The Cursed Countess (The Daring Drake Sisters 1)

“Do give her my regards. She is my godchild, you know.”

“I did not know that, Your Grace. I shall send your regards when I write to them tomorrow,” Jack replied. He glanced over at the clock wondering how much longer before dinner. The conversation seemed strained and he couldn’t help but feel the duke had an ulterior motive for arriving at this hour. He could have sent a message over to her about the opera. Then again, Jack could have done the same. Perhaps it was just an excuse for the duke much as it was for him. That idea worried him. The duke of all people should know exactly how any relationship other than friendship could end with her.

“Dinner is ready, my lady,” Roberts finally said from the threshold.

“Thank you, Roberts and please convey my thanks to Mrs. Williams.”

“Of course, my lady.”

Jack cringed as the duke rose from his chair far quicker than he did to escort Lady Stanhope into the dining room. The duke held out his arm for her as they walked from the room.

“Do hurry, Mr. Raynerson,” she said with a glance back at him with a slight smile. “This shall be a very interesting dinner.”

Jack doubted that. He had a feeling he had competition for her affections.

And that would never do.

Even worse was the realization that he would now have no choice but to eat dinner at the home of the Cursed Countess. He only hoped he survived the meal.

CHAPTER 8

Tessa had never felt such a sense of relief and frustration as when the duke arrived. Kissing Raynerson again had been a dreadful decision on her part. As she felt his passion flare, she should have pushed him away. If not for the duke’s arrival, she might have let her lips linger on Raynerson’s mouth. Thankfully, the duke’s interruption saved her from a decision she wasn’t ready to make yet. His fatherly looks served to remind her that she was supposed to be a lady, not a whore.

“My dear, you should sit at the head of the table while we sit on either side of you,” the duke said, assisting her to her seat at the large mahogany table.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” she replied but her gaze flitted over to Raynerson as he took the seat to her left. Her mind immediately returned to that passionate kiss in the salon. What was wrong with her? She’d never been moved by a simple kiss. Not that anything about that kiss had been simple. Far from it. His kiss tonight had been far more intense than even the prior evening, heady and intoxicating to say the least. The sensation of his hard body pressed against her had sent her desire soaring.

Seeing him again had only sent her longing into an ache she couldn’t control. Staring at his large hands, she imagined him cupping her breast, squeezing, flicking a finger across her nipple. What would it feel like to touch him? Let her fingers skim down his muscular chest and smooth skin. She pressed her legs together tightly to control the sensations warring within her body.

“My dear, you seem to be woolgathering. Is everything all right?” the duke asked, bringing her out of her fantasy.

Scorching heat crossed her cheeks as she turned away from Raynerson to face the duke. “I apologize. I was momentarily distracted.”

“Hmm, momentarily,” Raynerson muttered with a sinful grin, as if he knew her thoughts. “And what was so distracting, I wonder?”

They both must have realized she’d been staring at Raynerson while she daydreamed. “There seems to be a crack in the wall,” she said, pointing to a fracture in the plaster behind him that had been there for as long as she’d lived here. “I just don’t remember seeing it before now and wondered when it appeared.”

“I am certain it was there the last time I dined with you,” the duke commented with a slight shake of his head before taking a bite of roast beef.

Tessa shrugged. “Hmm, I never noticed it before.”

She had to get their minds on something else. Seeing the duke’s wineglass almost empty, she signaled a footman to refill him. “Your Grace, how is your son?”

“Quite well, thank you. I believe he should be home within a fortnight.”

“How wonderful!” She reached over and squeezed his hand. “It will be good to have him home for you again.”

The duke shrugged.

She slid a glance over at Raynerson who glared at her hand clutching the duke’s. Drawing her hand away, she said, “You should hold a ball to celebrate his return.”

“We shall see,” the duke replied with a smile to her.

The men took up the conversation as they discussed politics. Normally, Tessa would have been an active participant, but tonight she focused on the food on her plate. She wanted the awkward dinner finished. Before they left, she would have to give them both a decision about tomorrow night. Unfortunately, she knew whom she must choose.

Sliding a glance over at Jack, she noticed him pushing the food around his plate but eating very little of the delicious meal. She wondered why he would have made up a pretense of wanting to dine with her when he obviously wasn’t hungry...unless his motive had been less than respectable. Did he really think he would arrive at her house and seduce her?

The idea sent a rush of warmth throughout her body. Perhaps he could.