Page 27 of A Rescue by the Rakish Duke
She shifted from one foot to another, suddenly feeling the unfamiliar but pleasant urge to press her thighs together.
“Oysters,” she breathed, keeping her eyes on his. She would not falter before him.
“You know what they are for?” he asked.
“They are delicious,” she replied coyly as she took the seat in front of his desk.
“Nobody has told you anything about them?” His voice had become husky as his fingers toyed with one of the oysters.
“Well, you can say that I had a brief lesson with Mrs. Albright.”
“She taught you many things?” he prodded.
“Mainly housework,” she said with a grin.
“Ah, of course,” he murmured as he took a bite.
She watched him savor the delicacy in his mouth, feeling warm at the way he took his time to swirl the meat in his mouth before he swallowed.
She was about to protest, but she remembered that she was the instigator in this case.
“I am not here mainly because of food, but now I realize that Mrs. Albright is right,” she remarked, looking at the tray pointedly.
It seemed that Damian had scarfed down half of the oysters in no time.
“Right about what?”
“About you being more tolerant when served these particular delicacies,” she said with what she hoped was a charming smile.
She was tired of being in the dark. She’d befriend Damian and find out what it was that he was scheming. She would love to be part of it.
“Ah,” he sighed as he reached for a Turkish Delight.
His eyes were sparkling with delight, but Gwendoline could not understand the fuss. She loved roses, but not their taste on her tongue.
“I am not here for that, though,” she explained. “I want to know what proof you have against Timothy.”
“That is none of your concern,” he mumbled mid-bite.
He swallowed and downed it with the brandy on his right. Gwendoline noted how quickly he drank it. She also eyed the bottle next to the glass.
“I have said it so many times, Duchess,” he said, his jaw tightening.
It seemed the effects of the dishes were fading away, much to Gwendoline’s disappointment.
“That is none of your concern.”
“None. Of. My. Concern?” She breathed deeply and closed her eyes. “I do not know what has transpired between you both because you would not share it with me. But you know that man ruined my life and almost sold me away. Therefore, I have every right to know. He is the last person I’d want to ally myself with.”
“It’s not about trust, Duchess. It’s about protection.”
“If it’s protection, you have done enough. I am grateful. You’ve taken me away from a terrible situation. What can happen to me here? Isn’t that what you were offering to me? Some kind of fortress. A place where you plan your revenge against Timothy while keeping me away from the warpath.”
“Montrose can be dangerous, Duchess. The less you know about the situation, the better. Let me handle it.”
“Because I am a woman?” she asked, meeting his gaze. “I have been through a lot because of the earl. I am not a fragile doll that you can shelve and forget. I have been belittled and humiliated. People who should have taken care of me betrayed me. So, excuse me for wanting to know if I am in danger of being put in the same situation.”
“You are not,” he reassured her. “Everything I have done these past few months is to ensure that he pays so that he can’t hurt anyone again—including you.”
