Page 50 of Plucked By the Orc

The thought left him gasping for air and loosening his cravat. Iris’s attention turned his way.

“Duncan?” Iris asked.

“Your grace,” Felton said. “Are you all right?”

Iris rushed to his side and shook his shoulder, Felton Maberly’s flattery long forgotten. But all Duncan could hear was the laugh of Margaret Hathaway and every eye of thetonon him, lips slanted into smirks, as he walked away from her.

“Should I fetch a doctor?” Felton said with genuine concern. But then he ruined it by adding: “Do special doctors attend to your kind? Do any Orcan doctors live in London?”

The boy’s idiocy restored Duncan’s voice, though it remained rough around the edges. “I shall be fine. I must have taken some of my tea down the wrong passageway.”

“Oh, dear,” Felton commented. “Does your anatomy differ from ours in that function? Is it dreadfully difficult to get on at supper parties?”

Iris only gave him a long look, unusually solemn. She had seen that Duncan had not imbibed anything during Felton’s visit. She knew that something else entirely was to blame for his bout of ill health.

“I think perhaps. Our call. Another time.” Duncan had never heard Iris at such a loss for words. “So I might tend to his grace’s. Well-being.”

“Of course. Of course.” Felton scrambled to his feet. “I’m sure your butler can see me to the door. I do hope you feel better, your grace.” Felton grabbed his hat and tipped it Duncan’s way, though he wasn’t ill-mannered enough to place it on his head. “And I hope I shall have the pleasure of your company again soon, Miss Gabbert. Perhaps for a stroll in Hyde Park.”

“Yes, yes. Not now.” Iris shooed him out of the parlor.

Once the boy left, Duncan was alone with Iris. And he was sure she could read the truth plainly on his face.

Which was utterly unacceptable.

Duncan worried that he had made a terrible mistake. He had let a human woman into his heart. A state of affairs that could only lead to pain.

Chapter Seventeen

Duncan had never so much as sneezed in her presence, and now he was gasping for air? In front of company, no less? Her heart beat at a lightning-quick pace.

“Your grace,” she declared. “You gave me a right fright, you did! I should fetch a doctor.”

“There is no need, Miss Gabbert, I assure you.”

“But you’ll be wanting to have that checked out.”

“I am quite fine. We must resume our lessons.”

“None of that now. You should rest, you should.”

She took a seat on his lap, that position that made her feel so aroused and protected at the same time. She played with one of the big metal buttons on his waistcoat. Typically, she would have done a quick check to see that Mr. Clemons and Mrs. Thompson were occupied and then started up with the mischief they both so thoroughly enjoyed.

But for the first time since she’d taken up residence at Duncan’s townhouse, her mind finally got the best of herphysical desire. She was sensible Iris once more. Given what just happened, she didn’t know that exertion was sensible at the moment, no matter how much they might both desire it. He needed space to recover.

Besides, his claws were out, not retracted at all. And as intimidating as could be.

For the past day or so, Iris had been fretting over Lottie Greenstreet. She’d meant to ask if her friend could visit and maybe even stay with them. But she had been mightily distracted.

Now might be a suitable time. Iris touched the tip of Duncan’s nose, which made his dark eyes blink and his lips twitch most delightfully. Then she smoothed his thick black hair over those horns she found so fascinating. She gave them a quick caress, careful not to get him too hot and bothered, and then rested her hands on his shoulders.

“You know, your grace. I’ve something on my mind I’ve been meaning to ask.”

He arched an eyebrow curiously.

“I’ve been thinking about my friend, Lot. Lottie Greenstreet, that is. She’s stuck in that there bedsit in Lambeth while I’m living it up here with you. Hardly fair, that. I wonder if you might be keen to have her as a guest. Keepin’ me company and all.”

Duncan tensed beneath her touch, so much so that Iris withdrew her hands from his shoulders.

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