Page 20 of Her Duke By Accident
She fidgeted, unsure of what else to say.
“But,” he said, “I would like to know why.”
“I was only curious, Your Grace.”
The duke smirked at her. “Curious about my face?”
“Curious about who you are,” she whispered. “Is that so wrong?”
“Of course not,” he said.
“Are you…” Alicia trailed off, glancing at her hands nervously. “Are you at all curious about me?”
He studied her face. “I suppose I am, like any man would be with his new wife.”
“Is there anything you’d like to ask me?”
The duke pressed his lips together. “Well, I could think of one thing.”
“What is it?” she asked, leaning forward eagerly.
“Do youtrulylike those hounds your sister keeps?”
Alicia blinked at him. “That’s your question?”
“Yes, my lady,” he said with an amused smirk. “I was only curious.”
She let a smile curl onto her lips. “They are quite good dogs, Your Grace. Being strays wasn’t their fault.”
“Of course it wasn’t,” he said. “But they are wild beasts.”
“Beasts?” she repeated with a laugh.
The duke raised a brow. “Anything wild and feral is a beast.”
“If I were to be bold,” Alicia mused, “I’d say you are a bit… apprehensive of dogs.”
“Why on earth would you say that?”
“Look how adamant you are about them,” she explained. “Are you…” she lowered her voice though no one was around to hear. “Are youafraidof them, Your Grace?”
A blush barely grew on his cheeks. “My lady—” he huffed.
“Don’t be shy, Your Grace,” she giggled. “It is all right. They are quite large animals.”
“I am not afraid!”
“Really?”
He crossed his arms like a child. “I am not afraid,” he repeated, more calmly this time. “You made it seem like I was afraid, but I am not.”
Alicia smirked. “You are quite defensive about it.”
“I can defend myself, can’t I?”
“So you are defending yourself for being afraid?”
The duke shot her a look.
