Free This Duchess of Mine by Eloisa James Page B

spot His Grace, the Duke of Villiers?”
    â€œDirt is something that happens to others,” he said,with that wicked laughter in his eyes. “Like sin and bankruptcy.”
    â€œAlas, if you hope to avoid the blemish of sin,” Jemma said, sitting down before the chessboard, “I am not the one to give you an education.”
    â€œBut that is one of the things I love about you,” he said amiably. “The only thing I am certain about is the art of dress. Since you dress exquisitely on your own, I need not bother with advice. I do like your wig this morning.”
    â€œDelicious,” Jemma agreed. She was wondering whether to speak to him of Elijah’s heart. Better not. She might cry, a truly horrific thought.
    She began swiftly rearranging the chess pieces. “The last time I spoke to you, Villiers, you flatly refused to play with me. I hope that your current position opposite me indicates that you have revoked your ban on the game?”
    â€œYour husband tells me that you have decided to forfeit the final game in our match,” he said, sighing.
    Jemma looked up quickly. “You discussed our match with Elijah?”
    â€œThe final game was to be blindfolded and in bed,” he said mournfully. “How it pains me to give up the prospect. You can have no idea.”
    â€œBut I am throwing the match! You win. Surely that makes you just as happy as being blindfolded.”
    â€œTo my astonishment, I find it does not,” he said, looking faintly surprised.
    â€œIn that case, I will give you the pleasure of playing a game,” she said, promptly putting the pieces in order.
    â€œYou may be White, as it agrees with your coat.”
    â€œMy coat is the color of rich cream,” he said with a delicate shudder. “Not White. I abhor white silk, andsatin of that hue is even worse. It reminds me of angels. Saints. That sort of thing.”
    â€œI don’t see anything wrong with angels,” Jemma observed. “I’ve always liked the idea of feathery wings, though perhaps not halos. They sound like a particularly awkward kind of bonnet.”
    â€œThen you will like the reason I’ve come to see you,” Villiers said, moving a pawn forward. “I am considering a bid for a halo of my own.”
    â€œI’m shocked,” Jemma murmured. They played for a moment in silence. Villiers brought forward a rook and she challenged one of his pawns with her bishop.
    â€œI have a problem,” Villiers said, not even pausing before he brought a knight into the contest.
    Jemma raised an eyebrow. “You, the Great Villiers, has that most plebeian of all human conditions—a problem ?”
    He sighed. “It’s a particularly tedious conundrum, or I wouldn’t bring it up.”
    â€œThey all are. Although I was of the opinion that unmarried men with no encumbrances had the fewest problems of any.”
    â€œAlas, I seem to have acquired a few encumbrances, though, as yet, no wife,” Villiers said thoughtfully. “I have fallen into respectability without noticing.”
    â€œFallen?” Jemma said with a chortle. “Given those illegitimate children of yours, you should boast of the opposite.”
    â€œVulgar,” he said. “Unworthy of you.”
    Jemma grinned at him. “I find vulgarity so refreshing. From what I understand, children are a problem. Though surely the illegitimate type, tucked away out of sight and mind, cannot present very many problems?”
    â€œMy thought exactly.” His long fingers played with the pawn she had just knocked from the board.
    â€œBut?”
    â€œIf you remember, while I was very ill following my regrettable duel last year, I made a promise about my children.”
    â€œThe deathbed promise! Oh, the very worst kind.”
    â€œAdding unkindness to vulgarity,” he said with mock severity.
    â€œPrecisely,” she said. “To whom did you make that