The Duke's Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

ruins .
    “Stay away from me , Ana. I can’t control myself around you , and I will not have you ruin ing my chances at a happy marriage , ” h e growled out, shoving himself away from the wall. He ran his hands through his hair, thoroughly frustrated with the situation he had just caused.
    “You think you will be happy with Sarah and yet you came to me, so don’t take out your frustration on me , ” Ana choked out in anger. Jake looked at Ana in obvious pain. He stared at her in silence. How dare he act as if this were her fault after what had just happened. Ana shoved him away and stalked down the hall.
    “ Stay away from me , your Grace . I was happy without you in London . I do not want it to change. I have hopes of a happy marriage as well , ” s he turned and said. Thank goodness, no one had been there to witness them, she thought, as she continued walk ing out to the carriage. She was embarrassed and angry with him , and with herself , for letting him get to her. She willed herself not to cry. Instead, she laughed when she thought of the foolishness thinking she could avoid him if he were ever to return . Now, she knew she had been deluding herself. Once she was safely ensconced in the carriage, she allowed her tears to fall freely down her cheeks , knowing she had not seen the last of the blasted man. 
     
    Jake went back to his box and found everyone waiting for him. He realized the third act of the play was almost over. How long had he been gone? He couldn’t believe what he had just allowed to happen . He had vowed to stay away from her , but he had not been able to get her out of his mind , since the previous night in the carriage. He had noticed her with a man he hadn‘t met, but knew he was Viscount Langley. The box she was in was directly across from his , so it would have been hard to miss her. He watched her throughout the first half of the play and when she left, he went after her with no regard to Sarah, her mother , or his manners.
    Good g od , he was a cad. He must have been staring down and frowning , because Sarah stood up and faced him with a polite smile in place.
    “Your Grace , you seem angered. Have we done anything to upset you? You were gone for so long , I was afraid that you had forgotten about us , ” Sarah said coolly.
    “I ran into an old friend out in the hall and we chatte d for a bit, nothing to concern yourself with, my dear. I am being a poor host , am I not?” Jake smiled for her benefit , and then he felt rather than saw his brother’s bemusement.
    “No t at all, I was just worried you were losing interest already, ” Sarah seemed to purr her last comment. He was sure she meant it as coyness , but he felt annoyed and irritated with her. Ungraciously , he sat down and suffered her attentions until the play finished.
    “Thank you for the lovely evening, your Grace , we would love to repeat the experience , ” Lady Felicia said. He knew she had hoped to garner another invitation from him , but he was not ready to do that just yet.
    “Yes , it was lovely, perhaps again , sometime. I’ll send you word when I will be available.” Jake was more than ready to go . He knew he was being rude , but he turned without a word and waited until the play ended before leaving his box. Jake was anxious to leave and gather his thoughts. He left, leaving Jordan to escort the women out to their carriage.
    Jake almost made an escape out of the theater. Several men from Parliament stopped to make themsel ves known to the powerful Duke . He did keep up with politics in his absence and he was well aware of the problems these men were talking about . The problem was that he was just not listening. Politely Jake let the me n prattle on about some charity event. Viscount Langley came around the corner and the sight he saw made Jake stand straighter. The man was handsome enough and he seemed very interested in the woman he had at his side.
    "Who is the chit with the Viscount ?" He asked the