Page 77 of A Duke Changes Everything
“My ankle gave out. I’m sure it’s fine,” she assured before glaring at Nick. “I’ll know more when I’m allowed to walk on my own two feet.”
Nick narrowed one eye at her as he kicked wide a half-open door along the hallway. Inside the book-lined room, he headed for a leather sofa and set her gently on the cushions.
The room was everything Enderley’s library should have been. Warm, well-lit, and rich with the scents of book leather and old paper and ink.
Mina looked up at two sets of concerned masculine eyes and pushed to the edge of the sofa. Her ankle screamed with pain every time she moved her right leg, but she tried to stand.
Both Colin and Nick offered their assistance. She took her cousin’s arm to brace herself and pushed up on her left leg. And soon crumpled back onto the sofa.
“It stings a bit, but I’m sure it’s fine.”
“We should send for a doctor.”
“It’s a twisted ankle, for goodness’ sakes. You’re both overreacting. Give me a minute, and I’ll be up and ready to hobble back to the drawing room.”
“Maybe one of the guests is a doctor,” Colin said worriedly.
“Doubtful,” Nick replied. “Iverson prefers investors and inventors. I have a physician on staff at the club. I’ll take her to him.” He spoke as if the decision had already been made. No debate. No one bothering to ask what she preferred.
“That’s ridiculous. Mina can’t depart with you to your club on her own. Besides, isn’t the club’s doctor busy treating ailing gamblers?”
Nick glanced at Colin, who was pacing and gnawing at his thumbnail. “Finding an available physician might take hours. My club is minutes away.”
“Take her,” Colin finally agreed. “He can wrap her ankle and assess whether anything’s broken?”
“I’ll see that she’s well cared for,” Nick assured him.
“Stop talking about me as if I’m not in the room.”
“Do you want me to accompany you?” Colin glanced from her to the doorway, and she knew he wished to be nowhere so much as back among the dinner guests speaking of threshers and industrial machinery. “You need a chaperone.”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. I trust the duke.” Though when she glanced up at Nick, the tiny smile at the edge of his mouth made her shiver.
Colin hesitated, shot Nick as hard a look as he could manage, and finally departed. Nick helped her get to her feet.
“Give me your arm?” she asked.
He did one better and wrapped his arm around her waist.
“You’ll catch me if I fall?”
“Always,” he said without meeting her gaze.
Mina gritted her teeth. “It hurts.”
“Well, that won’t do.” He caught her up in his arms again in one easy motion, as if he’d carried many women before.
“You lift me as if I’m as light as one of Mrs. Darley’s soufflés.” She expected him to chuckle or for the tension in his jaw to ease.
Instead, he looked at her with an intensity that made her stomach flutter.
“You must know,” he finally said, “such a comment only invites thoughts of how you might taste.”
Somewhere, far in the back of her mind, Mina knew she should take care. With her reputation. With her heart. A small quiet voice inside urged caution.
But it was too late.
She wanted everything the heat in Nick’s eyes seemed to offer.
