Page 18 of The Darkness Within Us

“I am cautious; that is all. The late duke never spoke of you.”

Eryx keeps his eyes on my face as he says, “I doubt my grandfather did much speaking if he had you around.”

“He was bedbound for our entire marriage.”

“Isn’t that what I just said?”

“On hissickbed, you imbecile. I was here caring for him, more nursemaid than wife. And where were you? No doubt drinking and whoring your way about the world, if you are as you say: a Demos.”

Eryx leans back in his chair, letting it rise up on the back two feet.

“What are you doing?” I ask, appalled. “I just had the wood refinished.”

“Whatever I like,” he returns, rough arrogance seeping through his tone.

I change tactics. “I find it reprehensible that you value the efforts of the servants so little, as they recently spent hours laboring over the restoration of this table set, but I suppose a con artist does not care one wink for the efforts of others.”

The silence is earth-shattering.

Until the legs of the chair snap onto the floor once more.

That’s two wins to me.

“Think what you will of me,” he says. “That doesn’t change who I am. It will only change my opinion of you. Odd that you’re not trying to garner my good graces since your future is entirely in my hands now.”

“I am a duchess, dowager or not. With that title comes respect and privilege. You cannot take those from me, nor can you throw me from this estate. Legally, there’s nothing you can do to me. Whereas you, little boy, might want to be very careful, as I can make your life utterly miserable.”

He puts a hand to his temple. “You mean you haven’t already started? Gods, help me.”

Eryx kneads the sides of his head, eyes closed in thought. When he slams them open with a small smile, I have to force myself not to recoil.

A man with an idea is a dangerous thing.

“You know what, Duchess? I think you and I had a rough start. We met under unusual circumstances, and we’ve done nothing but bicker since then. Perhaps we could start over?”

“To what end?” What game is he playing now?

“We clearly have need to work out this mess, and I think it might go more smoothly if we aren’t at each other’s throats. Here, I’ll start. My name is Eryx Demos, and I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I would like to formally apologize for scaring you last night. I wanted to explore the manor before the servants had a chance to change anything, to see how it was being run in my absence. I should have spared more thought for the comforts of you and the staff.”

“I was not scared,” I lie.

“No? Because you often find strangers in your bed?” He thinks himself funny. His face hasn’t changed, but humor lights his eyes.

“I only invite attractive strangers to my bed, so you were clearly out of place.”

A snort from behind the duke, and yet another responding smack.

“Stop hitting me, Argus!”

“Keep your stupid gob shut, Dyson.”

Eryx presses his lips together before turning around. I can onlyimagine the look he shoots at the two men. They quiet instantly and hold themselves straighter.

When Eryx turns back around to face me, he looks perfectly calm. “We seem to keep baiting each other. That’s probably my fault. I’ve been away for so long. I don’t know how to talk to members of the aristocracy anymore.”

“You could stop talking altogether,” I offer.

That calm facade shatters, and he shoots me a glare. “We’re supposed to be playing nice, Duchess. You’re making that supremely difficult.”

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