How to Fool a Duke (The Husband Dilemma #1) - Lancaster, Mary Page 0,36

to? What do you have to show me here?”

“This,” she said, winding her arms around his neck and pressing herself to him as she kissed him.

Once, he had found Maria’s charms irresistible. But there had been little behind her beauty to appeal to him. Any feeling for her had long since vanished. In his heart and his thoughts was only Sarah.

He took hold of her wrists, forcing her away from him. “Our time is past,” he said. “What do you want, Maria?”

“Marriage. You know I would make a perfect duchess.”

“I know—” He broke off, warned by some glint in her eyes that looked almost like triumph. He jerked his head around, dropping her hands. The curtain swished, as though someone had brushed against it. “I know you and I would not suit. You must find another duke. Find a prince, a king— I wish you well. But you and I, Maria? No.”

Only when he had walked out and the curtain fell back behind him did it enter his head that she had not looked unhappy. Perhaps in her heart, she knew their affair could never be rekindled.

Drawing a breath as though clearing the air, he looked around, as he always seemed to, for Sarah. And found her waltzing with Trenton, her face still flushed, her eyes sparkling and brilliant as she laughed up at him.

Just as she had with Leonard.

Chapter Ten

What had that awful saying been she heard her father say so often to her mother… What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander? Well, if the duke wished to have an affair with another woman while he was carrying on with her… She was no goose, but a woman with passions of her own, with newly awakened hopes of happiness. How dare he treat her with such contempt?

Looking at Lord Trenton more closely, she realized what a handsome man he truly was. Surely, he would never play with her heart, not as Leonard just had—holding and kissing Lady—not much of a lady—Loxley in the very alcove the duke had tried to pull her into.

Were all men so lascivious or just her duke?

“What is it, Miss Sarah?” Lord Trenton asked as he turned her about on the dance floor.

“Nothing,” she lied. “Perhaps I am just overheated and tired after my swim today.”

He nodded in understanding and immediately escorted her off the dance floor and over to Hammy. He bowed over Sarah’s hand. “If you find yourself feeling better, I will be close.” He took his leave.

“What are you up to?” Hammy asked as Sarah sat down next to her.

“What you would consider no good,” she answered rather tight-lipped as she searched the crowd for the duke.

“You do know,” Hammy started, “that you could put an end to his suffering and yours if you’d just admit…”

“That he destroyed my life the day he rejected me?”

“Well, yes, if you wish to put it that simply.”

“Look at him,” she breathed. “There is nothing simple about that man.”

“Nor you.”

Sarah thought about that as darker feelings swirled inside her—the emotions that often overtook her when her confidence slipped. In all actuality, she knew she possessed the feminine charms to bring someone like Lord Trenton to his knees. Her gaze found the man standing only a few feet away chatting with another lord. He smiled at her, and Sarah quickly looked away. She must give him no reason to get his hopes up.

“I find I wish to return to our cottage, Hammy.”

“So soon? What will everyone say?”

Sarah rose from her seat. “If you wish to stay, I understand.”

“Would you mind terribly?” Her companion’s interest traveled across the room to a man standing close to the orchestra.

“Hammy?” Sarah sat down again. “In all the years we have been together…are you staring at that tall gentleman?”

“With the red hair?”

“Yes, Hammy.”

Hammy cast her gaze downward, blushing. “He is an old family friend, nothing more.”

A soft smile came to Sarah, and she grasped Hammy’s hand. “Please, stay. Enjoy yourself. I shall walk back with Jenny and her brother. I see they are about to leave, too”

Hammy nodded and squeezed Sarah’s hand affectionately. “I will not be too long.”

Sarah delighted in the idea of her companion finding happiness, maybe even love. It was more than she could ever hope for. She decided to forget about Jenny or even collecting her wrap as she hurried out the front doors of the inn, descended the steps, walked silently past the collection of servants awaiting their masters inside, and up the street.

But