Page 30 of A Christmas Temptation for the Duke
Alison almost thanked him again. But she stopped herself from doing so, taken by a sudden urge to argue with him. It was theway he spoke that did it, how removed he was, how demanding. He did not ask her if she wished to stay but commanded it.
As far as he was concerned, she had no choice.
“That won’t be necessary,” she said.
“What won’t be?”
“My staying here.” She took a deep breath and walked into the room, pushing back at his command, petting Pickle the whole time to keep her hands busy. “Once the letter is sent, I will return home and wait for my family there.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.” She reached the end of the table and stopped. “I thank you for all your help, but it is no longer required. As you said yourself, what I heard last evening was likely my imagination, so why worry?”
“And you believe that, do you?”
“Don’t you?”
He sighed. “I don’t even think that you believe it. You want to, no doubt. You wish it was the case, such is the enjoyment you take from pushing me. But let us not play games, Lady Alison. You and I both know that returning home today is not a safe option.”
“I know no such thing,” she said rightly. “Which is precisely why I will be returning home.”
He scoffed. “You are being ridiculous.”
“And you are being controlling.”
“And you are being –” He caught his tongue, smiling to himself. “This isn’t a conversation we’re having, Lady Alison. Not again.”
She was expecting it and came ready. “I –”
“Am under my care,” he cut her off. As he did, he strode from the window toward her. Alison saw him coming and forced herself to stay put, not wanting to back down. At least not physically. “And until I can assure your safety, I must insist that you remain here.”
“And if I refuse?”
He stopped short of her, keeping several feet between them. Then, he glanced her over, a smirk tugging at his lips and mockery in his eyes. “I think history has proven already that there is no point.”
“I –”
“Am staying here. And that is final.”
To make matters worse, the Earl did not raise his voice. He did not belittle her or shut her down. He spoke calmly and with reason, every word spoken brimming with command in a way that suggested he was used to getting his way.
And Alison, not at all used to being told what to do… or at even being noticed for long enough to be given such orders, found herself unable and unwilling to argue. Oh, she wanted to. She yearned for it. But there was just something about the way he looked at her, the power in his gaze and coming from his hulking body that squashed her rebellious tendencies.
With no choice, she bowed her head to show that she accepted.
“Good,” he said. “See how much easier it is when you don’t insist on arguing to points you know you will lose.”
She clenched her jaw, adrenaline shooting through her veins. He was baiting her! If she did not know any better, she would have said that he wanted her to argue.
Indeed, a quick glance up and she noted the smirk, she saw the thrill, and she felt how darn pleased he was with himself for quelling her so effortlessly. Just as she saw how he wanted more…
“I did not lose,” she started. “I merely saw the logic in your suggestion and –”
“It was not a suggestion.”
She bit back the urge to snap. “You know, you really are a piece of –”
“Ah, Godfrey!” the Earl spoke over her suddenly, just as the valet strode into the room behind Alison. “Right on time. You brought what I asked for?”
