Page 25 of Good Duke Gone Far

“They’re all dukes.”

His body fell from the table as if pushed. “I realize I’m not a duke, but I can still make something of myself.”

“That’s not what I meant–”

“No. Actually, I get it now. That’s what you’re after.” The chair scratched loudly against the floor as he leveraged himself away from the table. Away from her. “It all makes sense. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. I’m surprised you didn’t stay back to seduce Davin, what with his new dukedom and all. Though that wouldn’t be fair to Charlotte, as we both know. Oh right, you don’t know.”

“I don’t know, what?”What the hell was he going on about?

“Charlotte and Davin.” He said the names simply, as if that explained everything. It did not.

“Yes?”

“Charlotte’s in love with him.”

“No, she’s not.”

“Yes, she is.”

“What are you talking about? I should think that I know my own sister?”

“I should think so too. But apparently you don’t.”

“No…” Kat’s thoughts were drowning in the cold chicken soup in front of her. Charlotte? In love with Davin? It wasn’t possible. And if she was, how did Quinn know about it? It didn’t make sense. Charlotte and her spoke all the time. Shared secrets. Had adventures together. They knew each other, didn’t they?

“How do you know?” Kat shook her head. “That.”

Quinn was standing so straight he could be towering over her, but he wasn’t the kind to use his physicality to intimidate a woman. He raised two index fingers, one to each eye.

The pause was atrocious. She wished to God she knew what he was doing. The silence prompted him to explain.

“I have eyes.”

Working quickly in conjunction with each other, Kat’s arms and legs heaved her up. The chair flew back and landed with a crash.

“You. Are. So. Rude.” Angry tremors rattled through her limbs. If she kept talking, at least she wouldn’t cry. But he got to the words first.

“Me? Have you considered the words that come out of your mouth?”

She took her two fingers and pointed to her mouth, imitating him. “This?”

His eyes grew dark as she felt his stare burn her mouth.

“Yes.” He cleared his throat. “That. You’re too busy using it to stop and listen. Notice people. Like your own sister.”

It was pathetic. The tremors were too much. Words were elusive. She was going to cry. And, oh God, of all people in front of this wretch of a man. She had to dig deep, clutch onto fury. Yes, she had found more words.

“Faugh! You don’t even know me.” She wanted to throw something. Or kick something. But words would have to suffice. “I do know my sister. I love her. What the hell do you think I’m doing running across the country investigating this bloody duke?” To hell with propriety. If he wanted to think less of her for the words that came out of her mouth, who the bloody hell cared? Not her. Not her at all. He could think the least of her of all the women he knew, and she wouldn’t care.

“Well, come to think of it, maybe you’re playing the odds. Charlotte can only marry one duke. If she goes for Davin, then you’ll get the Scottish duke. She gets a duke. You get a duke. Everyone gets a bloody duke. Everyone’s happy.”

“How can I be playing the odds if I didn’t even know she wanted to marry Davin?”

He put his hands on his hips in the most patronizing stance possible. “And isn’t that my whole point?”

“Ugh!” She screamed. No, she didn’t scream. She blew a huge puff of air loudly out of her mouth. “I don’t care.”

“My point again.”

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