Page 14 of A Duke Makes a Deal
“Yes. I came to see you, actually.”
One of her light brown brows arched up in speculation, Silas couldn’t help but note that she really was very striking in an unconventional way, even if she didn’t appear happy to see him.
“For what purpose?”
He took a step towards her and brought his hands up before him.
“To apologize for my actions last night,” he said. “I should not have taken Dilworth’s bet. And I know you said you never wished to see any of us again—”
“A request you’ve ignored outright I see,” she said flatly.
He cocked his head. She was going to make this difficult, it seemed.
“My lady, I’ve come to make amends. There’s no point in staying angry. No harm has come to you or your name. If anything, you’ve been saved from a terrible marriage.”
She scoffed. “You know nothing of what I want and you’ve no right to tell me to stop being angry,” she said, before adding, “I was humiliated last night. There’s harm in that, isn’t there?”
“Yes, and for that I am sorry, but I think you’re not appreciating the fact that you were also saved from marrying such a vile man.”
“Saved?” she repeated. “By whom? You?” She took a step forward and Silas’s brow lifted. Who did she think she was, crowding him? Didn’t she know most women avoided him? “I suppose you think I should be grateful to you for using me instead of coinage?”
“Well, considering the type of man Dilworth is, yes actually,” he said. “You would have ended up living in a poor house if you married him.”
“And pray tell me how that is any of your business?” she asked.
Silas’s brow furrowed.
“I’m sorry, did you wish to marry Dilworth?” he asked, confused at her argument. Wasn’t she aware that she was saved? “Because from the way you spoke to him last night, I would assume you were quite done with him.”
“Who I wish to marry is no concern of yours.”
“I think you’re being a bit ungrateful,” he said, only to see the full fury of her gaze land on him.
“How dare you sir, come into my home, barely apologize for treating me no better than livestock, then expect me to be grateful for interfering in my life? My relationship with Dilworthwas not your concern and it certainly didn’t require your handling.”
He took a step towards her, annoyance breaking into frustration. He stood nearly a foot taller than her and he was willing to use his size to intimidate her and quell her sharp tongue.
“Handling?” he repeated, confused by this woman’s reaction. She should be thanking him for his interference. “I didn’t bet you away, my lady. It wasn’t my idea to involve you at all. I believe your anger is misplaced. The viscount could have attempted to bargain you away to someone who would actually feel entitled to compensation in return for winning. Don’t you realize how fortunate you are that when he chose to make that ill-fated wager, I was the gentleman on the receiving end? This way, you were able to find out for yourself the kind of man he truly is without you having to come to harm through the lesson.”
“Ha!” she said, raising her hands at him, as if catching him in the act. “The sheer arrogance of your class is astounding, really. How any one person could be so convinced that they are without fault or error and then tell everyone that their actions are for their own good…well, it truly amazes me.”
Silas glared at her as he took another step towards her. She hadn’t realized it, but her words had struck a chord deep within him and his immediate response was to lash out against her.
“I did not say it was for your own good,” he said slowly, so that she might hear his every word. “I simply implied that you were better off.”
“The difference being?” she quipped.
Good Lord, what a frightful woman she was. He stared into her grey-green eyes. What a fascinating color. He had never seen eyes quite like hers before and even if she gave the impression that she was poised for battle, he felt an odd sort of need go through him. Her back was pin straight, her shoulders pressedback and her chin jutting out with a sense of superiority, while she was accusing him of such behavior, but he couldn’t beat down the want to touch her.
She was a combative, if naive woman, he decided as he eliminated the space between them, hoping to impose a sense of dominance over the situation. She didn’t cower, to her credit, but he did notice she swallowed as he crowded her, the small muscles of her neck working. For some reason, he felt satisfaction at the thought that his closeness caused her some discomfort.
Loose strands of her champagne blonde hair that would not be contained framed her face. She looked rather like one of the sirens from mythology he had seen in paintings. Upon closer inspection, Silas realized that her hair was actually curly, but had been brushed out. He fought the urge to touch it, ignoring the sudden twitch of his fingers.
“I’ve only come to inform you that I have no intention of claiming my winnings from last night’s game,” he said slowly, trying hard to banish any illicit thoughts from his mind.
“Am I meant to thank you?” she said acerbically. “Or commiserate over all that you have sacrificed in the name of being honorable? My dowry is certainly a substantial amount.”
He shook his head.
