humor she intended. “She mocks me.”“You are mistaken, sir. I am merely thinking of your best interests.”They shared a smile and were silent for a turn.“I am surprised that Ryeton allowed you to come tonight.”Rose raised a brow. “The duke does not dictate where I can and cannot go.” Grey might be her benefactor, but he was not her guardian.“That is good to hear,” Kellan replied, ignoring the edge to her tone. “So he cannot prevent you from taking a drive in Hyde Park with me tomorrow afternoon.”She chuckled. “No, I suppose not. But first, you might want to ask me if I care to take a drive with you.”“Do you?”She did. Did that make her awful? Just a few minutes ago she’d been missing Grey and thinking about how much she cared for him, and now here she was flirting with Kellan and fluttering over the prospect of going for a carriage ride.It wasn’t fickleness, she told herself. It was practicality. She was doing what she was supposed to do. Kellan had yet to lay any claim to her feelings or her heart, but she owed him the opportunity to try. She would never get over Grey and find love if she didn’t try as well.And it wouldn’t hurt Grey to see another man take interest in her. Perhaps a little jealousy would do him good. "
49 " It was an imprudent idea to begin with.”“I shan’t argue with you on that point.”Rose scoffed at him. “You don’t get to play morally superior with me, Grey. I may have been stupid enough to conspire against you, but you didn’t even recognize someone you’ve known for years! If one of us must be the bigger idiot, I think it must be you!” Oh dear God. She covered her mouth with her hand. What had she just said?Dark arched brows pulled together tightly over stormy blue eyes. “You’re right,” he agreed. “I am an idiot, but only because I allowed this ridiculous ruse past the point when I realized your identity.”Rose froze-like a damp leaf on an icy pond. “You knew?” And yet he continued to pretend…oh, he was worse than she by far.“Of course I knew.” He glowered at her. “Blindfold me and I would know the scent of your skin, the exact color and texture of your skin. Do you not realize that I know the color of your eyes right down to the flecks of gold that light their depths?”Heart pounding, stomach churning in shock, Rose could only stare at him. How could he say such things to her and sound so disgusted? “When?” Her voice was a ragged whisper. “When did you know?”“I suspected before but tried to deny it. The morning after we last met I took one look at your sweet mouth and knew there couldn’t be two women in the world, let alone London with the same delectable bottom lip.”It hurt. Oh, she hadn’t thought hearing him say such wonderful things could hurt so much! She pressed a hand to her chest. “You suspected and yet you made love to me any way.”“Made love?” He snorted. “That’s a girl’s term, Rose. What you and I did…it was something far worse than making trite love.”Worse? How could he malign what had transpired between them. “So you regret it, despite your own choice to continue with the charade.”“What I regret,” he growled, suddenly moving toward her, “is your sudden attack of conscience.”He was mad. She took a step back. “I don’t understand you.”“If only you had managed to keep your guilt where it belonged.” A ravaged smile curved his lips as he shook his head. “We might have continued on, with neither being the wiser, but now we must endure the rest of the Season together, knowing what we can no longer have.”“Then you admit you have feelings for me.”He laughed hollowly. “So many I can scarce discern them all.”It was a hollow victory at best. “If you care for me and I for you, then why can we not reveal our feelings? You have but to ask and I’m yours. "
50 " The way she saw it, she had two choices. She could either pursue Grey and make an even bigger fool of herself, or she could throw all of her energy and efforts into finding a man she could like as much, or better than he. Perhaps she would be noble enough not to rub his face in it, but she doubted it. "
51 " I could look at you forever,” he admitted roughly as the gown joined her wrapper on the floor.“Looking is very good,” she replied, kicking the garments aside with a flick of a slender foot. “But I would much rather you touch.”There was no artifice in her tone, no knowingly seductive tones-only an honesty that shook him to his soul.He picked her up and carried her the few steps to his bed. He placed her naked body on the sheets and stood back. He took his time studying the lush splendor of her as he opened his trousers and pushed them over his hips and thighs. When he straightened, the full length of his arousal jutted in front of him, revealed to her bright gaze as her nakedness was to his.“Are all men as beautiful as you are naked?” she asked with a hint of a smile.Grey grinned back. “No,” he replied. “I am an exceptional specimen of manly perfection-how the hell should i know what other men look like naked?”Rose shrugged as she chuckled. “You stand a better chance of knowing than I would.”He climbed on the bed, easing his body onto the sheets beside her. “I cannot tell you. All I know is that I’ve never seen a woman as beautiful as you.” He kissed the tip of her adorable nose as he placed his palm on the gentle curve of her stomach.Soft pink suffused her cheeks. “You lie.”He shook his head, solemn as the grave. “Not about this.” And then he kissed her again, because he didn’t want to risk ruining the moment with silly chatter.Or risk saying something better left unsaid. "
52 " Rose, we were seen together naked and in my bed by my brother, my butler and two men who are about to become intimately acquainted with this family. We must marry.”She frowned, delicate brow pulling in a manner that made him want to kiss it smooth and promise everything would be all right. He’d do his best to make her happy.Yes, he would willfully lie to ease her burden.“But, you’ve sacrificed so much for me and Mama already.” Christ, she wasn’t going to cry, was she? “It doesn’t seem fair that you be forced to marry me because I made the mistake of coming to your room.”“Is that what it was? A mistake?” His head swam and his heart felt strangely tight. Hadn’t she told him earlier that she wanted this? Perhaps she hadn’t come right out and said it, but he had thought it was obvious.Her eyes widened, big brown circles that stared helplessly at him. “You aren’t the least bit angry with me, are you?”“No,” he replied. “Strangely enough I’m not angry at myself either, although I could strangle Bronte’s future father-in-law for arriving when he did.”Rose glanced away, but not before he saw the flash of desire in her eyes as she remembered what he was about to do to her before they were interrupted. “Yes, I could strangle the poor man as well.”Sweet God, were it not for Bronte he’d throw her on the bed right now and screw her senseless.“When I return I will procure a special license for us to marry.”Her gaze flew to his. “Grey-“He could not bear to have her refuse him now. “We will be wed. And then we will continue what we begun tonight-no interruptions.”And just in case she didn’t believe him, he too her by the arms and hauled her roughly against his chest, lowering his head to bruise her lips with his own. She was his now. Or at least, she soon would be.Till death do them part.As he left her to rejoin the men downstairs, he found himself wishing to live to be a very old man. "
53 " Rose barely poured herself a cup of hot, mouth-watering chocolate, when she saw Grey and Archer walking across the lawn. Archer was impeccable as always, but Grey was a mess. His clothes were the same he’d worn the night before, and obviously slept in. His shirt, open at the throat, revealed a glimpse of tanned flesh that made her heart twitch and her gingers itch to touch him. His hair was mussed, and stubble covered his cheeks and jaw, except where prohibited by his scar.In short, he looked absolutely beautiful-a fallen angel. The only thing that made him remotely human was that scar, and she could easily tell herself he got that from battling the archangel Gabriel before being thrown out of heaven.She squinted as she realize Grey held something against his chest-something that moved. Was that a puppy?She jumped to her feet, and skipped down the few steps that took her down to the lawn. Lifting the skirts of her yellow morning gown, she hurried to meet them. “Good morning!” she cried. “What have you there?”Archer smiled in greeting, but Rose barely noticed. Her gaze was riveted on the man looking at her with an expression so hopeful it neigh on broke her heart.“I brought you something,” he said, his voice low and strangely rough. “A gift.” And then he held out his arms and offered her the sweetest face she’d ever seen.“Oh!” What an idiot she must seem, her eyes welling with tears over a dog, but she didn’t care. She let the tears come and slip down her cheeks as she took the warm, silky animal into her own arms, burying her face against its fur. “Grey, thank you!”“He’s too young to be away from his mother yet, but he’s yours if you want hm.”“Of course I want him! He’s beautiful.”He ran a hand through the thick tangle of his hair. “I didn’t know that you’d never had a dog before.”Rose cast a glance at Archer, who shrugged. “Telling my secrets are you, Lord Archer?” What else had he revealed?Grey’s brother shot her a sincere glance. “Only that one, Lady Rose. I did not think you would mind.”“And I don’t.” Turning her attention back to the squirming puppy in her arms, Rose was rewarded with a lick to the chin.“He’ll need to go back to the stables in a few minutes,” Grey told her. “But you can see him whenever you like.”With her free hand, Rose reached out and took one of Grey’s. His fingers were so big and strong next to hers. She squeezed and then let go, letting him know with a touch just how much his gift meant to her. “I love him. Thank you so very much.”“What are you going to name him?” he asked.Rose tore her gaze away from the pleasure in his, lest she do something stupid like kiss him in front of his brother. Instead, she cast a small, secretive smile at Archer. “Heathcliff,” she replied. “His name is Heathcliff. "
54 " Last night Grey and I were caught together and now he insists we marry.”Eve’s eyes were huge blue saucers. “Define ‘caught.’”Rose stroked Heathcliff’s silky ears. “Naked and in bed-that sort of caught.”Her friend looked positively scandalized-and gleeful. “No! Who caught you?”“His brother Archer and a servant.” She purposefully did not mention anything about Bronte’s situation. As much as she trusted Eve, she could not be certain that none of the grooms wouldn’t overhear. And since most of the household probably knew about her and Grey by dawn, it didn’t seem so important to keep her own council in that regard.“I have no doubt that your maid is getting every sordid detail-and possibly embellishment-belowstairs as we speak.”Eve frowned. “Do you think Ryeton’s servants would be so cruel as to discuss you openly?”She rolled her eyes. “They would never in a million years do anything to intentionally hurt me or Grey, but there’s bound to be talk. It’s that affection for both of us that makes their lips loose. I swear one of the footmen grinned at me this morning as I took breakfast.”Her friend chuckled sweetly, laughing even harder as one of the pups came up on its hind legs to lick her chin. “At least you will have dedicated servants, if not indiscreet ones.”Rose had to smile-it was that or burst into sobs. “At least. "
55 " She was like no woman he’d ever known. She inspired compassion and fury at the same time, made him want to hold her tenderly even when he thought he might strangle her. How the hell did she do that?Why didn’t she fight him instead of pressing against him, whetting his appetite for her even more with the ripe sweetness of her body?And damn it all to hell, how could a kiss make him want to toss aside the promise he’d made to her father and compromise what honor he had left? Because of this kiss, he was in danger of doing just that-and in danger of making love to Rose with her mother under the same roof. If he did that then he’d know he truly had no honor left.If that wasn’t a proverbial bucket of cold water, he didn’t know what was. "
56 " You have a wonderful knack for putting things in perspective, my dear. You make me feel quite intellectually inferior.”The blonde girl grinned. “You see? I’m already learning to become a politician’s wife. "
57 " They both loved her, of course. They’d probably still love her even if they knew she’d seduced him.Yes, because he was so much the wounded party in this case. Taken advantage of by a skilled and dangerous seductress whom he was obviously no match for.Pull yourself together, Ryeton. You sound like a frigging little girl!Maxwell arrived right on time, and cheerfully announced by Westford. Grey’s entire face-from his scar to the forced smile he wore-began to ache at the sight of the younger man. Maxwell had to be nine and twenty at best. He was tall and dapper, and just charming enough so as not to seem threatening. It was a part Grey played very well at the same age, only he’d been a wolf masquerading as a harmless spaniel. He wasn’t so sure the same couldn’t be said for Maxwell.He had no choice but to shake the man’s hand and make small talk before watching him take Rose’s arm and lead her away, both of them smiling like idiots. "
58 " Let’s sit in the back,” Eve suggested as they moved toward the rows of chairs set up before a makeshift stage. “No one will hear us if we laugh.”Rose chuckled now. “You are so bad. "
59 " I’m sure I’ve never heard of this one. You?”Eve shook her head. “I’m not much of a follower of the bard.”Shrugging, Rose settled back in her seat and waited. This was either going to be very good or very bad.It ended up being the latter. The play seemed disjointed, although the blame for that couldn’t be put totally on Lord Battenfield. His acting abilities were next to nonexistent, but he made up for it in sheer drama. Rose recognized some of his lordships “company” as various children of titled families. They seemed to be having a good time. But the play! In this case the play was not the thing. Neither it nor the people acting it out could seem to decide if it was a tragedy or a comedy and so the audience never knew whether or not they should laugh. Rose was amongst them. Timon began the play as a posturing, wealthy character like many modern aristos, caring about nothing but money. Lord Battenfield played this with a naïve bravado that made it highly amusing. But then Timon lost his fortune and none of his former friends would help him. This should have been a serious moment in the production, but it wasn’t. Finally, when Timon realizes the servant Flavius is his only friend and then seems to commit suicide in the wilderness, what could have been a poignant commentary on society became a joke when Lord Battenfield’s death scene revealed that he was completely naked beneath the toga. It was just a glimpse, but Rose was certain she would be scarred for life.She and Eve were trying to control their giggles when the curtains fell. "
60 " After more hours in a carriage with Archer than he ever wanted to experience again, Grey returned to Ryeton House. All he wanted to do was find Rose, climb into bed with her, and sleep for the rest of the day. Honestly, sleep. Entwine his legs with hers, sink into her arms, bury his face in the sweet warm hollow of her neck…“You coming?”Grey blinked and turned his head. He was standing in the drive with Archer and the others watching him expectantly.Archer shook his head, clearly exasperated. “Are we going inside, Your Grace, or shall we conduct our business on the street for all Mayfair to witness?”“Inside,” he mumbled. Could he be any more of an idiot? He walked toward the door, the others falling into step behind him. Archer took Bronte’s arm and led their pale, scared-looking sister into the house. Grey hadn’t had much of a chance to talk to her, to let her know that everything would be fine. She probably thought he was going to rant and rave and tell her she could never see Alexander again.Truth be told, ranting and raving was tempting. And a little fear was a small price to pay for what she’d put him through-and for thinking so ill of him to begin with. When had he ever given her reason to think him a monster? "
