The Cursed Countess (The Daring Drake Sisters 1)

“You must take your leave now so no one suspects you are conspiring with the murderess.”

Sympathy shone in her friend’s eyes. “You are not that.”

“Unfortunately, it only seems to matter what everyone believes, not the truth.”

Vanessa nodded slowly and left the duke’s box. Tessa returned to her red velvet seat with a sigh. Most of the crowd had departed the box and intermission was about to end.

“Did you enjoy seeing Lady Winthrop again?” the duke asked as he straightened his cravat.

“Very much so. Unfortunately, the marquess does not approve of me.”

“Hmm,” he said with a frown. “Perhaps his mind can be changed.”

“Highly unlikely,” Tessa whispered as the curtain rose and the singers began the opera again. When the opera finally finished, she was ready to go home. Seeing Vanessa again had reminded her of how many friends she’d lost over the years. Tessa supposed most of them were not true friends, as only Vanessa had attempted to maintain contact even at the risk of her marriage.

“I believe Lady Harwood is hosting a small dinner after the opera, shall we attend?” the duke asked as he held out his arm for her.

“If you do not mind, I would much prefer to return home tonight. I feel my headache is returning and should like to retire.”

“Of course, my dear.”

An hour later, she had finally arrived back at her house. Her maid assisted her into her night rail. After brushing out her hair, Anne started to put it in a queue.

“Did you have an enjoyable night, my lady?”

“The opera was very well done,” she replied. She would have had a much more enjoyable time had Raynerson accompanied her. She doubted he would have fallen asleep ten minutes into the opera. Although she would have paid little attention to the performance if Raynerson sat next to her.

“All finished. I shall bid you a goodnight, my lady.”

What was it about the man that she found so desirable? He was rather tall for someone her size and his nose slightly large. Not to mention, she barely knew the man. Wasn’t desire supposed to gradually happen, not hit a person in the belly after one meeting? Before Tessa’s first marriage, her mother had told her passion takes time to develop and not to expect much from it.

But Raynerson did have beautiful eyes for a man. Thick brown lashes lined warm amber eyes that seemed to look into her soul. And his mouth was perfectly sinful. His lips were not too full and not too thin as if made for kissing a woman senseless.

She walked to the fire and held her hands out to warm herself. The cool rain had returned this evening making the room feel chilled and damp. The sound of a low exhale made her spin around. Raynerson stood at the threshold of her late husband’s room.

“The duke?” he said roughly, as he stalked her. “Am I not good enough to take you to an opera?”

“What are you doing in my home?” she asked. “And how did you even get in?”

He leveled her a devastating smile. “I can be very persuasive when I wish.”

“Which maid did you flirt with? I would like to be certain that I sack the guilty party.”

“Perhaps I snuck inside when no one was looking?” He stepped closer to her. “Now, I have answered your question so it is your turn. Why the duke?”

“Raynerson, you must realize I had no choice in the matter. I couldn’t say no to him.”

“Of course not, what would people say if they saw you with me?” He was only a few feet away. “After all, I am only the second son of a viscount, hardly worth the attention of a woman such as you.”

“You know that is not true.”

“Do I? You couldn’t take your eyes off him during dinner yesterday.”

“How can you say that? You both caught me staring at you.”

She couldn’t step back or she would end up in the fireplace so she sidestepped him to get to the door. She didn’t trust his black mood since she had never seen him truly irate before now. He caught her as she passed him and brought her up against his hard body.

“Why?” His warm amber eyes were dark and cold.