Page 89 of Anything But a Duke
Aidan shook his head. “No, but it’s something. I can hand it over to my investigators. Perhaps someone in Wyndham’s household will know that name.”
Diana offered him the envelope and he placed it inside the same coat pocket he’d retrieved the ring box from.
“Thank you,” he said with genuine warmth. Then he squared his shoulders and released his hold on her. “Now what else did you wish to tell me?”
The breath Diana drew in to try to steady her nerves only agitated the ache deep in the center of her chest. Her exhale turned ragged and she struggled to look into Aidan’s eyes.
“Grace Grinstead,” she began.
“No,” he said emphatically before casting her a bemused look. “I didn’t come here to discuss anyone else, Diana. Only you and me.”
“Please listen to what I promised her I would say.”
His eyes fluttered closed and he reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose. Turning, he paced the small path she’d created between her worktables covered with pneumatic cleaning devices.
“Mr. Hambly withdrew his offer of marriage.”
He glanced up at her and shrugged as he continued to pace. “Not unexpected. Presumably Viscount Holcomb objected to the match and the young man balked.”
“Quite so.”
“And?” he prompted her gently, but his every movement indicated that impatience was getting the better of him.
“Grace thinks you would be a better prospect.”
He stopped in his tracks. “You’re still trying to play matchmaker?”
“I’m fulfilling a promise I made to her.”
He came forward and didn’t stop until they were toe to toe. “What of what we said to each other last night?”
“What of the reasons you agreed to a deal with me in the first place?”
He flinched but said nothing, though she could see the pain in his expression. His eyes shuttered as they had before when he sought to hide his past from her. She hated the distance she felt opening up between them.
Diana bit her lip, afraid she’d angered him or pushed him too far. Then his hand came up and he cupped her cheek in his palm.
“Much has changed since we made our deal.” His gaze turned open and tender again. “I have changed. You have that effect on me.”
Diana nuzzled her cheek against his skin and told herself not to look into his eyes. “Grace asked me to arrange another meeting.”
“So we can tell her about our engagement?” he teased. “I’d love to.”
Diana stepped away from him and approached her worktable, gripping the edge between her fingers. She needed to ground herself, remind herself how this had all begun. He wanted a noble bride. She wanted his investment.
“She possesses everything you want in a wife.”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
He approached and stood behind her. She prayed he wouldn’t touch her. If he reached for her, she didn’t know if she could cling to her resolve.
“She knows Lord Lockwood, or her father does. If Grace could help you find favor with him—”
“Diana, listen to me.”
Turning around to face him was a mistake. He was so close, she could taste his scent on the air, and his gaze was so hungry that her body began to pulse with need.
“I don’t want what we agreed to a fortnight ago in this room.”
