Page 27 of The Good Duke
“W-Would you s-stop?” And damned if it wasn’t indignation that caused this particular stutter.
“Are you sure?” she asked, and most certainly didn’t stop as he’d commanded. “You are choking.”
“If I’m talking, I’mnotch-choking.”
Persephone instantly stopped her previous assault on his back. She eyed him dubiously. “You’re su—”
“Absolutely sure,” he interjected. “Now, if you’llexcuseme?”
The minx nodded.
Simon simply stared at her.
Again, Persephone brought her head up and down in another one of those perfunctory little bobs.
Exasperated, Simon tossed his arms up, and in so doing, he sent more drops of water spraying. “This is where you excuse yourself.”
Her eyes formed giant circles. “Ohhh.”
Don’t ask.Because to ask a single thing more delayed her exit and continued this ridiculous back and forth.
His efforts at restraint were in vain. “Just what did you think I was saying excuse me to, Persephone?”
“I thought you were apologizing.”
He stared at her. “Me?”
She nodded.
“You thinkI’mthe one who should be apologizing? Me for choking? And not say…maybeyou, who broke into my home, invaded my bedchambers, interrupted my bath, and slapped me while I was in said bath, should be the only making apologies?”
Anyone, absolutely anyone other than the woman before him, would have been properly chastised with that callout.
Persephone shrugged her dainty shoulders. “Well, you were always polite, and I attributed that particular pardon to your politeness.”
Yes, he’d always been polite. And look what that had gotten him: a lifetime of being bullied and not a real friend in the world. A pushover was what he’d always been. It was why, even now, he continued to discuss and debate this particular woman.
“Get out,” he gritted out.
Her eyes grew stricken. “Now?”
“No. Five minutes ago. But, yes, now will suffice.”
She dug in. “I will not leave until you grant me an audience.”
“I’ve not already done so? You’ve not already stolen one?”
“Alongeraudience.”
Apparently, she still failed to detect sarcasm.
“I wish to speak with you—”
And as she’d no clear intention of heeding his wishes, Simon stood.
Most proper ladies would have looked away. The remaining ladies would have turned tail and bolted.
Not Persephone.
