Charmed By Knight: Victorian Romance (Fielding Brothers Saga Book 2)
by Marie HigginsPublish: May 01, 2012Series: Fielding Brothers SagaHistorical Mystery Mystery Action & Adventure Historical Romance Romance Historical FictionBook Overview
Megan Ramsey will do anything not to marry the drunken lord selected for her – even if she must follow her parents’ plan and trick a duke into marriage. Instead of capturing the duke, she mistakenly traps the man who put her family in financial ruins.Edmund Knight will stop at nothing to take back the deed to his goldmine. When he meets the thief’s daughter, Edmund sets his mind on charming her in order to get back his treasure. Will he find the real treasure beyond his precious gold?
****
The Duke of Kelton pulled out a chair for her and walked around to the other side of the table. She took a moment to study him and the paradox he presented. At one point, he seemed like a true gentleman, yet, he didn’t hesitate to touch her knee or sit so close to her on the bed.
But that didn’t explain the strange feelings rushing through her. She trembled whenever he turned his heated gaze on her, which was not normal. No such man had been able to evoke such a response from her before.
Kelton drew her attention away from her musing by explaining the game. As he continued to give the instructions, sounds fell from his mouth and carried across to her, but she couldn’t focus on mere words with all of her concentration aimed at his lips. They looked so smooth, so tender, and she fought the urge to reach out and touch them with the tip of her finger…or even with her own lips. Her heart quickened, promising herself a kiss would happen soon enough.
His sensual magnetism attracted her, coupled with his obvious expertise with women. He definitely knew how to woo a lady and make her heart flutter.
The duke dealt the cards and his long, bronzed fingers practically caressed each one. She crinkled her eyebrows. The sun had darkened his skin more so than most gentlemen of the realm. Then again, he did enjoy riding every morning, according to her mother. Perhaps he was more of an outdoorsman. She smiled. That was good. She, too, enjoyed riding.
While dealing the cards, every move he made bespoke confidence, like an artist smoothing his brush-strokes on a canvas. The air charged around her, and a strange new warmth radiated deep within her.
The duke lay his cards face up on the table, displaying four kings. He chuckled. “It appears I won the first game.”
She shook her head. “I fear I still don’t understand what it is I’m doing.”
“You need to collect cards which give you the highest hand. If you cannot accomplish this, then you bluff so I cannot tell what you hold in your hand.”
“What is expected after that?”
“Since this is your first game, I’ll not ask anything, but from now on if you lose, you’ll be required to forfeit something.” His dark eyebrows rose suggestively.
“Forfeit something?” Her throat turned dry. “Pray, Your Grace, what do I have on my person to forfeit? I’m not carrying any money.”
His smile stretched, making her heart knock faster against her ribs.
“I’m very much aware of this, Miss Ramsey. So I suggest we forfeit something other than money, yet just as enjoyable.”
She gulped, knowing exactly where the conversation headed. The desire-laden gleam in his eyes didn’t do a thing to ease her tension or fear, but it certainly spelled out his intent. Anxiety settled inside her. She needed to relax or her plan wouldn’t work. When she thought about kissing him, her palms grew moist from the unknown. “And what might that be?”
His attention dropped to her mouth, and her heart fluttered wildly.
One of his fingers tapped his chin. “For now, how about…a kiss?”
Her body tingled at the invitation, and she licked her suddenly dry lips. “What if—” She cleared her scratchy throat. “What if I win?”
He smiled, and one side of his mouth lifted higher than the other, enticing her to forfeit before they even played the game.
“Then I will forfeit a kiss to you.” He shrugged. “Either way, we both win.”
