Page 7

“And what do you say I am?” he asked, his eyes glinting with humor.

The sound of his voice, low and commanding, sent a slight shiver down her spine and stirred warmth low in her belly.

She found herself answering without thinking. “I do not know you well enough to have an opinion.”

A smile tugged at his lips before he could suppress it, and her eyes widened at the way it transformed his face. He cleared his throat, fixing a blank mask on his face.

“May I have my letter?” she asked, feeling bold.

“It was addressed to me, no?” he pointed out, raising a perfect eyebrow.

“It was a means to escape an engagement I did not want. It is not important,” she insisted, reaching for the letter.

He lifted it out of her reach and eyed it warily. “It seemsveryimportant, since you were brave enough to venture into the Beast’s lair to get it back.”

“I do not call you a beast,” she told him. “I would never.”

He watched her, and she wondered what he could be thinking.

“I will hold on to the letter,” he declared as he folded the letter with a snap of his fingers, drawing her eyes to his big, capable hands. Even the movement of his hands was mesmerizing.

“But…” she trailed off, before clearing her throat to regain her composure.

“It was addressed to me, was it not?” he interjected.

“Only as a jest.”

“I understand that.” He nodded once. “But it is my property now.”

Her lips formed an angry pout. “That is not very fair.”

“I am sorry.”

She sighed, knowing she would get nowhere with him. He was as stubborn as all men tended to be, and it was getting too late for her to continue to trade words with him.

“Do not let anyone see that letter,” she warned, even though she could hear the plea in her voice.

“I do not intend to.”

“How do I know I can trust you?” she asked.

She found herself trying to prolong the meeting because she had yet to come to terms with the man standing before her. There was something in his eyes that resonated deeply with what she had struggled to hide from her family, yet it almost seemed too good to be true. That one could understand her burden amazed her.

“You do not,” he answered, turning away from her. “Tobias will show you out.”

She took his dismissal in stride and let herself be led out of the house, wondering if perhaps she had imagined the whole encounter. He had communicated with her more than he had any other person, according to the rumours, and that was enough to temporarily sate her curiosity.

“Will we be seeing you again, Miss?” the butler asked.

“If your master permits it,” she answered, stepping into the cold.

She itched to know the Duke’s story and what had given him those scars. She had many questions, but she would bide her time.

She would definitely be seeing him again—she promised herself that. Just to make sure he wasn’t some figment her imagination had conjured to tease her… even though she knew there wasnothing in her imagination that could have prepared for his beauty.

“Are you all right?” Diana asked as soon as she stepped into the carriage. “You were gone for a long time.”

“I… I think so,” Louisa answered. “Let us leave before the storm is upon us.”