Page 71 of The Duke's Vice

Beatrice looked on as he took a long pull from the glass, watching his throat swallow the amber liquid.

Her already ragged heart rate jumped. She took another breath to steady herself. She had surprised him yet he looked so calm and nonchalant.

How does he do that?

“We did not finish the list. You said you would help me accomplish all of my items. Disregarding the last item, which was removed from the list before you and I discussed our terms, you still owe me number five.” She straightened her back.

This was good for her. If she was to become a spinster she would need to know how to conduct business by herself. Hopefully, this was the last time she would be offering to do this kind of business, but still, she felt confident in her stance thus far.

She squared her shoulders as Graham picked up the book again to page through it. His long fingers plucked a small piece of paper from within the pages.

He used her list as a bookmark.

“Number five, you say?” His eyes wandered over the well-used paper. It used to feel jarring when she saw him hold a piece of her dreams within his hands. Now she wished she was that blasted piece of paper.

His eyes trailed from the paper up to her. Suspense hung in the air between them. She knew he was playing with her. Much like a cat would to a mouse.

Little mouse.

The pet name purred in her mind causing her eyes to flutter shut with the memory of deep kisses and rough hands.

“Cat got your tongue, mouse?”

His voice broke her reverie. She cleared her throat.

“Are you officially declining to see to your end of our deal, Your Grace?”

Graham considered her.

“And if I am?”

Beatrice forced herself to shrug even though a pit began to form in her belly.

“Then I guess I need to find another willing partner.” She looked to the window that faced the street. “Perhaps I can go back to Swarthmore’s. Those two young fellas who first congratulated us in the tavern were pleasant looking enough.”

Graham’s eyes narrowed. “You’re playing with fire, little mouse.” He growled.

Beatrice licked her suddenly dry lips. “You leave me no choice. I wrote to you, you didn’t respond, so I came here to see for myself.”

Graham remained sitting, his eyes focused on hers. She tried pulling her gaze away but she was lost to those dark green pools.

She shook her head to break the trance and cleared her throat.

“Nevertheless, you did not respond so I am here so we can officially dissolve our arrangement with no hard feelings.”

Beatrice pulled her hand behind her back and crossed her fingers. She said a silent prayer that he wouldn’t call her bluff.

Graham nodded his head as he slowly stood up.

Like a panther stalking his prey he walked ever so slowly towards her. Her heart rate picked up with every step he took. She found herself taking a step back as he neared her. There was a small voice that was getting louder telling her to run. That him not responding should have been enough for her to know he was done.

Still, she dug to find the rebellious woman who started her on this journey. She reminded herself of all the balls she had to attend, the itchy dresses, the gossip, the stares, the archaic way in which women were used for securing the blood line for men.

It was that last thought that had her straightening her back once more. She was not afraid of this man.

She looked up and met his eyes that were nearly black. All right, she was a little scared, but even that rebellious woman in her quivered when their eyes met.

“You were not supposed to come here, mouse.”