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Dominic’s silver eyes darkened as he stared at her, and Amelia immediately cooled her temper. When he then spoke his tone was low. Calm. And yet- there was a lethal edge to it.

“I understand you have had a rather awful evening. But you will speak to me with respect, Amelia. I am attempting to offer solution to this issue, even at my own inconvenience.”

Amelia cast her eyes away from his, took a steadying breath, and mentally went through the last two hours and wild series of events.I have not been sold to a stranger. I have been sold to a friend that wants to help me. I am angry. But I do not need to be angry at him. I will listen.

“I apologize,” she said as calmly as she could, looking back up at him. “Please tell me your plan.”

Dominic’s pinning, cold stare made her want to squirm in her seat, but she clasped her hands and held herself tightly. A moment later the carriage stopped, and the driver tapped on the roof.

“We are here, Your Grace,” he announced.

Still keeping his piercing gaze on Amelia, Dominic said loudly, “Walk twenty paces away from us. Keep watch to make sure we are not interrupted. I shall call you back when we are ready to leave.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” the driver announced, and silence then stretched as they felt the carriage sway slightly as the man climbed down, then listened as his crunching footsteps faded away.

“What do you know of my reputation, Amelia?” Dominic asked at last.

The question took her off guard. It was not at all what she thought he was going to ask.

“I- well, I have heard occasionally of your successes in your Dukedom from Theo and Seraphina. I have heard your witty comments between our friend group,” she explained.

A single dark brow of his rose.

“You’ve not heard any other gossip about me?” He asked.

Amelia let out a dry, mirthless laugh.

“People talk about me, Your Grace. Nottome. The only ones who have deigned to truly converse are the women in my close circle of friends.”

She paused, suddenly curious as to why he would ask and added, “Why?”

Dominic glanced away from her as he stretched his large body from a casual sitting position to one more refined.

“I am known to be quite ruthless in business,” he answered, reaching for his silver cuff link on his black shirt sleeve.

She watched as he twisted it with his fingers, as if adjusting it back into place even though it was properly seated.

“I am successful at everything I do and I am known to work with favors,” he went on. “I am knowledgeable in many things and I know the when, where, and why before most do.”

It was Amelia’s turn to raise a brow.Certainly quite confident in himself, too,she thought, growing frustrated.

“Congratulations?” She said, giving him a questioning look. “What does this have to do with my predicament?”

To her surprise, Dominic let out what sounded like an amused huff as his lips twitched.

“What it means is that I am powerful, Amelia. Powerful enough that everyone of importance wants to be an ally. Therefore if I take you on as my wife, even if some of the men back there did know who you were, they would not dare speak a word of it to anyone.”

Amelia’s brows flew up.

“You are that well liked?” She asked.

He chuckled, and shook his head.

“It is not about being liked. I am formidable. Being on my bad side can tend to get dangerous. For multiple reasons.”

Though curious, Amelia did not ask for further information. Something in the calm, unbothered way he stated these things told her that it was nothing but the truth.

“Very well,” she said quietly, then drew in a breath.