Page 37 of Never Dare a Duke
Though he whispered those words, they struck her sharply, inducing a knot of true fear rather than just uncertainty. He was touching her, looming over her, his body giving off a heat that called to her even now. He wasn’t trying to seduce her senses because he wanted her—he wanted information. And that rallied her defenses. She’d thought Gwen’s lie had mollified him, but it obviously had not.
“My secrets?” she echoed. “You want to know a woman’s heart? I’ve already told you why I’m here, why I offered my help.”
He said nothing at first, just looked at her with measuring eyes. She jerked her head back, and he dropped his hand away from her face—only to take hold of her other arm. She realized he held her now, far too close, her skirts swirling about his legs.
His smile was almost grim. “Any woman I treated like this would flee the house—or demand marriage. What will you do?”
“Stand up to your bullying,” she answered coldly, grasping her wits now that she knew the stakes were so high.Secrets,indeed. “I’m not leaving.”
“No, I didn’t think you would.”
He released her, and she took a step back, trying to remember how to breathe.
“So are you going to toss me out?” she demanded.
“No. You are proving too interesting.”
“Then do I have your permission to leave the room, or are you going to keep me here against my will?”
He stepped aside and motioned to the door. She stalked past him.
Just before she was going to fling the doors wide in an indignant manner, she heard him say, “You might want to be certain there is no one in the corridor.”
She hesitated with her hand on the knob, and although she didn’t look at him, she was very careful as she exited.
Christopher watched the door close softly behind her, and only then did he release his breath and sit down heavily in the nearest chair.
What had he done?
He’d stalked her, taunted her, and touched her, enough so that she threatened to slap him.
But her skin had been so soft…
It had been too long since he’d had a woman; that had to be the problem. Why had he thought that touching her might get him answers?
But no, she’d held up admirably. Even after he’d revealed himself—Tell me your secrets.
He was a fool. What had he hoped to gain? Her cooperation? The truth? Instead, he’d given her good reason to avoid him, to distrust him further.
But he didn’t sense fear in her, and for that he was relieved.
And avoid him? From what he’d seen so far, she would not be doing that.
That night, Miss Bury came into Gwen’s bedroom while the two young women sat side by side on the bed, slumped back against pillows.
Miss Bury was wearing a robe over her nightgown, with her hair pulled back in a single braid. She looked between Gwen and Abigail, a smile shining on her face. “My dear young girls, I saw such success tonight!”
“Success, Aunt Imogene?” Gwen said hesitantly.
“Why yes! Lady Swarthbeck, the old hen, told me I should keep a better eye on you, Miss Shaw.”
“Why?” Abigail choked out, trying not to panic. Had the marchioness seen her and the duke alone in the library?
“She feels that you should be spending time with the vicar, a man more ‘suited’ to your circumstance in life.”
A bit of her worry eased. “So…she thinks I’m spending too much time with the duke?”
“We can all see his attraction to you, my dear!” Miss Bury said, touching her shoulder.
