Page 10 of Her Beastly Duke
Smart and resourceful.
“So, you were the one who devised the plan to retrieve the painting?”
Miss Walcot’s color heightened, but she managed to meet his eyes before quickly lowering her gaze. “I was, but you see, we had no choice.”
He heard the plea in her voice. She was clearly past the point of hostility, and the look of defiance had slowly ebbed away. Julius wondered how long it had been since he had had such a long conversation with a clever and pretty woman. It had been some time, but he could not remember exactly. He knew it was stimulating, and he would be a liar if he said he did not miss this. She made his life seem even more dull. This brief encounter enlivened him particularly as she had not reacted to his scarred face as he expected.
Am I so alone I would find this encounter … enlivening? It was damn absurd. Yet it was a painful truth.
“Permit me to know what you are thinking, Your Grace. This silence is wretched.”
Julius’s mouth quirked. “You have seen my face, yet you have not recoiled in horror. I noticed that when you first saw me in the library.”
Her eyes widened. “I am not discomfited by your appearance, Your Grace. I consider what I heard about you to be grossly exaggerated. You are hardly a beast. You are …” A blotch of red stained her cheeks.
Julius was mildly intrigued. “You did not finish what you were going to say.”
“I have already said enough,” Miss Walcot replied.
He drummed his fingers against his leg. “I am pleased to hear you do not think me a beast. That is because I have decided how we could amicably resolve your breaking into my house to steal.” Her eyes widened in surprise before her shoulder slumped in relief. “You have? Of course, I understand we must make amends.”
He offered a bemused smile. “Indeed. I would like you to be my companion. I am sure you are up for the task.”
Miss Walcot’s delicate mouth dropped open. “Acompanion?”
“Yes.”
“Your Grace … I do not think this is possible.”
Julius knew he had the upper hand, and he pressed his advantage. “It is. You will be my companion until you have paid your debt. I am sure this is a more favorable alternative than those open to you if I called the magistrate.”
Her fingers rushed to her parted lips, and Julius’s gaze lingered on them for too long. Full and lush.
“Oh.” She sat up straighter and cocked her head to the side, no doubt thinking of the possibilities. Miss Walcot had enough of an incentive to do his bidding.
“If you accept my offer, we could forget about this little escapade,” Julius said, although he did not think he needed to state the obvious. “I am astonished you are reluctant.”
“It is most unusual for a gentleman, even if he is a rumored eccentric duke, to have a … a paid companion!”
“I am an unusual man,” he drawled, almost smiling at how she narrowed her eyes.
Earlier, he had been thinking about a companion, although it was a thought for later in his life. Someone he could play chess with, perhaps engage in witty discussion about themes in certain books, and take long walks in the woodlands, even hunt together. He could tell she was well-educated and came from a reputable family. Her actions today went to the heart of her character. Earlier, she was not someone he would think could fill the role of his companion, but this opportunity fell into his lap, and he would take advantage of it.
“Although your offer is tempting, Your Grace, have you considered this unconventional arrangement would behighlyimproper? A young woman working alone with an attractive, eligible gentleman. It is highly …”
His heart stuttered, and Miss Walcot met his gaze before she realized what she said. Her cheeks were stained red, and she quickly looked away. Julius studied her with intensity. Her gaze returned to him with unabashed curiosity. It has been years sinceanyonehad described him as attractive. He liked it. Earlier, when he read Baxter’s letter and said he was satisfied with the way things were, it was pure bravado. He wanted a lady’s attention and liked how it made him feel.
Miss Walcot folded her hand across her chest and gave him a stony stare. Her gaze said she wished she had a rapier. “If we are in a close, intimate space, I am bound to lose my reputation.”
Julius chuckled. “Miss Walcot, to which reputation do you refer? Is your reputation not at stake for breaking into myhome in the dead of night to steal after your family has already collected a small fortune for fake art? There would be no need for a trial and conviction to ruin you. There would be worse fates than ruination after a trial.”
The fire reignited in the depths of her eyes, and she took a deep breath. He heard the door open and looked up to see a gentleman he did not know.
“Come in.” Julius beckoned. “I am the Duke of Berkley. I will leave you with your sister. I am sure there are things you wish to discuss in private.”
Julius stood as the gentleman replied. “I am pleased to meet you, Your Grace.”
Julius left them alone and climbed the stairs to his bedchamber. He wondered if Miss Walcot would decide that spending time with him would be the lesser of two evils.
