The Duke's Indiscretion Read Free

through a chuckle. “Not bloody likely.”
    The older man shook his head with feigned pity. “As the lovely Duchess of Durham only just said, you need a wife.”
    Following that sound advice, Sir Thomas reached up and patted his shoulder, then abruptly left him—to hunt down his own consort before she lectured him regarding the necessity of being seated on time, Colin gathered. Wives were trouble, spending all your money on frivolities, whining when you denied them luxuries, and nagging constantly about nothing of any importance. What he needed was a good mistress who did none of those things without risk oflosing all she gained by the companionship. It had been ages, it seemed, since he’d bedded a woman, and the only woman he wanted right now was the beautiful and artistically brilliant Lottie English.
    That thought in mind, he curbed his excitement over the evening’s coming events, and turned toward the stairs just as the orchestra began to play.

Chapter 2
    A s always, Lottie English shined on stage. Colin sat next to Sam and Olivia in box three, the very box he’d purchased directly after hearing the famed soprano sing for the first time nearly four years ago, before she’d become the star she was today. Again tonight, she managed to engage him completely, not just with her mesmerizing performance and spectacular voice, but also by her uncanny ability to own the stage, to captivate the entire audience. He watched her now, dressed in costume, her hair, whatever its true color, hidden behind a tall, white wig, her face covered in cosmetics. Yet she still had the ability to look graceful and poised, even breathtaking, though he supposed her entire performance enraptured him. She had high cheekbones, an oval face, a small waist, and a nicely formed bosom, from what he’d noticed over the years. And she sang like an angel.
    â€œShe’s magnificent,” Olivia whispered to him whenLottie’s first aria concluded and the audience broke out into applause.
    He beamed with a silly sense of pride through nearly every second of her performance, a satisfaction that didn’t exactly make sense as she wasn’t yet his to be proud of. But, God willing, and with a great deal of personal persuasion, she would be soon. Very soon.
    Finally the last interval drew close, and his heart began to pound from a sudden, new surge of excitement. The time had almost arrived for him to go behind the stage to meet her, at long last, and she could hardly deny him access to her presence if he presented himself as the noble Duke of Newark. Colin rarely used his title as a ploy to get what he wanted, but he really couldn’t see any other way, and shamefully, he’d grown almost desperate in his fantasies. He had to know if she stirred his blood in person as she did from afar.
    He glanced to Olivia and Sam during the final scene before the break, noting with amusement how Sam could hardly keep his eyes open, which made him wonder how many gentlemen in the audience this night were reacting the same. Olivia, naturally, seemed as enthralled as he, though obviously for different reasons. Quickly, he reached over and gently squeezed her hand, begging for luck, he supposed, and she looked at him, shaking her head.
    â€œBehave,” she mouthed.
    He only winked in response, then stood and silently left his box.
    Colin had never been behind the stage during any production, so he wasn’t at all sure what to expect.But he fully intended to do everything in his power to remain anonymous and avoid everyone who wasn’t part of the opera or theater staff. If Lottie English laughed in his face and dismissed him, he could only imagine the humiliation that might arise if someone from the audience happened to catch a glimpse of him.
    The music on stage continued with intensity as he held his head high and pretended to know exactly what he was about. Quietly, he descended the stairs and swiftly made his