Lady Vivian Defies a Duke - By Samantha Grace Page 0,54

him, Matthew.”

George Ogden gaped, his cheeks as red as if he had been slapped.

Luke crossed his arms and glared. “That’s the future Duchess of Foxhaven you are ogling, George.”

“Oh!” He whirled around, his back to her. “Pardon me, Your Grace.”

Luke raised an eyebrow at Drew. “You may not look either.”

His brother’s smile just widened, dimples piercing his cheeks. He slanted his head to the side. “She bears a striking resemblance to Mother, wouldn’t you agree?”

“No!” Luke punched his arm.

“Ow!” Drew laughed and rubbed a hand over his arm. “In behavior, I mean. What did you think I meant?”

Luke just shook his head, his eyes rolled toward the sky.

“Lord Andrew is correct, Your Grace,” George piped up. “The duchess never had any qualms about getting her hands dirty either.”

“I have him,” Vivian called then wriggled her way back out and sat on her haunches. She held a trembling puppy at arm’s length, looked him up and down, and then cradled him against her chest. The children scooted closer to reverently touch the pup.

“All is well,” she said in a soothing voice. And just like that, Luke knew she’d had him from the moment he had discovered her in the spring. She was part of his destiny.

The best part.

But after his noble talk of offering her choices, he couldn’t break their agreement and demand she honor her brother’s promise.

He would just have to make certain she chose him.

Sixteen

Vivi suppressed a sigh as she dropped her line back into the water, willing to try once more for a nibble. Not that she would know what one felt like, since this was her first time fishing. The two hours she and Luke had been at the water’s edge this afternoon had yielded nothing. She clamped her lips together when the urge to ask him again if the lake was truly stocked with fish bubbled up in the back of her throat.

How much longer would this pointless activity go on?

Even the sun seemed to be giving up. Yet, as it sank on the horizon, the earth absorbing it, Luke continued with a determined set to his jaw.

She shifted her weight. Her toes were screaming to be freed from her boots. Unable to stand it any longer, she plopped to the grass and tugged at her laces. “Are you—?”

“Yes, Vivian. The lake is well stocked.”

“That wasn’t what I was going to ask.”

He glanced her way, a twinkle lighting his blue eyes. “Wasn’t it?”

“No.” Well, it was, but he needn’t be presumptuous. After freeing her feet from her boots and stockings, she pulled her knees up and rested her forearms across them. “An afternoon of fishing sounded more stimulating than it has proven to be.”

“It’s only fun if you catch something, and today has been slow.”

What a talent he had for understatement.

Luke sat beside her on the bank, leaving his line trailing in the water. His heat warmed her side. At least there was some reward to the activity, time alone with Luke. She wanted nothing more than to lay her head against his shoulder and savor his nearness as she had two nights ago.

She didn’t do it, though.

While picking at the grass, she counted the faint ripples around his fishing line as it drifted in the wind. She had very little experience with men, and Lana’s instruction on how to entice a gentleman left Vivi with doubts as to her ability to ever be like other women.

She had felt foolish practicing smoldering looks in the mirror that morning. Instead of appearing tempting, she had only managed to look confused, like she couldn’t remember if she had left the lamp burning in the library.

“Will we resume our journey tomorrow as planned?” she asked, hoping for at least one more day to work on charming Luke, if she even possessed the ability.

“Mother is expecting us. I promised we wouldn’t be delayed for long.”

So much for extra time.

She breathed in deeply, savoring the smell of sunbaked earth. A soft breeze lifted wisps of hair that had slipped from her knot and carried the promise of a cooler evening. The glass-like lake reflected shades of orange and pink from the setting sun. She didn’t want to leave Twinspur for more than one reason.

“It’s peaceful here,” she said.

His shoulder touched hers. A brush so soft she couldn’t determine if the contact was purposeful or not. “Do you think you would like to summer at the cottage?”

Her heart bolted at his unexpected question. She glanced at him from the corner of her