The Duke's Blind Temptation by Paige Cameron Page A

entered. Rafe stood. “I must return home. I’ve asked your mother’s permission to take you on a picnic tomorrow. May I come for you around one?”
    “I have work to do here, Your Grace. Perhaps another day.”
    He smiled that devilish smile that said he knew she had nothing to do, but he bowed and walked to the door. “I enjoyed our visit, Lady Upton. Miss Upton, another day will be fine.”
    They listened to his brisk steps across the foyer and heard him speak to the butler then the front door opened and shut.
    “Don’t be too foolish, my dear,” her mother said. “He is not a man to play games with, and if I’m right in my suppositions, you love him.” She rose and started out of the room. At the door, she turned. “I also fear you have gone beyond the bounds of propriety with him.” She raised her hand. “I don’t want to know. Think seriously about both these gentlemen.” Lady Upton left the room.
    Ellie’s surprise must have shown on her face. What had made her mother suspect? She walked out the french windows and stood watching bees buzzing around the honeysuckle vine curled around a nearby trellis. Her father’s voice carried on the breeze as he neared the house. She heard his caretaker talking to him. This had been her comfortable safe place, her home. Changes were coming, and she had a very important decision to make. Why had Rafe come? Did he love her, or had he come to tell her of his betrothal to the lovely Lavinia?
    Lord Turner had surprised her, and if not for Rafe, she’d have accepted his offer. She needed to see Rafe alone one more time. He’d angered her expecting she’d jump to go with him tomorrow. He’d hurt her when she visited him. She had felt unsupported at his home.
    They had many obstacles to confront before they considered marriage . Hah, he’ll never marry me, a mere baron’s daughter. He’d be a fool not to align his title with another powerful family. She’d not be the social sophisticate he needed. For his own good, even if he asked her, she had to refuse.

Chapter Nine

    Rafe paced his bedroom. He’d understood Ellie’s reaction. She wasn’t certain if he’d come to court her or disappoint her, like he did at his home. He’d tried too hard to please everyone else and had hurt the one who meant the most to him.
    Thank goodness he’d arrived in time. He had no doubt that Turner had asked her to marry him. He’d interrupted them before she gave him an answer. Unless, she said yes when she went outside with him.
    Nevertheless, he intended to marry Ellie, no one else. She was his. Now all he had to do was convince her. He waited for dark and then rode back to her home.
    A sliver of moon lit his way to the side of the manor house. Rafe had left his horse far enough away that the stallion’s snorting wouldn’t attract any attention.
    He had one very big problem—he had no idea which room was Ellie’s. Hiding behind a bush, he stared into the well-lit drawing room where Lord and Lady Upton sat. He didn’t see Ellie.
    He moved cautiously farther along and stared up at the second floor. He’d already checked the other side, and all the upstairs rooms were dark.
    Faint light shone through the curtains of one room toward the back. There were no nearby trees or any way to get to the upstairs, except going inside. He tried a side door, but it was locked. He walked back to the french windows he’d passed. The handle turned. Carefully, he opened the window and stepped inside against the curtains. The smell of tobacco and old books identified the room as her father’s study. He tiptoed across the room and peeked out into a corridor. If he was caught, there’d be no good explanation. Ellie was worth the risk.
    Staying close to the wall, he walked down the corridor toward the back of the house. If he was lucky, he’d find the back stairs. Yes, there they were. Soft carpet muffled his steps. At the top, he hesitated when he heard a noise.
    “Good night, my lady.” A