Oh dear. Even the doorman at the duke’s club was determined to keep her out. “We’re here for the charity event,” Ana said blithely.
“Ah...” The man looked confused. “There’s no event I know of, but if you care to wait here I’ll go in and—”
“The charity tea,” Ana interrupted. “The one my guardian, the Duke of Warburton, is hosting today. I’m sure he’s waiting for us to arrive.”
“The Duke of Warburton is here, my lady, he’s round back by the stables, but he’s occupied with—”
“Then you shall take us to him.” Ana did her best to imitate Lady Glynis’s supercilious tones but the porter was unconvinced.
“Move aside,” Aunt Glynis said. “I would speak to my nephew.”
Her clipped tones had more of an effect. The porter hesitated, not wanting to engage with the formidable lady. Finally, he ushered them inside a dimly lit hallway.
They followed him into an airy club room with groupings of tables and chairs and a long bar at the back. Men glanced up from their card games and brandy glasses to give them curious and increasingly incredulous looks.
Ana catalogued it all in her mind: the men drinking and conversing, boots propped up on tables, smirks on their lips... the general air of rakish dissipation.
“Are you certain the event was today?” Lady Glynis asked, staring through the windows at the yard with its gleaming carriages and horses pawing the turf.
“Absolutely certain. Perhaps we’re early?”
The porter led them out a set of French doors, onto a lawn, and around the corner of the building and then...
Ana stopped abruptly, confronted by the sight of Warburton and his friend the Duke of Osborne stripped to the waist and pummeling each other on a bare patch of earth near the stables.
Her hand flew to her mouth. She hadn’t anticipated such a brutish reception. Sweat glistened on Warburton’s broad, bare chest, sparkling in the dark hair that disappeared into his tight, white trousers. They hadn’t seen Ana and Lady Glynis yet. The men circled each other like wild animals, all glaring eyes and raised fists.
She’d most definitely write this scene when she got home. The two men locked in a primal dance, fists raised, grunting with exertion. Osborne was probably a fine figure of a man but Ana only had eyes for her guardian. He was solid rippling muscle, gargantuan and powerful. Dripping with sweat. A huge, lethal creature poised and ready to strike... She couldn’t catch her breath, her stays were too tight.
Then Warburton’s arm shot out, his fist catching Osborne under the jaw. Osborne’s head wrenched backward but he stood his ground in a wide, dominant stance and suddenly he countered, the sickening thud of his fist connecting with Warburton’s jaw sending Ana running toward them.
“Your Grace!” she cried, attempting to catch him as he staggered. The weight of his body knocked her off-balance and they fell together in a heap.
And then the world narrowed to slick sweat, the heat of his skin contacting hers, his ragged breathing, his massive body pinning her down and knocking the breath from her.
“Miss Crewe,” Lady Glynis admonished sharply. “Come here this instant!”
A silly suggestion as Ana wasn’t currently able to move, being pinned to the ground by an enormous duke.
“Miss Crewe?” The duke raised himself onto one arm, staring down at her. “What in God’s name are you doing here?”
“If... if you release me I’d be happy to explain,” she said breathlessly, every part of her body that was in contact with the duke’s tingling and humming with awareness.
Osborne laughed heartily. “This round’s over, I’d say. I win again.” He pulled a shirt over his head. “Lady Glynis, Miss Crewe, what a delightful surprise.”
“I was told there was a charity event for ladies at this club today,” Aunt Glynis said frostily. “Apparently I was misled.”
Warburton rolled off Ana, leapt to his feet, and held out his hand to help her rise.
“You told me about the charity luncheon at breakfast, remember?” Ana asked, staring into the duke’s eyes and willing him to back her up.
“I did, did I?” His eyes danced with humor as he threw a shirt over his head.
Don’t put a shirt on. He should be like this always, a magnificent beast, his true nature.
He caught her staring. She blushed.
Aunt Glynis narrowed her eyes and tapped the point of her parasol on the stone path. “What’s going on here?”