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Frances ducked her head and turned to walk out of the room. She briefly stopped beside Jenny and whispered in her ear, “For heaven’s sake, talk to the man and figure out what is going on. Because if it issomething,I need to find a way to break the news to your brother.”

“There is nothing to tell him,” Jenny seethed and turned on her heel to follow Frances out.

The Duke followed them out silently.

CHAPTER 11

David held his hands behind his back. Jenny had her claws out, and it was his favorite version of her. She harbored so much passion in her lithe little body, he just loved riling her up to see it boil over. She was the most beautiful when she was at her breaking point.

But that was not why he was here today, and it was best he remembered that. Hence, his hands were folded behind his back to suppress the urge to touch her.

“Thank you for walking with?—”

“Why are you here?” Jenny asked curtly, cutting him off.

David grinned. “I’ve always enjoyed your ability to speak your mind.”

Jenny grimaced. “Since you always like to playyour gamesand hide your true thoughts, I figured one of us might as well be transparent.”

David nodded once. “Touché.”

The pair continued to walk, with Frances some paces behind them. David noticed she started drifting closer as they began to talk. He didn’t blame her. The tension in the drawing room was thick and suffocating. It took all of his willpower not to tug at his cravat when Jenny glared at him with such animosity.

Deservedly so, but still.

David cleared his throat. “I came here to apologize for my behavior the other night.”

Jenny stopped abruptly and shook her head. “Pardon me, Your Grace. What did you say?”

David screwed up his face in annoyance. “Your hearing is just fine, Miss Bennett.”

Jenny rolled her eyes and continued walking. David balled his hands into fists behind his back.

“Fine. So, you’ve apologized for dismissing me so horribly.” She turned back to face him. “I haven’t decided if I’ve forgiven you yet.”

David lengthened his strides to catch up to her. “You misunderstand, Miss Bennett.”

She cocked her head. “You’re not apologizing for the way you threw me out?”

David looked around to make sure no one overheard her not-so-subtle whisper. The only one near them was Frances, who had found a particular tree branch fascinating.

“I do apologize for the brazen way I dismissed you the other night. But my behavior prior to that is why I’m here. I should not have kissed you that way.” David tucked his chin and cast his eyes downward.

That kiss had haunted him every night since. The feel of Jenny’s skin under his fingertips, the ease with which her legs opened. She was putty in his hands and would have done anything he asked. She freely gave herself over to him, and that much power over a woman usually led to problems.

Jenny’s feet stepped into his vision. He looked up into her eyes. The sun brought out specks of yellow in her green eyes. How had he never noticed them before?

“Your Grace, while I appreciate your apology and your worry over my sensibilities, I did ask for it, and quite plainly if I remember correctly.” Her eyes sparkled, and a small smile danced on her lips. “I won’t pretend your actions didn’t hurt, but I understand that you take my position in our arrangement very seriously. So on that account, I can accept your apology.”

David sighed. She wasn’t getting it.

Jenny’s eyes dropped to her fidgeting hands. The Duke seemed different. Usually, his confidence was laced with playful sarcasm, but today, there was an air of resignation about him.

Some tension had eased between them since she accepted his apology, but the ease of companionship they once had now felt forced.

They continued to walk, neither one of them speaking. Jenny noticed that with each couple they passed, the tension in his shoulders seemed to return.

Finally, David cleared his throat and offered her his arm. Her shoulders dropped with an exhale of relief. She smiled up at him and took his arm.