his pride.”
“All right, I’m beginning to regret leaving Hargate with her then,” Leon said.
“Don’t worry. He’s a friend of yours and ours. Avange would treat him well,” said Sheik. “Maybe even cook up something delicious for him, too, while we’re here with nothing much but a birdie on a stick.”
Everyone burst into laughter at the words.
“True that,” Blake said. “She cooks the best for the guests.”
“Hey, but we’re talking about a duke here,” said Lavender. “He’s probably starving to death.”
“Is your sister really that bad to dukes?” Rose asked Leon quietly so that only he can hear.
“No, they’re just exaggerating,” he answered.
“Why?”
“She once loved a duke,” he said. “I don’t know what happened.”
“He broke her heart?”
Leon shrugged. “Probably, but Avange has a heart of stone. No one can ever break it, at least not now.”
“He made her stronger, perhaps.”
Leon nodded and tucked a strand of her hair back behind her ear. “Are you hungry?”
“I believe I’m famished.”
Leon laughed and reached to get her a share of the ‘birdie on a stick.’
“Not the best, but it’ll do,” he said.
“Anything’s fine,” she answered.
He broke off a piece and was going to feed her, but his sister Namine stopped him.
“Hey, you guys are not wedded yet,” she said, coming in between them. “No feeding one another till the wedding.”
Rose pulled back with a blush while Leon ran his fingers through his hair.
“Seriously now, Nam,” he said. “It’s only a small act of love before–”
“Small act of love? I think not. With your abundant of affection sealed away for years for Lady Rose, I doubt there’s any such thing as a ‘small act of love’ between you two,” she said, flashing Rose a grin.
Well, Rose couldn’t help flushing at the vulgarity of Leon’s sister. It sure makes her feel at home… as part of the family.
“I think I’ll have to separate the two of you until the wedding night, too,” Namine added.
“You wouldn’t do such thing,” said Leon. “No way.”
“Hey, ‘small act of love,’ this is it,” Namine said, pushing Leon aside and sitting down next to Rose. “I figured you wouldn’t mind being away from Leon until your wedding takes place, would you, Lady Rose? To think he’d left you all alone for all these years without a reasonable explanation.”
Boy, his sister was good.
“I figured so,” Rose agreed. A little punishment of revenge wouldn’t hurt, although she had long forgiven him.
“Oh, damn you, Nam,” Leon cursed. “You didn’t have to bring that up.”
Namine turned and flashed her brother a smile. “I’m just speaking the truth.”
“Truth, my ass.”
“Lady Rose, please don’t mind our word choices, but as you can see, our life revolves around asses. It’s the family word.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Rose said. She really didn’t, although she’d been taught to not use the word by her governess and be a Miss Oh-soProper all her life. It’s time for a change.
“Good,” said Namine. “You’ll adapt in no time. Anyhow, I’ll let Leon feed you with that birdie for now. I believe you’re starving. Must have been a rough trip. Afterward, I’ll draw the tub up for you to bath and get you one of my nightgowns to change into. You’ll be sharing my room until you and Leon becomes legally bond.”
“Hey, I may be able to resist Rose, but she wouldn’t be able to resist me,” Leon argued. “Stop your nonsense and don’t torture her.”
“I’m perfectly fine with the idea,” Rose countered to not feel mortified by his words, though all she wanted now is him and her, together in his bed, holding one another.
“The lady has spoken,” said Namine. “Have your moment now because the night ahead of you is going to be a dreadfully long one.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Leicester
“Luther, you are a traitor!” bellowed the furious Wilson Carmen
Dawson, Viscount Herring, as the marquess sat and watches him struggle out of his chain. “Let me go this instant! I’m through with your game!”
“Will, the game has only begun,” Luther said, getting up and walking over to the viscount. “You can’t end something that has barely started.”
“If this is all about my daughter, then release me. I can get her back!”
“I have no need for that little whore daughter of yours,” Luther answered. “It’s that bastard lover of hers that I want. My son would take care of your daughter once he returns from London.”
“I can help you get the bastard, but if you don’t need my daughter anymore, leave her out of this. She is no whore, though she might have been a