Page 9

He could feel the familiar stirrings of his past self and was sore tempted to put on that shroud as he had as a young man and flirt and charm this woman into a forbidden adventure that would keep her warm for the rest of her life.

He would not marry her but he wondered if she would be thoroughly averse to him setting her up as his mistress until the wedding.

She looked like she would be eager to please him in bed and he had once delighted in teaching women tricks.

Her words reminded him of the young man he had been. When he had lived without a care in the world except the next woman he would bed.

And wasn't that what he had wanted?

To feel desired again.

To feel as unafraid as he had then, without the ghosts of the war or the memory it had left across his face.

He took a step back from her, turning away so he could school his features into an unreadable mask.

"Your grace, I assure you that I can be the partner you need." She went on, unaware of the struggle she had set off in him. "My sister is young and innocent in the ways of the world. She..."

"...is the one I have chosen, and I will thank you to remember that." He warned turning back to her.

His desire for her and the memories she had evoked in him had made him angry.

How dare she give him false promises of desire and flirtation again?

He knew the moment she saw the rest of the scars riddling his body them her resolve would come crumbling and he would be left hurt again.

"Why are you so adamant?" She hissed.

"I have already told you my reasons, Miss Victoria. Are you that hard of hearing that you would make me repeat them?"

She glared at him and stepped closer to him.

"You are wrong about her being the only woman who can help you achieve your goals."

"You are one stubborn woman."

"No. I am just a woman who would do everything she could to get what she wants." She answered. "I have coached my sister through a successful season. Taughtherwho to talk to, who to mingle with and who to avoid. She would not be the darling of thetonwithout me and she knows it."

"If you are that experienced, why aren't you married and situated in your own home yet?" He asked.

He knew the question stung from the way her resolve cracked momentarily but he was undeterred.

"What happens if you fail at helping me accomplish my goal?" He asked. "It is selfish of you to only consider it from your angle and foolish to only consider the possibility of success and not failure."

"What you call foolish, I call optimistic."

"Optimism will not bring back dead soldiers, Miss Victoria." He answered not liking the debate they had just begun. "Optimism will not restore my reputation or account for the scandal divorcing you will bring."

"Your grace I..."

"You only have two minutes to propose a better offer that can make me consider not telling your father about our conversation."

Her eyes dart around warily he could see the wheels turning in her head as she considered her other options of getting him to consider her.

"I see you’re unable to say anything." He said after a long minute. "I will take my leave then and I will keep this conversation between us secret, if only to save you your father’s disappointment. Goodbye Miss Victoria."

It was almost sad to see the panic in her eyes but he had at least given her a chance to make her case other than highlighting her sister’s shortcomings and she had failed. He was dubbed the Duke of Devil but that didn’t mean he was a beast.

He was almost outside the door when she called to him loudly. Her hand grabbing on to his arm was a surprise. As was the spark that shot up his arm.