Free Love's Promise by Cheryl Holt

decided? Michael will bring him to London?”
    “It looks like it.”
    “How do you feel about that? You said you don’t mind, but do you? You’ll bear much of the burden.”
    “It’s best that he be raised here. We can give him everything a boy could ever want when his mother can give him nothing at all.”
    “There are some things that are more important than wealth and excess.”
    “Really? And what might those be?”
    “If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.”
    He stepped in, his body suddenly trapping her against the balustrade. She couldn’t escape unless she pushed him away.
    He rested a hand on her waist, and she could feel the heat of his skin through skirt and petticoat. She gazed up at him, and there was a glimmer in his expression that she’d never noticed before. It made her heart race and her palms sweat.
    “Don’t you ever get sick of this?” His tone was low and angry.
    “Of what?”
    “Of this bowing and scraping to your father!”
    “I don’t know what you mean.”
    “Don’t you?”
    “No. I have a fine life.”
    “He’s got you so befuddled that you can’t see what’s right in front of your nose.”
    “I can see that you’re a horse’s ass.”
    “And that’s my best trait.”
    He reached into his coat and retrieved one of his calling cards. To her stunned amazement, he stuffed it under the neckline of her gown. It dangled there, braced under dress, corset, and chemise.
    “If you ever grow up,” he said, “call on me first.”
    “I’m an unmarried lady. I could never.... call on you. It’s just not done.”
    “It’s done all the time—by women who know what they want.”
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “Precisely.”
    He stormed past her and down into the yard, then he headed for Michael and Rebecca. Michael saw him coming, and he smiled and waved, but Rebecca glowered at the interruption.
    Rebecca had confessed that she detested Phillip and deemed him an ill-bred acquaintance who was undeserving of Michael’s affection, but she’d never state her misgivings aloud—at least not before the wedding. Afterward, Michael would likely hear plenty on the topic.
    Phillip went over to them, and they strolled off. Anne watched them, but she was pondering Phillip and what he’d implied. He’d acted as if unchaperoned women regularly stopped by his home, and the notion made her peculiarly jealous when she couldn’t figure out why she would be.
    If he consorted with every doxy in London, why should she care? What was it to her if he had a reputation as contemptible as his father’s?
    She was incensed that she tolerated his boorish behavior—why did she ? —and she could conceive of a thousand nasty things she’d have said to him if he’d still been there with her.
    As if she could summon him back through sheer force of will, she scowled and fumed, sending her livid thoughts winging toward him, but he never once glanced her way.

    The Duke stood at the window in his library, peering out over the park behind the house, where Anne was quarreling with Phillip. The Duke could have saved her the trouble by banning Phillip from the property, but he wouldn’t give Trent the satisfaction of knowing the Duke cared if Phillip visited.
    Phillip said something rude, Anne retorted, and Phillip stomped off, which had the Duke chuckling. They had never gotten along because Anne wasn’t very smart, and her idiocy drove Phillip to distraction.
    Phillip was the only man the Duke had ever met who wasn’t in awe of Anne’s position, and he’d have been an excellent match for her, but the Duke would never allow a union between them, for he would never sully his bloodline with one of Trent’s bastards.
    Michael and Rebecca had just come inside, and they were walking down the hall, as the Duke eavesdropped to ascertain what Michael was thinking.
    Michael was more circumspect than John had been, more guarded and independent, and he would often gainsay the Duke just