Page 54 of Her Duke Next Door
Mary and Dominique’s eyes met and they smiled at one another, the understanding of parents with children who spoke in such fantastical ways.
“I shall be whatever you wish, Eloise,” Dominique assured the younger girl.
“And the same for you, Katie,” Mary said.
“We are a family now,” Dominique added. “But that means you can both call each of us what you wish when you are ready.”
“I have always wanted a papa,” Eloise giggled.
“And I a mama,” Katie said, beaming at Mary, and then at her father, as if she was quite proud of herself.
“My cousin said that he wanted to play,” Eloise said, going back to talking about their day. “But I said no because he is ababy.” She sneered at the word. “And we do not have time for babies like him! And then we bought Katie’s ribbon and saw the Earl that wanted to be with Mama!”
“Eloise,” Mary said sharply. “If you are both finished with your dinner then how about you and Katie go to the nursery for a while?”
“All right, Mama!” Eloise said. “Come on, Katie.”
The two of them ran off. Dominique’s face was stoic with anger as he looked at Mary. “Consider yourselves dismissed.” He jerked his head at the staff surrounding them. At once, the butlers and maids all dispersed, leaving the two of them looking at one another down the length of the table.
Silence weighed heavily in the air.
“Say something,” Mary begged.
But the Duke only clenched his fist on the table. “I swore you protection,” he said tightly. “And yet the day you leave without alerting me of where you went, you saw Lord Yore and he accosted you.”
“He did me no harm?—”
“Do not belittle it!” Dominique shouted. “He is a vile creature and I will not have him taking advantage of you again. Has he not done enough damage?”
“You say this like it is my fault he will not leave me alone!” Mary accused. “He gives me the same insults, Dominique. Yes, he shook me up with his suddenness but his threats are mere foolishness.”
Dominique swirled his wine in his glass before drinking deeply. She watched the column of his throat as he swallowed. Her mouth grew dry.
“And what of last night, Mary? Was that foolishness as well?”
Despite her sister asking her what she had to lose, Mary could not be bold enough to confront her desires. “Last night was a mistake, Dominique.”
“I see,” he said flatly, as though he did not believe her. The gaze he gave her was sheer, dark wickedness that had heat igniting in her.
“We—we have an agreement. We are such different people, and I do not believe that we should mix the two things. Convenience with—with?—”
“With pleasure, Mary?” Dominique drawled. “Shall I leave you be, then? Shall I walk out of this room and leave you to your own devices?”
“My own devices?”
“Of pleasure. If you shall not mix your pleasure with me then how do you sate it, dear wife? How do you endure these dreams of yours?”
To her own nerves, Dominique stood up from his chair and slowly stalked around to her end of the table. She felt like prey. Pure, trapped prey and he was the intent predator, all of his attention narrowing on her.
“Dominique,” she whispered.
“Be quiet,” he whispered, grasping her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her head up toward him. A shiver ran through Mary at the rough touch. She felt cornered but not unsafe, not at all. “You are a liar, Mary.”
She opened her mouth to protest but he pinched her face harder. “I can prove that you are soaked with desire for me.”
Her face burned. “You—you cannot prove anything!” she protested.
He smirked at her. Before she could do anything, he maneuvered her onto the table, placing her right on the edge. His eyes met hers as he grasped her dress and pushed it higher up her legs, exposing her. The dining hall felt immensely huge and empty with just the two of them so compromised. But Mary found herself leaning back right as Dominique pushed her dress up to her hips and parted her legs.
