Page 7 of Never a Duchess
“Now,” he began while she struggled to overcome her erratic emotions, “as nae one has ever questioned my loyalty and lived to tell the tale, be assured yer secret is safe in my hands.”
She remained silent—her thoughts in a quandary.
If he cut out his heart and presented it on a silver platter, it wouldn’t be enough to sway her opinion. Not entirely. But this man possessed a hidden power. A way of bending people to his will. Hence why she avoided his company.
How did one learn such a skill?
Maybe he would answer her questions.
Could he offer insight into the workings of a man’s mind?
“So many young ladies are duped into believing in love.” Having fallen for a tale five years ago, she counted herself amongst them. “They marry based on a lie, or worse still, they give themselves to a man who abandons them shortly afterwards.”
Thankfully, she had only held Mr Bloom’s hand and kissed his cheek. But then her brother’s secretary had been respectful, and she’d soon realised her feelings amounted to nothing more than a young girl’s infatuation.
“Society is nothing but a hive of hypocrites.” Dounreay arched a disapproving brow. “Hence why ladies should remain in the ballroom with their chaperones, nae venture alone along dark corridors.”
“Why? For fear a devil will accost them in a bedchamber, stab them with asgian dubhand suck blood from their finger?”
His mouth curled into a wicked grin. “At least I didnae lure ye away with the promise of something illicit. I came to save ye.”
By turning her mind to mush?
By making her body burn?
“What has this to do with writing a book?” he said.
Lillian hesitated for a second or two. “I’m writing a manual to help ladies identify a rakehell.”
“A manual?”
“I list real examples, the lies, the tales told, the promises made and broken. I’m hoping to prepare young ladies for the iniquitous den commonly called the marriage mart.”
The duke jerked his head. “And ye gather this information by spying on theton? Hellfire! Tell me ye’ve nae mentioned names.”
“I’m not an idiot.”
Frustrated, he dragged his hand through his hair. “I’ve never met a more intelligent woman, which is why I find this so surprising.”
Lillian’s breath caught in her throat.
But then she remembered wolves were cunning beasts, and compliments were like bait to lure victims into unknown territory.
“Mere moments ago, you implied I was foolish for leaving the ballroom.”
“Aye, such recklessness makes ye a confounding package of contradictions, madam.”
“A package? Is that how Scotsmen refer to ladies, Your Grace?” Would he call her a delightful creature as if she were anything but human?
Dounreay laughed. “Can ye forgive a man for his heathen ways?”
The comment drew her mind to the finger-sucking incident, and she spun back to the window. “Time is precious. Now I’ve been honest, you must leave. I need to conduct my investigations.”
She closed her eyes, willing him to go.
“I fear yer studies lack one crucial element.”
“And what is that, Your Grace?”
