Lady Vivian Defies a Duke - By Samantha Grace Page 0,19

frowned when Lady Vivian scooted farther to the edge of the bench of Lady Brighthurst’s curricle as they drove to church Sunday morning. Any farther and she might tumble out.

He held out the ribbons to her, but she stared at them as if he offered her poison. “Don’t you know how to drive?” he asked.

His condescending tone had the effect he hoped for.

“Of course I know how to drive.” She snatched the ribbons from him, gripping them tightly in her kid gloves.

With his hands free, Luke wrapped his arms around her waist and hauled her toward the middle of the seat. She stiffened in his embrace.

“I promised your cousin you would come to no harm under my protection. Now do stop risking your neck by sitting close to the edge.”

He meant to release her, but her warmth and the sugary scent of her perfume made him hesitate for several pounding heartbeats. Telling himself he didn’t trust her to stay put, he kept one arm around her back. She tried to scoot away, but his fingers curved around her narrow waist, the seams of her corset imprinting his palm.

“Release me, Your Grace.” Her voice held a sharp edge.

“I thought you wished to marry me, my dear. I shall embrace you often once we speak our vows.” He was goading her, trying to represent the facts clearly. If she despised his touch, as it seemed she did, the lady should speak with her brother.

She took a deep breath, glared at him briefly, and then returned her attention to the lane. “If you think to frighten me into doing your bidding, you are wrong. You’re not that scary.”

Luke smiled to hide his surprise. Lady Vivian had even more pluck than he’d imagined.

She shifted the reins to one hand and placed her free one on his thigh. His breath whistled on an inhale. She slanted a smirk in his direction and squeezed.

“Jiminy!” Luke captured her hand and forcefully returned it to her lap. He shifted away before she noticed the rise in his breeches.

“Two can play your game,” she said. “If you touch me, I will touch you right back.”

He smothered a groan. It would be a long day if they spent it groping one another. Thank God they were attending a church affair. Otherwise, Lady Vivian might come out the victor. Her touch ignited a flame inside him while his only served to harass her.

Seven

Luke maintained a respectable distance between himself and Lady Vivian on the hard church pew. As he should have anticipated, there had been many curious looks upon their arrival together. Even now, there was a prickling sensation at his nape he often felt when someone was watching him.

The vicar would have nothing to worry about on this Sunday, as all eyes seemed to be trained on Lady Vivian and Luke. For her part, she didn’t seem to notice. A faraway smile played upon her full, pink lips. She boasted a perfect, kissable mouth, the kind that made a man forget his troubles when it was pressed against his.

She glanced in his direction and caught him staring. Her smile slipped.

Damn. Luke snapped his gaze forward. Crossing his arms, he settled in to listen to the vicar’s sermon, his blood cooling simultaneously. Nothing killed a man’s passion swifter than the sight of another man in a dress. Luke shifted away from Lady Vivian to resist the temptation of ogling her again. Nevertheless, his thoughts drifted back to her.

Not only was she breathtaking, she possessed high spirits and boldness. Most impressively, she could converse on his current topic of interest, and she’d had no qualms about putting him in his place when he had been patronizing. She was also refreshingly transparent. She disapproved of his expedition, although she hadn’t spoken out against his plans like his younger brother had.

He had tried explaining his troubles to Richard once, but his brother had shaken his head like he’d pitied him. Luke’s shame wound tightly around him and a light sheen blanketed his skin. He wasn’t even able to look at the pages of a book without a blinding headache coming over him. How was he to take care of his family when he couldn’t focus on anything but the pain? He was no longer cut out to assume his father’s title, so what purpose did his life serve?

He glanced at Lady Vivian again. She wanted to marry, bear children, and live a normal life, but Luke was incapable of being normal now. A sedate