“I imagine it is something very difficult to describe,” she said, a sympathetic look in her eyes.
He gave a brief nod.
“Do try,” Lady Scudamore urged.
“Mother.” Lady Lavinia’s tone was nearly reproving. Of course. Someone who was so obviously observant would have seen his discomfort. It was unsettling to have someone see him so clearly, and so soon after meeting him.
Someone who was so determined to keep someone else from discomfort that she was willing to speak back to her mother.
Definitely someone to avoid. As well as someone to envy.
Had he ever spoken to his parents like that? He knew full well he had not—his father had also been a military man, and carried that demeanor to his child. His mother had been just as rigid, showing her maternal love in ensuring he was properly fed and clothed. He could remember just one time when she had hugged him, or allowed him to hug her, and that was when his father had died.
“Battle is, as Lady Lavinia says, difficult to describe.” He kept his focus on Lady Jane. Far easier to look at, not just because she was so classically beautiful, but also because she lacked her sister’s direct gaze. She was easy to put in a box: beautiful, eligible young lady. Not nearly as disconcerting as her sister. “It is filled with chaos, and loud noises, and confusion.”
“Rather like a Society party,” Lady Lavinia remarked dryly.
Everyone but Thaddeus chuckled.
“But you are out of that now, thank goodness,” Lady Scudamore said. “And now you can leave the protection of our country to others.”
“Yes.” Thaddeus spoke shortly, and he caught Lady Lavinia’s quick glance at him. He wanted to squirm under her sharp notice, but of course he did not squirm. And even if he had ever squirmed before, he was absolutely certain that dukes did not squirm.
“If you will excuse me, I wish to get something to drink,” Lady Lavinia said. “Jane, are you thirsty?”
“Indeed,” Lady Jane said.
“Perhaps the duke is thirsty as well.” Lady Scudamore spoke in an arch voice that made it clear what she wanted to happen.
“Mother,” Lady Lavinia warned again.
“I would be happy to escort the ladies to the refreshment table,” Thaddeus found himself saying. Lady Scudamore beamed at him.
He could not resist shooting a glance toward her, only to find her eyebrows raised in disbelief, her expression revealing that she was already disappointed in him.
And they had just met.
If you give her this, you will find yourself accommodating her forever, her look seemed to say.
Perhaps I am fine with that, he wanted to reply. I am looking for a bride. And why not Lady Jane? A lady of beauty and good manners who was clearly able to control her emotions.
You are entirely predictable, her look shot back. And therefore entirely disappointing.
About the Author
MEGAN FRAMPTON writes historical romance under her own name and romantic women’s fiction under the name Megan Caldwell. She likes the color black, gin, dark-haired British men, and huge earrings, not in that order. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and kid.
meganframpton.com
Facebook: meganframptonbooks
Twitter: meganf
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
By Megan Frampton
The Hazards of Dukes
Tall, Duke, and Dangerous
Never Kiss a Duke
The Duke’s Daughters
The Earl’s Christmas Pearl (novella)
Never a Bride
The Lady Is Daring
Lady Be Reckless
Lady Be Bad
Dukes Behaving Badly
My Fair Duchess
Why Do Dukes Fall in Love?
One-Eyed Dukes Are Wild
No Groom at the Inn (novella)
Put Up Your Duke
When Good Earls Go Bad (novella)
The Duke’s Guide to Correct Behavior
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Excerpt from A Wicked Bargain for the Duke copyright © 2021 by Megan Frampton.
tall, duke, and dangerous. Copyright © 2020 by Megan Frampton. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins Publishers. For information, address HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.
Digital Edition NOVEMBER 2020 ISBN: 978-0-06-286745-2
Print Edition ISBN: 978-0-06-286744-5
Cover design by Patricia Barrow
Cover illustration by Victor Gadino
Cover photographs © Konstanttin/Dreamstime.com; © Jay Beiler/Dreamstime.com; © Johnson175/Dreamstime.com; © Johnson175/Dreamstime.com; © Fingers234/Dreamstime.com; © Sergey Volkov/Dreamstime.com
Avon, Avon & logo, and Avon Books & logo are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
HarperCollins is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
first edition
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4E3
www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida
Uttar Pradesh 201 301
www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
Unit D1, 63 Apollo Drive
Rosedale 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF, UK
www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
www.harpercollins.com
Tall, Duke, and Dangerous Page 27