Page 6 of Her Duke in Shining Armor
“Then consider it a gentleman’s wager,” Camdyn said. “And Norwood, I will throw in my hat for five-hundred pounds if Oberton can not only rein her in but make her fall in love with him.”
“I’m in for another thousand,” a third voice added but this time Aaron went stiff. It was the voice of Duke Wyndrake, a patronizing peer with a sickening attitude and beetle-black eyes who was the resident thorn in Aaron’s side since he had inherited his dukedom.
“In fact, I raise my hand to five-thousand,” the Duke’s dark eyes were lit with maliciousness. “Prove us right or wrong, Oberton.”
“I do not accept,” Aaron’s words were firm. “And if this what you gentlemen do, wager and treat ladies like cattle to be haggled over, I can see why Lady Eleanor despises you lot.”
“So, it’sonlyLadyEleanornow,” Wyndrake grinned. “It seems to me that you have more than an acquaintance, rather a history.”
“Which is none of your business,” Aaron said tightly. “Excuse me. I need some fresh air.”
Striding out from the room to the nearest balcony, Aaron reined in his temper. Despite how Lady Eleanor was, no one had the right to malign her. It galled him to discover that this level of malice was what men who felt inferior to a lady resorted to.
No wonder Lady Eleanor hates us…hell, I am tempted to hate us too.
“Oh,” a voice said. “My apologies, I do not want to intrude.”
Turning, Aaron’s eyes landed on the same person he had been contemplating for the last five minutes and wondered if fate had decided to punish him that night. Lady Eleanor Stanley stood there in the half-light and he gave her a disarming smile.
“No, no you aren’t. I am pressed to ask how can one interrupt a man and his glass of champagne?”
“I meant your woolgathering, Your Grace,” Lady Eleanor said aloofly. “I personally hate it when my train of thought is broken so I will leave you be.”
“No…wait a moment.” Aaron placed the delicate glass on the smooth balustrade and propped an elbow behind the flute. Peering at her under a half-mast gaze, Aaron could see that Harold was right, her freckles had gone and her once roundish, childish face had matured and slimmed.
“You’ve grown,” he commented.
Her shoulders went back, and her stance stiffened just as her voice did, “So have you.”
Aaron blinked slowly and then laughed, “Drop your spear and shield Lady Valkyrie, I am not here to fight.”
“And neither am I,” she inclined her head. “So I will leave.”
Aaron waited until she had turned and had stepped away before he spoke, “One would think you hate me.”
Lady Eleanor spun and her wide eyes showed her surprise, “Why would I hate you?”
Aaron pinned her with his eyes, “What other conclusions could I have come to? I met you twice and the look in your eyes both times told me you were not fond of me.”
Eleanor snorted delicately and Aaron found her wrinkled nose absurdly cute, “What other resort did I have after being insulted to my face, not once but twice? Your look nor your words ateithertime were complimentary. I was first a tomboy and then I was aspoiledtomboy.”
Aaron frowned, “And at the last, you called me a pedantic misogynist. Is it that we have misjudged each other all these years?”
“You tell me,” Eleanor’s words were stiff. “Do you still dislike women?”
“Do you still scorn men of your rank, like me?” Aaron replied crossly.
Her thin sculpted eyebrow rose, “It is not onlyyou, Your Grace, so get off your high horse.”
“But clearly I am one of them,” Aaron shot back.
“Yes, you are one.” Lady Eleanor snapped. “It is men and women who have money and power but no heart or soul. I have realized that most of our class are hypocrites, appearing perfect but are heartless in reality.”
“And you believe yourself to be the paragon of virtue,” Aaron replied. “You come from money, Lady Eleanor, whatever curse you think we share applies to you too.”
“That’s where you are wrong,” she advanced on him with her eyes glittering like foxfire. “I am nothing like you or my Father.”
Aaron was deeply disturbed by her words and took a chance to reach out and lay a hand on her arm. “Lady Eleanor…are you trying to tell me that your father is harming you—”
