To Bed a Beauty (Courtship Wars 2)

“Perhaps I should forget all about this.”

“Are you giving up so easily, sweetheart? I never would have supposed you to be a quitter.”

Roslyn lifted her chin at his challenge, no doubt as he intended. “Of course I am not a quitter. But I just find it hard to believe this will work.”

“You don’t have to take my word for it. You can apply to Eleanor for confirmation. She is two years younger than you but has far more experience with the courting game. You are a mere babe compared to her.”

She didn’t know Marcus’s sister well enough to quiz her on such a delicate topic. “I think perhaps I had best rely on Fanny.”

“But I am available now.” Leaning back against a column, Arden crossed his arms. “You need to try again with me before you have to face Haviland this afternoon. I will be your test subject.”

“Really, this isn’t necessary, your grace. I have already put you to enough trouble.”

“You wanted to learn how to seduce a man, didn’t you?”

“Yes, but-”

“Then do it. Stand up, angel. Pretend I have walked into a room and spied you. What is the first thing you do?”

Roslyn brought her hands up to her suddenly flushed cheeks. “I haven’t the faintest idea.”

“Have you observed your pupil, Miss Newstead? Mimic her actions.”

She could do that much, Roslyn thought, recalling how Sybil Newstead had tried to catch the duke’s attention last night at the wedding ball.

Obediently she rose to her feet. Then taking a deep breath, she pasted a teasing smile on her lips and slowly crossed the folly in front of him, swaying her hips in a brazen display of coquetry. When she reached one side, she paused to flash him a flirtatious glance over her shoulder before sauntering back across the marble floor.

It encouraged her to see the duke watching her avidly. Throwing her heart into the role, Roslyn tossed her head and made a moue, then primped her hair and smoothed her skirts just as she had seen Sybil do a hundred times.

Arden threw back his head and laughed. “I daresay that’s a fair imitation of the little minx.”

“I am gratified you appreciate my efforts,” Roslyn murmured.

“Now make it much more subtle.”

She made another effort, this time toning down her performance, her movements more hesitant and sensual.

Arden nodded in approval. “Not bad for a novice. Now, come here.”

“Why?” Roslyn said pertly.

He grinned. “Because you need more practice.”

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nbsp; She did as he bid, moving to stand before him. “What next?”

“Look into my eyes. Pretend that I am the only man you could ever be interested in.”

Roslyn locked eyes with him…and promptly felt her breath falter. The deep vibrant green held her spellbound. It was a mere glance, yet time seemed to stop. And just like before, a sizzling spark of awareness arced between them.

Fighting the power of it, Roslyn struggled to catch her breath. The sparks didn’t mean a thing, she told herself. The duke was merely giving her a lesson in dalliance. To construe anything intimate or sexual in it was ridiculous.

Then her gaze dropped to his mouth, that firm, sensual mouth that had shown her such pleasure a fortnight ago. She felt the strongest longing to kiss him-and an even more powerful craving to have him kiss her the way he had that night. The temptation of that warm, sensual mouth was nearly impossible to resist.

Jerking her scandalous thoughts to order, Roslyn tore her gaze away and stepped back. Chastising herself for her inexplicable reaction, she cleared her throat that had suddenly grown dry and made a supreme effort to pretend indifference. “Thank you, your grace. I believe that is enough instruction for one day. You have given me ample ideas to practice on the earl this afternoon.”

Arden’s gaze had turned enigmatic, she saw, but then his mouth slanted sardonically. “I expect a report on your success, sweeting. It should prove highly interesting.”