Page 76 of A Duke Makes a Deal
Silas watched her for a moment, noticing that she appeared the picture of demure serenity, except for her foot. The heel of her right foot was bouncing rather uncontrollably beneath her skirts.
Without thinking, Silas went to her, bent down and kissed the corner of her face, just at the temple, in front of everyone. It was a chaste kiss and one that hardly conveyed anything important, but Clara looked up at him with surprise.
“What are you doing?” she asked breathlessly, her cheeks coloring at such an open display of affection. “There are people here.”
“Indeed,” he said before glancing up at everyone else. “I’m afraid I have an appointment with the baron. If you’ll excuse me.”
Silas bowed and left the room, feeling the eyes of everyone on his back. He intended to find the old baron and learn why Cynthia was here.
Surely the old man hadn’t done something like this on purpose? If so, it would demand consequences. Silas truly hoped the baron had simply made a mistake, because if he had purposely tried to humiliate his wife, Silas wouldn’t be able to hold back his growing fury.
Oddly enough, his anger seemed to eat away any anxiety he might have felt over Cynthia’s arrival. Was it because anger was more prominent an emotion? Or could it be that Clara’s presence had given him some sort of underlying strength to face Cynthia?
Unwilling to dwell too long on such intrusive thoughts, Silas stalked down the hallway until he reached the baron’s private study. Without knocking, Silas stepped into the room, finding the baron sat behind his desk.
The old man’s soft blue eyes lifted beneath his white brows as he sat back in his chair.
“Ah, Combe. I was just—”
“What is your game, Bairnsdale?” Silas all but snapped. “Why is Cynthia here?”
The old man frowned.
“Cynthia? Who the devil is Cynthia?” the baron asked before his eyes opened wide as the connection was made. “Good lord, the woman accompanying Lord Valle, Lady Cynthia, isyourLady Cynthia?”
“She is not mine,” Silas said.
The old baron stood up and came around his desk, shaking his head.
“I was unaware of it, I assure you. Pinehill is an old friend, and I always invite his offspring to this party. I was unaware young Lord Valle had even become engaged until he arrived.Pinehill and his son are on the outs, you understand, and I’ve been trying to see if I could broker a sort of peace between them, but I had no idea that he would bring a companion here.” He frowned unhappily. “I offer my sincerest apologies, Combe.”
“It’s not your fault,” Silas said, the heat of his anger dissipating. “I was just rather surprised. As was my wife.”
“Your wife!” the baron repeated, angst in his voice. “Oh dear, how uncomfortable this will be. I’m so sorry this has happened.”
“Nonsense,” Silas said, shaking his head. It was apparent the baron was mortified. He didn’t wish to add on to it. He cleared his throat. “We’re all adults, Bairnsdale. It will be fine.”
“Are you sure? I would have them leave, truly, except that I had so hoped to be able to bring Lord Valle and his father into reconciliation. I owe the man a debt, and this seemed an excellent way to repay it.”
“It’s fine,” Silas said. He didn’t want to cause Bairnsdale any trouble. Even though Cynthia’s presence had been an unfortunate surprise, he wouldn’t have her thrown out and appear as though he were still affected by her. “Do not trouble yourself.”
Bairnsdale looked as if he didn’t believe a word of it, but nodded, his forehead puckered with worry.
Silas left the baron’s office, unsure of what to do. He supposed there was always the option to leave himself, but the idea had barely formed in his mind before he pushed it out. He had given into his own anxiety for far too long where Cynthia was concerned and he wouldn’t continue to do so. He was a duke for God’s sake, and though he had once suffered heartbreak at Cynthia’s hands, he wouldn’t dishonor Clara.
The image of his wife, her pin-straight back when she faced Cynthia, made him feel both proud and hostile. He wanted to protect Clara from all the hardships of the world, especially thehurt that Cynthia could cause but she had stood up to her, fearlessly if not recklessly.
The devil himself would be wary at the prospect of facing Cynthia.
Then, as if the mere thought of her had summoned her like a demon, Silas rounded the corner of the hallway and crashed directly into her.
“Oh!” Cynthia said, her hands held up to brace herself as she caught him by the lapels to steady herself.
When she realized who it was, her surprised eyes flickered with excitement. Her fingers pressed into his chest as she leaned forward. Annoyed that she seemed to think this was a game, he glowered down at her.
“A word. Now,” he said as he headed down the hallway. Seeing a door slightly ajar, he walked to it. Peering into the room, he found that it was some sort of private drawing room and that it was currently unoccupied. He held the door open and waited for Cynthia to cross the threshold.
Her brow arched and she deliberately took her time as she crossed the hallway and entered the room. He had to beat down the desire to push her forward as he closed the door, but he was instantly set upon.
