Lady Vivian Defies a Duke - By Samantha Grace Page 0,30
the list with you, my lady?”
“Why, yes. I do.” She opened her reticule and extracted a folded piece of paper.
Luke crossed his arms and turned a bored look out the window. Not the reaction Vivi had hoped for.
“First, I must apologize,” Lana said. “I married the most acceptable of the lot, but there are a few unattached gentlemen who meet with my approval.”
“Thank you, my dear,” Lord Andrew said.
“Certainly.” Clearing her throat, Lana rattled the page for maximum drama. “There is the tenth Marquis of Corby.”
The muscles in Luke’s jaw shifted, but his gaze stayed frozen to the passing landscape.
“He is such a lovely man, Vivi. I’m certain you will like him. In addition, Lord Corby has a nice title and significant property holdings with a handsome yearly income.”
“He’s too short,” Luke said.
Lana peered over the list. “Too short?”
“Yes, he is two inches shorter than Lady Vivian.”
“I hardly think his stature should have any bearing on his suitability.” She turned to Vivi. “Would you be troubled by marrying a shorter man?”
“Only if I must gaze down on his bald pate.”
Lana nodded. “Rightly so. I hadn’t considered that viewpoint. Lord Corby has a full head of hair at the moment, but one never knows.”
Luke gestured to Vivi. “And if you wished to run in another three-legged race, your stride would be off.”
“Oh, yes,” she said. “Excellent point, Your Grace. Perhaps we should eliminate Lord Corby.”
Lana lowered the paper to her lap. “Then I am afraid Lord Mitcham must come off the list, too. Did I hear you and Luke took the first-place ribbon for the three-legged race at the church picnic?”
“We did.”
“I see. Then we require a gentleman of similar height to Foxhaven.”
Vivi ran her gaze from his head to his toes as if assessing him. “Indeed. His Grace is perfect.”
Luke smiled smugly.
She leaned over the paper to see it better. “Do you have someone of similar stature on the list?”
Luke sat up straight. “Let me see the blasted thing.”
Lana held it out to him, her thin brows arching upward.
He snatched the list from his sister-in-law and read it aloud. “Mr. Pickering. Lord Blackmont. Ellis?” His hand fell to his side. “Why is Anthony on the list?”
“What issue do you have with Ellis?” Lord Andrew asked.
“If you must know, his interests lie elsewhere, namely with our little sister.”
“Exactly. Just performing my brotherly responsibilities. Gabby despises him.”
“He’s a decent chap. And he is coming off the list.” Luke perused the rest of the names and flicked it back toward Lana. “None of these gentlemen will do. No more lists. I’ll assist Lady Vivian in her search.”
Lana huffed and shoved the paper back into her reticule, but Vivi’s heart danced in victory. There were at least ten names on the list. It seemed the Duke of Foxhaven wasn’t so eager to be rid of her after all.
***
Luke adjusted his position on the bench and brushed against Vivian’s calf.
Damnation. No matter where he attempted to move his legs, she already seemed to be occupying the space. He had begun to suspect her of purposefully getting in his way.
He held rigid to keep from touching her again, because each contact sent a jagged current straight to his lower abdomen. He closed his eyes and attempted to think of anything other than touching her all over.
He was accustomed to riding in the saddle for hours at a time, not folded into a cramped carriage with a woman who aroused him merely with her proximity. The muscles in his lower back and thighs were knotted and on fire.
Gads. He had to move again.
He checked the placement of her legs before stretching, but somehow he grazed her ankle anyway. He glowered in her direction, but she was staring out the window with a peaceful half smile.
“We just passed a mill,” she said. “The village cannot be much farther.”
He sighed with relief. This was their destination for the night. Traveling with young children made it necessary to stop at a decent hour, and Luke would not complain.
When the carriage entered the coaching yard of The Bull Inn, he scooted to the edge of the bench. He had to get out of there. He alighted without waiting for the stairs, then stretched.
Vivian was grinning at him from the doorway when he turned around. Perhaps the minx knew what she was doing after all. He offered a hand to assist her from the carriage.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” The warmth of her smile enveloped him as she entwined her arm with his.