Excerpt from Enchanting the Duke of Demoon
She tilted her head, trying to get a better look at his face. “Are you suggesting we introduce ourselves?” Although she desperately wanted to know who he was, and how to find him again, the thought of forgoing the strictures of society made her uneasy.
His eyes narrowed. “Nothing as dramatic as that. You may call me Edmund.”
Her mouth fell open in shock. “Like the duke?”
It seemed odd that he should share the name with the duke and happen upon his property. Squinting to see him better, she didn’t see a face horrifically destroyed by fire. From the stories, he couldn’t be mistaken.
He crossed his arms. “It’s not an uncommon name.”
Nodding, she realized she was being ridiculous. The Duke of Demoon didn’t leave his castle. And, certainly wouldn’t have any desire to hide the position that brought him such power. Besides, had the duke caught her here, likely she wouldn’t have survived long enough to spread the tale.
“Very true.”
“So, what will you have me call you?”
She swallowed. “I hardly think using your Christian name is appropriate.”
A smile transformed the part of his face not hidden by his hair. “You trespass on private property, take liberties with the grounds, speak to me with a shrewd tongue, and now refuse to call me Edmund? You, girl who dresses like a servant yet speaks like one born to privilege, are confounding.”
Heat flooded her cheeks as she glanced down at her dirty and tattered dress. She’d never worried over her clothes while in the garden before, and the fact he thought so low of her appearance rankled.
“My position within society is none of your concern.”
“I’m not suggesting that it is. As a matter of fact, I don’t want to know.”
Studying his face, she couldn’t see any signs of ill intent. For some reason, he wanted to remain anonymous. That thought intrigued her. Most men who could afford to wear the quality of garments she’d seen on him the past two days preferred to flaunt their wealth, not hide it. And, those men were the very reason why she’d decided marriage wasn’t for her.
“Very well. You may call me Carolyn.”
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” He smiled, showing off perfect, white teeth. “Now, tell me. Why are you here?”
“That, again, is none of your concern. For all you know, I could have obtained permission from the duke, himself, to be here.” She held in a smile while throwing out the excuse he’d used yesterday.
He crossed his arms over his impossibly large chest as he lifted an eyebrow. “Ah, another clue to the woman. She’s also a liar.”
His eyes narrowed. “Nothing as dramatic as that. You may call me Edmund.”
Her mouth fell open in shock. “Like the duke?”
It seemed odd that he should share the name with the duke and happen upon his property. Squinting to see him better, she didn’t see a face horrifically destroyed by fire. From the stories, he couldn’t be mistaken.
He crossed his arms. “It’s not an uncommon name.”
Nodding, she realized she was being ridiculous. The Duke of Demoon didn’t leave his castle. And, certainly wouldn’t have any desire to hide the position that brought him such power. Besides, had the duke caught her here, likely she wouldn’t have survived long enough to spread the tale.
“Very true.”
“So, what will you have me call you?”
She swallowed. “I hardly think using your Christian name is appropriate.”
A smile transformed the part of his face not hidden by his hair. “You trespass on private property, take liberties with the grounds, speak to me with a shrewd tongue, and now refuse to call me Edmund? You, girl who dresses like a servant yet speaks like one born to privilege, are confounding.”
Heat flooded her cheeks as she glanced down at her dirty and tattered dress. She’d never worried over her clothes while in the garden before, and the fact he thought so low of her appearance rankled.
“My position within society is none of your concern.”
“I’m not suggesting that it is. As a matter of fact, I don’t want to know.”
Studying his face, she couldn’t see any signs of ill intent. For some reason, he wanted to remain anonymous. That thought intrigued her. Most men who could afford to wear the quality of garments she’d seen on him the past two days preferred to flaunt their wealth, not hide it. And, those men were the very reason why she’d decided marriage wasn’t for her.
“Very well. You may call me Carolyn.”
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” He smiled, showing off perfect, white teeth. “Now, tell me. Why are you here?”
“That, again, is none of your concern. For all you know, I could have obtained permission from the duke, himself, to be here.” She held in a smile while throwing out the excuse he’d used yesterday.
He crossed his arms over his impossibly large chest as he lifted an eyebrow. “Ah, another clue to the woman. She’s also a liar.”