Page 14

“Yes, you are,” he responded, as coolly and lightly as if he were offering her tea.

She noticed that he hadnotoffered tea, although it would be common sense to offer a hot beverage of some kind to a woman in her predicament.

She folded her arms tight across her chest. “Let me get this straight. You, a man I have never met, are askingmeto marry you. We have been acquainted for, what, five minutes? And frankly, I have not made an admirable impression, and neither have you.”

He inspected his fingernails. “On the contrary, Miss Belmont,Ihave conducted myself admirably.Youare the harridan.”

“And this is meant to tempt me into marriage, is it?”

“I am not temptingyou into anything. I am proposing a business arrangement.”

More silence. Anna was now sure this was a wild dream. A nightmare, perhaps.

She pinched her arm,hard, but did not wake up.

This is real life, then. Wonderful.

“What do you want, Your Grace?”

He tilted his head. “So distrustful! Can’t a man be a gentleman? Perhaps I simply want to do you a good turn.”

She let out a harsh laugh. “Ha! All men want something in return, and you are certainly no exception. I’m familiar with your reputation,Your Grace.”

In a flash, he closed the gap between them. Anna only had time to widen her eyes and suck in a breath before long, cool fingers closed around her chin, tilting her face up so that she was forced to meet his eyes.

He wasveryclose. There was only an inch or two between the tip of her nose and his. At this distance, she could see flecks of gold and brown in his clear blue eyes. She could see the long black lashes fringing them, tipped with red-gold.

It was, she thought, ridiculous for a man to have such beautiful long lashes.

She could even smell his cologne, an earthy but pleasant scent, almost like petrichor. Like smelling the ground after rain. She breathed in despite herself, and something that she could not quite identify coiled in her gut.

“Such a spirited little thing,” he murmured, his unblinking gaze fixed on her. “I would never have imagined Henry capable of securing the affections of such a woman. I’m almost impressed.”

She jerked her head roughly out of his grip. He hadn’t pressed hard enough to leave bruises, but she swore she could feel the cool outline of his fingertips on her skin.

“What. Do. You. Want?” Anna ground out. “You are not marrying me out of charity or pity. All men want something in return.”

He showed no surprise and did not back away. “Even my dear little brother?”

She had no answer to that, so she contented herself with waiting for him to reply.

He held her gaze for a long moment, watching her intently as if trying to read her mind. A tiny smile tugged at his lips.

So abruptly that he made her jump, the Duke turned around and strode over to the corner of the room, where a velvet bell pull hung.

“You are right, Miss Belmont. I would not ask you to marry me as a kindness. I’d consider that the veryoppositeof kindness. No, I have my own aims and requirements. Those aims do not, I fear, include cleaning up Henry’s messes. It is his fault that you are disgraced, and I take no responsibility for it.”

Anna felt somehow untethered, remaining in the middle of the room, swaying slightly. Every muscle in her body ached.

The door opened, and a butler appeared. It was the same man Anna had pushed past to get into the house. He shot her an uncertain look.

“Your Grace?”

“Ah, Timmins. Tea, I think. Miss Belmont will be staying here for a while, to recover. Perhaps a bowl of stew? I shall leave it to your discretion. Tea, certainly. Do you like cake, Miss Belmont?”

“Eh? What?”

“I shall take that as a yes. Everybody likes cake. Perhaps a shawl or blanket for Miss Belmont, also. She seems rather damp. That will be all.”