Free An Improper Proposal (The Distinguished Rogues Book 6) by Heather Boyd Page A

Their gaze held and the beginnings of unwise desire warmed her eyes, turning them round and luminous. Unfortunately, if Iris continued to look upon him with unabashed lust, he’d have to do something he’d really rather not. One kiss always led to another, and another. Indulging again was out of the question unless he wanted to ruin her.
    Her smile turned hesitant. “The Ettingtons have invited Esme and I to dinner on Thursday next week. Are you by chance attending?”
    If any other unmarried woman had asked that question with such hope in her voice, he would have edged around an answer and not dared commit himself either way. However, he’d always looked forward to seeing Iris in society and making sure she was comfortable, so he nodded. “I am. They are great friends. You will find the marchioness a trifle unconventional but she is also a great deal of fun,” he added.
    “I like what I’ve heard of her very much. And I have been fortunate enough to have witnessed firsthand how happy she has made the marquess.”
    “That she has, although many believed he’d chosen rashly at the time.” He shrugged. Ettington had married for love. As had all of his friends. He did not begrudge them their happiness but being stuck in a room full of grinning spouses made a bachelor long for the nearest exit.
    Whitney smacked the door of the carriage suddenly. “I just remembered. The duke is in Town and sure to be at the Ettington dinner party, isn’t he?”
    Iris frowned. “Which duke?”
    “Why, the Duke of Exeter, of course. Lord Ettington’s reclusive uncle.” Whitney sighed dreamily. “Aside from determining if the resemblance is as strong as everyone claims, I’m so looking forward to making his acquaintance.”
    “Whitney,” Martin warned. He doubted his cousin would set her cap for a man three times her age, which likely meant she wanted an introduction for other reasons. Exeter would be livid if Whitney even attempted to stir up trouble for him. He could see social disaster looming if he did not put a stop to her schemes. “The duke isn’t a man to bait with careless conversation, as you do with everyone else.”
    Instead of being chastened, she smirked. “Well, everyone insists I must meet the man and at last that day has come.”
    “Meet him, not embarrass the family in the process. Get on his wrong side and you could find your eccentricities fodder for his amusement. You will not find the experience pleasant. There will be no one to appeal to for peace. Ettington will take his uncle’s side, as always.”
    “Your cousin is correct,” Iris agreed softly. “Exeter is not a man to cross.”
    He smiled his thanks for her support but Iris was wringing her hands instead and looking down. “Are you acquainted with his grace?”
    Her chin lifted. “A long time ago. I’m sure he won’t remember me?”
    Only a blind man wouldn’t recall such sweet, gentle beauty. Instead he said, “He forgets nothing.”
    Iris winced and turned her attention to the park.
    Whitney grabbed Iris’s hand the next moment as her eyes widened. “Look there. I see Mr. Talbot has ventured to the park today.”
    Surprised by Whitney’s mention of a man of little fashion or distinction, Martin turned to look too. Wealthy but not particularly well-shod. They’d had little to do with each other in society. The fellow normally moved in an entirely different social set, but due to recent recognition by some hostesses who should know better, had begun climbing the social ladder and had been seen everywhere.
    Iris kept her hands clenched together in her lap. “There are many others of interest in the park today.”
    Whitney’s disappointment in Iris’s disinterest was swift and curious. She glanced his way with a second haughty smirk. “Well, we must say hello anyway.”
    What was his cousin trying to do, engineer a deeper acquaintance between Talbot and Iris? She must know how wrong that was. Iris Hedley deserved the very best in a