Page 34 of The Duke's Ultimatum

Rage and frustration boiled in Derek’s blood.

“I am not the problem, Eleanor. They are.” He pointed to the door he just barged through. “These men and women think they are God’s gift to the earth when all they have is the luck to be born into money. They don’t know what a day’s work is if it hit them on the arse.”

Eleanor sharply inhaled at his language.

Her gasp broke through some of the red haze tinting his vision. “Ah, yes, did I offend you with my common language?” He sneered.

Eleanor straightened. “Both your language and your implication are rude, Your Grace. I do not think less of you because of your upbringing or mine for that matter. We may disagree on how my future should play out, but it is not because I think you less.”

Her eyes did not waver from his, and once again he found himself both impressed and surprised by this gentlewoman. Every aristocrat he had ever met was arrogant and would go out of their way to make him feel small. But this slight of a woman, who had all the proper upbringing thetonhad to offer, treated him with respect. Mostly.

Embarrassment washed over him. Derek cleared his throat and nodded his head in acknowledgement. “Forgive me, Eleanor. You’re right, I have acted ill towards you. But I will not apologize for my actions with the Viscount.”

Derek made his way to the bar cart, poured himself a whisky, and threw it back in one swallow. He took a moment to enjoy the burn that coated his throat. It was a much better sensation than the frustration he was currently feeling.

“Well, you should. I happen to like the Viscount, and I think he would be a suitable match for myself.”

Derek barked out a laugh. “I don’t think so.”

Eleanor sputtered. “What? You want me to find a suitor, I do, and you deny me?”

Derek placed his hands on his hips, frustrated with the woman in front of him.

“Anyone but him. He is pompous, arrogant, and not a good fit.”

Eleanor threw her hands in the air. “Show me a man who isn’t any of those things!”

Derek’s eyes darkened. “Careful, woman.”

Eleanor had the good sense to take a step back.

She took a deep breath and pushed it out. “All I’m saying is, he is a good man, or at least, he was until you came up and started things.”

“He started—” Eleanor’s sharp look had the rest of Derek’s words drying up in his throat.

“Please don’t act like a child and say he started it when I was there and witnessed the entire thing. I agree, he shouldn’t have talked to you that way, but he did. How you responded, as being a higher rank than him, was unacceptable.”

Derek shook his head. He understood what she was saying, but it went against every fiber of his being.

“If these pompous aristocrats want to be taken seriously as men, then they should learn how to speak their minds like one. I know what he was insinuating about my character, and I do not appreciate it.”

“I agree,” Eleanor said plainly.

Derek looked at her, waiting for another lecture to start. She simply stared back at him. “That’s it? No ‘but’ or ‘however’?”

Eleanor nodded her head. “No. You’re correct. His manner towards you was highly inappropriate, and he should be ashamed of himself.”

Derek shook his head. “Good. Then we are in agreement on one thing.”

“But you should also be ashamed,” she added, nonplussed.

Derek ran his heads through his hair. “You are giving me a headache!”

Eleanor sighed and approached him. “Your Grace, may I speak frankly?”

Derek chuckled. “This is you being cautious?”

Eleanor canted her head and gave a cheeky smile.

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