Page 14 of A Virgin for the Duke of Depravity
Would she defyhim?
“And her inability to follow the rules intrigues you?” Aaron arched an eyebrow at him.
“The truth is that I want to break her. But of course, you know I will be the perfect gentleman.” Leo shrugged.
The truth was that heintendedto be a gentleman—unless Margaret asked him to act otherwise, which he was certain she would.
“How do you know she is defiant?”
Leo paused, the words stuck in his throat. He had forgotten that this morning was supposed to be the first time he and Margaret had met. Of course, he would not have been able to know that about her from their very brief interaction that morning.
“These things are quite obvious,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“She came home very late last night. What do you know about her whereabouts?”
“What doyouknow about her life in the convent?” Leo decided it was best to ignore the accusation in his friend’s voice. Besides, he was more concerned with why she was hiding away when she should be here in the city. Here withhim.
“That she’ll be taking her vows in a week,” Aaron said pointedly.
“But she must be afraid of something to end up in there,” Leo pressed, hoping that Aaron might know more than he let on. But if Theresa had no idea what Margaret was doing there, it was impossible that Aaron would have the answer.
Aaron opened his mouth to answer, but they were interrupted by a loud thud in the hall. Leo stood up quickly and threw open the door to see what the commotion was. He was quicker on his feet than Aaron and closer to the door.
Margaret tumbled into the room and landed directly in his arms, where he was more than happy to catch her and steady her on her feet. But as soon as she regained her balance, she was quick to slap his hands off her.
Leo smirked—an involuntary reaction. Of course, she obviously would not want her friend’s husband to think that she was causing a scandal or that she had visited a very specificbook clublast night. It was a desire he shared, but he would gladly hold her in his arms again.
“Theresa is looking for you, Aaron,” she said. Her eyes never left Leo’s. They stood there, facing off against one another. “She is craving those cream puffs from the kitchens.”
“She knows the kitchen staff better than I do,” Aaron mumbled, but he excused himself nonetheless. He walked quickly in the direction of the breakfast room.
Margaret turned her attention away from Leo to watch Aaron retreat down the hall. Leo felt a pang of jealousy that his friend might have more of her attention than he did, which was ridiculous. Margaret was notinterestedin Aaron.
Once Aaron rounded the corner, Margaret turned back to Leo. She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the study, where the servants could see and overhear their conversation. She led him down an empty corridor to a staircase, forcing him to stoop beneath it.
“I do not think this is necessary, My Lady,” he said with another smirk. “You did not have to go to such lengths to get me alone. I believe you knew where to find me after the evening we shared.”
“You must promise never to ask such questions again,” she said with an intensity he remembered from the night before. It was the same fear he had seen on her face when he threatened to throw her out on the streets.
“What are you running from?” Leo asked, already knowing she was not likely to tell him.
Not yet.But soon, perhaps.
“Theresa is with child,” Margaret said, jabbing one finger into his chest with each syllable. “I do not want her or Aaron worried aboutme. I do not want to put them in danger.”
“And how could asking questions put your dear friends in any kind of danger?”
“If I become yours for the next week, I becomeyourproblem. Just yours.” Her voice was a mere whisper, a ghost of the booming voice he was used to.
Whatever she was afraid of, she did not want anyone to know.
A small wrinkle creased her forehead, and she avoided looking him in the eye. She was clearly afraid of something—or someone—and she would not let him in on her secret.
This woman standing before him was not the feisty lady he met yesterday at Olympus. This version of her was somehow even more appealing. It was vulnerable. It was more than he deserved from a woman he barely knew. He could not remember the last time a lady had entrusted him with her care. With her secrets.
He nodded, tacitly agreeing to her demands.
She extended a hand toward him for a handshake to seal their deal. He relished the way her rough palm felt in his own. The convent had not been kind to her skin. He knew, from Theresa, that the sisters spent long hours cleaning and doing chores.
