An Unexpected Proposal (St Daine Family 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

her brother following closely at her heels.
    Claire's eyes lifted to the duke's face and their gazes caught. The dark but concerned scowl which had pinched his features only a moment before smoothed, melting away until, finally, he smiled.
    “Girl's going to be the death of me, I swear,” he said by way of explanation as he motioned toward his sister. “I seriously hope she finds herself a husband this Season because I do not think I can tolerate another round of this .”
    Claire's eyes widened. Had he really just attempted to jest about the serious goal of every young woman of marriageable age at every function one attended past their come-out? A surprised laugh bubbled up from somewhere inside her, sputtering from her lips in a burst of unexpected merriment.
    “Do not laugh, Lady Claire,” he chastened, though his smile widened. “You've no idea the magnitude of trouble my sister can inadvertently land herself in—without trying in the least.”
    His half-serious, half-teasing tone sent a wave of warm sensations through her, causing Claire to snap open her fan and wield it with a bit more enthusiasm than she intended. His nearness was wreaking havoc on her senses—so much so, the unusual warmth flooded her, heating her face and limbs until, confused by her body's reaction, she forced herself to look anywhere but into the teasing merriment of his gaze. It was then that she recalled her mother standing quietly at her side, observing their conversation in amused silence.
    The duke obviously had not suffered from such a lack of awareness, however, because he turned to her mother and asked, “Lady Sterne, may I dance with your daughter?”
    Claire bit back a groan of despair. Had he directed the question to her , she could have politely refused his request, but.... Had he somehow known she would do so? Perhaps that was why he had chosen to defer to her mother. Whatever his reasons, he had asked, and now her stomach twisted into a tight knot while she tried to figure out a way to manage being at his side long enough to dance with him. Even a few moments' brief conversation made her feel all tingly and overheated, both inside and out, and now she would be forced to deal with her peculiar response because, if there was one thing she knew for a certainty about her mother, it was that Lady Clarisse Leighton would never deny a duke the opportunity to dance with her daughter.

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    D uring the few seconds Lucien waited for the countess's reply, the lilting strains of a minuet fading into the very different tone of a waltz and Lucien felt his smile slip a bit. He was fully aware of the connotations behind waltzing with a young, unwed woman, but despite the sudden chase of unease rippling along his spine, he somehow managed to hold his slightly amused, somewhat teasing expression until the countess offered a demure smile and nodded her assent.
    His dance partner, however, drew up noticeably, her spine stiffening. Her previously mirthful expression drained immediately of the brief gaiety his mild kerfuffle with his sister had lent her mood, and yet, having made the inquiry, Lucien knew he could not just leave her there simply because of an unexpected change in the music. Taking Claire's hand in his, Lucien nodded to the countess and swept her into the dance.
    Her discomfort was palpable.
    After a moment of tense silence during which the light floral scent of her played with his senses, teasing Lucien with fantasies of forbidden promises not yet made, he politely whispered his gratitude into the air above her ear. “Thank you for agreeing to waltz with me, my lady.”
    He stepped away and her brow rose, the delicate arch climbing high. When the music brought them close again, she reminded, “I did not agree, Your Grace. But then, neither did you ask for either my permission or my preference. Whether or not I cared to dance with you did not seem to signify.”
    Lucien's brows snapped downward at her accusation. The hauteur in