My Darling Duke (The Sinful Wallflowers Book 1)

“The beauty of silence is that it simply is. In the stillness and tranquility, I find peace. Instead of being afraid of the void, I embrace it.”

Kitty giggled, crunching her generous portion hungrily. He then took a bite before holding it back out to her. And they ate the apple like that, neither commenting on the fact that a knife rested on the stone counter, and he could easily have cut the fruit in half.

In this very house, a fire had raged in the east wing, claiming the lives of his parents, several staff members, and his youth. The one good that had come from it all was that he had saved his sister, Penny, who had been only seven years old at the time.

I cannot believe you are as delicate as you protest to be.”

Her breath hitched softly as an improbable idea caught at the edges of her thoughts. He is lonely.

“The last ball I attended and showed my face at, at least nine ladies fainted. I believe I can still hear their shrieks of horror.” How had she not uncovered that bit of gossip in her research on the duke? She lifted a shoulder in an inelegant shrug. “That must have been some time ago.” “Seven years if I recall correctly.” “I must say I know no one

She reached between them and pressed the flat of her palm against his chest, right above his heart. She could feel its beat drumming fast and hard beneath her touch, and his chest was moving rapidly. “Let me love you,” she whispered against the pulse fluttering madly at his throat before biting down hard.

“My fiancée is fine as she is, Cousin Miranda,” he replied to her silent glare. “My dear boy—” “And I will not take kindly to anyone who implies otherwise,” he murmured coolly.

“I’ll sing for you,” she offered. “Dear God, no, I am already in enough agony.”