Page 83 of Her Duke By Accident
“Out of my way,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I know what is best for you,” Miss Ayles hissed. “I do, not her!”
“I have no patience left to give you, Miss Ayles!”
The governess glanced around frantically for a moment before locking her gaze onto him once more, an accomplished smirk crawling onto her lips. “Alicia is long gone,” she snapped. “She left long before you even arrived here! Any chase would be futile!”
“Youdarecall her anything but Her Grace?”
“Look around,” she shouted, “I don’t see any duchess here! I don’t see a duchess when that girl is here either!”
Matthew stepped threateningly closer to her. “Do you wish to see yourself ruined?”
“Not more ruined than I already am, Your Grace,” she replied, not seeming afraid of his looming presence one bit. “Look me in the eyes and convince me that she is your rightful duchess, Your Grace. Take back everything from the past few weeks, just with a few words.” Miss Ayles barely gave him a second before she added, “I bet you couldn’t.”
“Do not act as if you know anything about the duchess and me,” he barked, holding his arms down so as to fight the tempting urge to throw the governess out of his way.
Miss Ayles watched him intensely for a moment, before something flashed across her face. She let her posture change, her shoulders drooping and her bosom more pronounced. Slowly, she stepped closer to him even as he retreated, her lips slightly parted in a breathless way.
“Your Grace,” she cooed. “Perhaps I don’t know as much as I think about your relations with the duchess, I can give you that. But, I know more than you think.”
“I doubt it.”
“I knowyou.”
Matthew grimaced. “You are making a fool out of yourself, Miss Ayles.”
“Am I?” she asked. “Or are you afraid I might prove you wrong?”
He glared silently at her.
The governess slunk closer to him, her movements snake-like and slithering. She came upon him with lust written on her face, in the way she lowered her eyes and swayed as she walked.
“At your very core,” Miss Ayles said, her voice barely above a whisper, “you are only a man, and like all men, there is only one thing that you truly want.”
“Enlighten me, Miss Ayles,” Matthew spoke through clenched teeth, his fists bunched together at his sides as she moved closer and closer to him.
She came upon him with a hand on her hip. “A woman,” she plainly said. “But not justanywoman. You want beauty and grace. You crave a warmer bed that won’t beg to interfere in the going-ons of your duties as a duke. You yearn for an ease that might take your mind off everything else in Garvey.”
Miss Ayles stood directly in front of him; his back pressed against the wall. Slowly, with an uncanny bravery, the governess reached up, placing her hands gently against his shoulders, fingertips just lightly gripping. Standing up on her toes, she licked her lips, her breath almost fanning against his chin.
“Do you honestly thinkshecan provide that?”
Matthew went still as his chest heaved up and down in anger.
“Alicia can’t give you any of it,” Miss Ayles snapped, her voice rising. “She has failed to be your duchess — even the blind could see it! The Caney girl is not enough for you. She willneverbe!”
Unable to hold himself back, Matthew’s hands shot out, snatching onto Miss Ayles's bare forearms. He gripped onto her cold skin, pressing his fingers harshly into her. She winced against him, her eyes suddenly wide and mouth gaping. Matthew loomed over her, watching as she shrank in fear beneath him.
“Y–Your Grace—” she began in a small voice.
“You’ve had your chance to speak, Miss Ayles,” Matthew growled, his voice hoarse and deep. “Now it is my turn. Once, I had a respect for you as a person who wanted to rectify their family name. It was why I so gladly hired you. Despite everything the ton had to say about the sniveling accountant meant to balance our business’s funds, I took pity on his begging daughter.”
Keeping his tight hold on her, Matthew pulled her closer. “Andthisis how you repay me? Spouting nonsense about how you are meant to be the Duchess of Garvey?”
“Please, Your Grace?—”
“Now you find the propriety you were raised with to address me politely? After you so carelessly spoke of the duchess as though she were your familiar?”
