The Duke was standing in the middle of the room, his hands in his pockets, his head tilted to one side. It was a relaxed, casual pose, and yet the way he looked at her was anything but casual. The deep midnight of his eyes burned and he radiated a subtle, sensual energy that made the air around him crackle. 

He looked like a man who’d never heard the word ‘no’ in all his life. Unluckily for him, ‘no’ was the only word she had.

“There's no reason why I should stay,” Anna clasped her shaking hands together in an effort to still them. “I’m not marrying you.”

His gaze flickered, his mouth curving slightly, and she had the disturbing thought that far from putting him off, her insistence was only inciting him further.
“But you haven’t heard my proposal yet,” he said mildly. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”

“I don’t need to hear it. I already know that my answer will be no.”

“Of course. But you can hardly tell your father that you heard me out when you haven’t, in fact, heard me out…. Anna.” 



A LADY FOR A DUKE

Cedric grabbed the champagne bottle and popped the cork, forcing aside the desire that gripped him, concentrating instead on the feeling of satisfaction. Everything was going exactly according to his plan and that gave him an inordinate amount of pleasure. Pouring out a couple of glasses, he then carried them over to where Anna sat and handed her one. She gave it a faintly suspicious glance, then took it. He raised his own glass and tapped it against hers. 


She gave a little nod then took a sip of the fizzing liquid. “So, you wanted to discuss the wedding?” 


“Indeed I did. I see no point in waiting, so the ceremony will take place next week at the church in Haerton village. Then we will honeymoon in France,” 


“Oh, no, I just didn’t expect it to be so soon.” She frowned. “But…a honeymoon?” 


22