Page 16 of Plucked By the Orc

“Miss Gabbert, while I admire your dedication to repaying debt, a deal is a deal, fair and square. I didn’t say I expected any repayment. You are helping me as I am helping you.”

She hesitated. “With your book and all that?”

It could have been her imagination, but she thought she saw him wince. “I confess, my brother has engaged me in a wager regarding your success.”

“A flutter?” Iris cried. “Over me? Well, I never.”

“I only agreed because I am certain you shall be brilliant in society.”

“And how much is that worth to you? What will you win thanks to me?”

“It is only some personal nonsense between us. That is all. In good fun.”

He swung his massive arms behind his back and rocked on his feet. His cobbler must have worked night and day getting those boots ready. Yet despite his impressive size, Duncan looked like a little boy at the moment, embarrassed at being caught making the flutter. Which might work to her advantage.

“So I can expect a nice frock? For this to-do?”

“I shall enlist the help of Mrs. Thompson in finding a suitable gown. In the meantime, our lessons shall commence first thing in the morning.”

He was still stealing glances at her figure. Was it the intensity of his gaze or the earnestness she detected in his voice despite his broody demeanor? Either way, an irresistible urge came over her then.

She reached up and touched his face.

The caress of her palm on his cheek lasted no more than a few seconds. Nothing more than a saucy gesture. But when she laid her hand on Duncan Higgins, a pulsing desire shot through her and his skin heated under her touch.

Even more astounding, she detected a sound from the back of his throat. A growl.Her heart thumped madly. She should have felt scared. Instead, she felt intrigued.

And softer as well, softer inside.

Iris pulled her hand away. She had made it clear that she wasn’t under this roof to tolerate any nonsense between them. Iris Gabbert might have been short on luck as of late, but that didn’t mean she would do anything that would get her into trouble. She was here to learn and learn she would.

“First thing in the morning, then,” she told him, suddenly unsure where to look. She focused on a watercolor landscape on the wall behind him. “Lucky for you, I rise with the roosters, I do.”

In her peripheral vision, she saw Duncan shake his head as though he had momentarily forgotten where he stood andneeded a moment to re-adjust. For the briefest of seconds, she caught a hint of a grin. But it vanished in the blink of an eye.

“I shall have Mrs. Thompson ring at six just in case,” he told her. “And I imagine she will have a poached egg and rack of toast ready for you by quarter of seven.”

Iris smiled broadly. Who could help but smile at the thought of a hearty breakfast served to you in bed? Besides, maybe if she smiled often enough, he would catch on and do likewise. “I’ll get dressed directly after I eat, your grace.”

“You misunderstand. Mrs. Thompson shall ensure you have woken by six, and then you should tend to whatever toilette you are accustomed to straightaway. I expect you downstairs by half past when the cook has food ready. Clemons lays it out on the sideboard. You should have a plate filled by a quarter of seven, and don’t tarry. Our lessons begin at eight.”

This fellow had some nerve plotting out her day like that. “You make it sound as if I got taken in by a press gang, like one of them poor gits who go for a pint at a public house too close to the sea. And wake up on some boat far away. Forced into the navy and whatnot.”

“I have hardly kidnapped you nor impressed you into service, Miss Gabbert. It is a perfectly reasonable schedule. And you are free to leave at any time, as you well know.”

“I won’t even get to read the morning news?” Iris huffed. “I was looking forward to that. You seem like a gent who takes all the papers.”

A slight twitch lifted his lips. But he immediately sniffed as though something had tickled his throat. Such a grouse! Well, she would make it her job to change that, sure as his job was to teach her how to speak like a lady.

“Eight in the morning, Miss Gabbert. If you wish to break your fast first, you will mind the household schedule.”

“Yes, sir.” She gave him a mock salute. Not that she knew what blokes unlucky enough to get impressed into service did once they got on a ship, but she imagined it was something like that.

“Until then. Good evening to you.” His nod was stiff. A little too stiff.

She watched him as he strode down the hallway, to his own quarters, she was sure. And she told herself she was not curious about where Duncan Higgins spent the night. She was not. They would meet for lessons during the day, and that was that. Iris had enough to keep her occupied without some daffy feelings for this gent from the Hidden Realm.

Chapter Six

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