An Unwanted Temptation for the Duke (The Unwanted Sisters #6)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

“Ilike how you hold your fan, Lady Lucy,” Lord Sterling remarked, making the lady in question almost choke on her spit.

She could smell expensive brandy on his breath, which perhaps was one of the sole reasons he spoke like a carriage out of control.

“It shows you are a woman of, uh, restless energy. I feel like we have not seen everything you are capable of yet,” he added.

Despite the blatant appeal to her pride, Lucy Coulson, sister to the Earl of Marsleigh, still flushed.

She liked it when people could see beyond her.

Even though the lord was flushed red, he was still a handsome young man.

Yes, he was more boyish than ruggedly handsome, but she assumed he was the type of man people might consider harmless and definitely marriageable.

Truth be told, any adequately handsome man would be marriageable at this point. Somehow, such a comment made life better at Wolfcrest House.

“You are certainly right, My Lord,” Lucy agreed.

“I am a restless soul, but I do find ways to burn energy. It is why I am grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Wolfcrest for their invitation. One must note, though, that people expect more porcelain and ice, rather than fire, from a young lady of supposed consequence.”

“I suppose it is dangerous to be different,” the young lord said, nodding at her with a big grin on his face. “Still, you must know that you radiate a beautiful energy wherever you go, Lady Lucy.”

“Sterling!” a voice boomed from a few feet to her back. “There you are. You are much needed in the card room.”

Lucy knew that voice all too well, and she barely stifled her groan. For some reason, her brother, Joshua Coulson, the Earl of Marsleigh, always arrived at the wrong moment.

“Marsleigh,” Sterling mumbled, suddenly stiffening. “I was merely having a lovely conversation with your beautiful sister.”

“Ah. She is quite a treasure, is she not?” Joshua asked, giving them a beaming smile.

Lucy could not help but sigh. Her brother had the strange, almost magical skill of appearing whenever she was talking to a would-be suitor. She supposed it was the way it was with two orphans like the two of them. They only had each other left.

“I do believe Lord Westcott wants you back in the card room. I heard that some interesting properties are being wagered over there. It seems that your expertise is currently required,” Joshua continued.

“Uh, I see,” Sterling mumbled, even though his eyes were still on Lucy. “Please excuse me, Lady Lucy. I hope that I will see you again soon.” Then, with a nod at the Earl, “Marsleigh.”

Disappointment settled in Lucy’s stomach as Sterling sauntered away to see whatever he was required for in the card room. It was nothing new, though. She’d felt like this before.

“Joshua, he seems perfectly harmless. I was even enjoying the conversation. He is near my age, titled, and seems to value what I have to say. Now, you’ve just chased him off like every other man who’s ever tried to talk to me.”

Her brother looked pained by what she had just said, and it made her feel guilty. Joshua had taken it upon himself to protect her from everything that might come their way, and while their family was not particularly wealthy, he had done wonders for their coffers.

Joshua reached out to smooth the silk of her glove, his hand lingering on her wrist. Then he pulled away and tapped it awkwardly, as if she were a child being gently scolded or reminded. She chuckled.

“You are still too sweet for this world, dear Lucy. You find all men harmless, I presume,” he murmured, his voice always that soothing balm.

She was fortunate to have a big brother like him.

“Sterling might not be bad to look at, but he has the reputation of being a rake. His intellect will not match yours, and conversations will be merely tedious for you.”

“He was flirting, and his attention was on me, Joshua. I believe that many men of the ton either have the reputations of being rakes or have a tendency for cruelty anyway,” she said pragmatically.

“And that’s what you want?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It isn’t, but I’d rather not be married to someone cruel, a pompous man three times my age,” Lucy retorted. “It does not look like I will have many chances, given that you absolutely terrify anyone who wants to even have a conversation with me.”

“It is my duty to protect you, Lucy,” Joshua replied gently.

“I won’t have anyone tarnish your reputation.

You will always be safe by my side. I know you know that.

That is why you are happiest close to me.

You’ll be safe in Marsleigh House. As your older brother, I am the one who knows how best to shelter you from the filth of this city. ”

He squeezed her arm gently, making her feel just a little guilty about having thoughts of rebelling. Joshua always wanted the best for her, but most times, she just felt suffocated.

“I must speak with Lord Avery about some important matters, but do stay near this spot and don’t wander far. Don’t let yourself be swayed in the wrong direction.”

Lucy might understand her brother’s overprotectiveness, but she could not help but feel annoyed about being treated like a child.

She opened her mouth to protest, but he was already striding away with his usual confidence.

Joshua had certainly earned the reputation for guarding her virtue with so much zeal.

“Your brother is quite a fire-breathing dragon, isn’t he?”

Lucy turned to see Victoria, the Duchess of Hawksford, approach.

Vicky had become her friend when they were still both unmarried, even though their experiences at the ball were completely different.

While her brother tried to keep her on the shelf, Victoria’s mother pushed her onto anyone with wealth and title.

Yet their shared amusement at the marriage mart had the two bonding through laughter and shared criticism.

Now, it seemed that the Duchess of Hawksford had found happiness in her husband. She was also pregnant with their second child.

Lucy’s chest tightened with longing.

Victoria’s twin sister, Daphne, the Duchess of Wolfcrest, stood slightly behind. She was the more demure of the two, but the twins loved each other fiercely.

“Joshua believes that everything he has been doing is for my own good,” Lucy said with a sigh. “He should not be acting like a dragon. I am not the treasure of London, he thinks I am.”

“Ha!” Victoria exclaimed, raising her eyebrows. “Well, that’s where the Earl and I agree. You are a treasure, Lucy. It’s why you have been attracting a number of suitors. They recognize your unique beauty. Unfortunately, your brother is not letting you explore the possibilities.”

“He is certainly stifling you,” Daphne added, sounding genuinely concerned.

Lucy recognized a rare kind of steel in her voice and demeanor.

“We’ve witnessed all his deflections, Lucy.

He’s made certain that every potential suitor has been dismissed before he can call on you. You are twenty-two, and…”

“Your former bountiful options may be diminishing,” Victoria finished for her twin. “So, we’ve been talking, Daphne and me. We feel like you need some adventure.”

“Adventure?” Lucy echoed, frowning. “I—I just want a courtship and the promise of—”

She faltered.

The promise of her own family. Joshua often reminded her that they were family and that they were what was left. However, she also wanted something she could call her own. She remembered the moment Victoria, who initially didn’t want to marry, realized she wanted her own household.

“Think about it,” Victoria continued. “You need to feel more like a woman, not a sister, or a ward. Wouldn’t you want to be a woman who could fulfill her own desires?”

“Desires?” Lucy looked at the ribs of her fan, tracing them while admiring the design. “What desires should I hope for? Joshua claims I am happy by his side.”

“Your brother may mean well, but he is not your keeper, nor are you his. I believe I know what the solution is,” Victoria said haughtily.

“Uh, what Vicky means is that we know of a man who might be the answer to your problems,” Daphne explained softly, her eyes darting from left to right as if she was afraid someone was listening to their conversation. “His name is…” She dropped her voice further. “Valentine St. Clair.”

The name was familiar, even though Lucy had not met the man before. However, it was a name that people whispered about far too many times that even she knew that the man was a male escort.

“Y-you can’t possibly be suggesting—”

Her eyes widened, and her pulse raced in her throat.

The strange thing was that she was not offended at all. Instead, she was titillated by the idea of her—an overprotected lady who would likely remain unmarried after another Season—being associated with a man who peddled pleasure.

“Oh, that’s exactly what we are doing,” Victoria whispered, her eyes gleaming and her smile mischievous—yes, that was exactly what her friend was like.

“We aren’t pushing you toward just any man, but someone who not only provides pleasure but also provides companionship and conversation, however much you need to feel like a woman again. ”

A woman again? Shouldn’t it be better that she didn’t even know what she was missing? Lucy was completely sheltered because of her brother.

“I—I couldn’t do anything like that,” she spluttered, her heart now racing toward a point she didn’t even know existed. “If Joshua found out, I would be sent to a convent or the countryside. Then, there’s the scandal—”

She realized that her reasons did not include her feelings. It seemed that if she were given a chance to hide a liaison, she would have. What did it say about her? That was the greater scandal.

“Oh, everything will be ever so discreet,” Daphne promised earnestly.