Page 61 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke

He chuckled deeply in his throat and she felt the sound reverberate through her.

"Is that so?" he asked.

"It is," she answered, lifting her chin.

"Why does it then appear I stopped you from donning a coat and running after my carriage?" he asked smugly. "You barely managed to keep your brother andsuitorfrom suspecting we are more familiar than we are."

Damn you,she thought.

He couldn't very well just leave well alone.

She hated the fact he used every mistake she made to tease her. He couldn't be chivalrous and ignore it like a gentleman would.

"I was only heading to ensure the doors were locked," she answered, feeling foolish as the words left her mouth.

He chuckled harder then, forgetting that they were to be as silent as possible so they were not discovered.

"I thought we promised ourselves honesty, Cecilia," he commented.

"I wasn't the first to break our agreement," she retorted, feeling like a chagrined child.

Her cheeks heated up in mortification.

"I have been honest with you from the beginning," he told her. "I can be honest now. You look positively ravishing. I had a hardtime keeping my eyes off you today. Your suitor was much the same and on that note I could not disagree with him."

Her skin warmed but she couldn't allow herself be distracted by him even if he was working hard to.

"That is not what I'm referring to, Your Grace," she scolded.

"What are you referring to then?" he asked. "Is it as interesting a discourse as what we are doing now?"

"Why did you send me home so abruptly that night?" she asked. "I thought we were finally becoming better acquainted. Did I do something wrong?"

The question had tossed and turned in her head yet she had been unable to understand why he had suddenly become so angry with her. He didn't even look at her as she left.

"I would not have us speak of it," he said sharply.

The temperature of the room turned as cold as his eyes had been when he was staring at Hector earlier.

"Why?" she asked. "I do not understand how you could just change so abruptly when we were having…"

"I already said we wouldn't be discussing this, Cecilia," he warned sharply and she drew back. "Do not bring it up again."

"If you won't, then you might as well leave," she told him.

"I cannot."

"Why ever not?" she asked, frustrated. "You do not want to talk and we certainly cannot stay here like this. Someone will most definitely find us soon."

"I am in no hurry to leave, Cecilia." His voice was smooth like sin as he leaned forward. "I know you do not want me to either, even if you suggest otherwise."

She frowned, hating how her body responded even when she was supposed to be angry with him for behaving like a cad.

"I am in no mood to handle your changing personalities today," she told him honestly. "After such a pleasant dinner, I want nothing more than to…"

His scoff had her pausing the word she had been about to say.

"Pleasant dinner indeed," he mused suddenly. "After such a dreadful affair, I see exactly why you made the list."