Page 31 of Stolen By the Rakish Duke

“Well,” Adrian remarked after a moment of stunned silence, “I believe that answers your question rather eloquently, if not verbally.”

“Indeed,” Leo agreed grimly. “Come, we have an address to investigate.”

Chapter Ten

“You’re still awake,” Leo noted, removing his gloves with care.

The Stagmore townhouse blazed with light despite the lateness of the hour when his carriage finally delivered him to its imposing entrance. Dismissing his bemused butler’s offer of assistance, he made his way directly to his study, only to find it already occupied.

Beatrice sat before the fire, a leather-bound volume open in her lap, though her gaze was fixed on the dancing flames rather than the pages. She looked up at his entrance, her expression a curious mix of relief and apprehension.

“I found sleep… elusive,” she replied, closing the book and setting it aside. Leo wondered if she chose that word because she did not want to admit that she was waiting for him. “Did you discover anything of value?”

The question was posed with such direct simplicity that he found himself momentarily disarmed. The careful games of advance and retreat that characterized their usual interactions seemed suddenly inappropriate in the face of her evident concern.

“And what would you offer in exchange for such information, Duchess?” he asked, the teasing words emerging despite his earlier resolution to maintain a businesslike approach. “Information of such value surely deserves some form of… compensation.”

Her eyes narrowed, the flicker of disappointment in her expression sending an unexpected pang through his chest.

“Must you always twist our interactions into something improper? Can we not simply converse as reasonable adults with a common purpose?”

Leo studied her for a moment, noting the shadows beneath her eyes that suggested her sleeplessness was not a recent development.

“Where is the fun in that?” he countered, though the words lacked their usual edge. “Do you never seek amusement, Duchess? Do you find no pleasure in the small provocations that enliven tedious circumstances?”

“Not with rakes,” she replied promptly, though the corner of her mouth betrayed a reluctant twitch of amusement.

He moved closer, drawn by the motion.

“Oh, my dear,” he murmured, his voice dropping to the register that had proven effective in their previous encounters, “the most exquisite amusement is to be found with rakes. Or have you forgotten our…encounterin the library?”

The flush that rose to her cheeks was all the answer he needed, the memory of their kiss clearly as vivid in her mind as it remained in his own.

“You’re exceedingly pretty when you blush for me,” he observed, gratified by the deepening of her color at his words.

“Enough,” she huffed, rising from her chair with sudden determination. “Will you tell me what you discovered, or must I endure further provocation?”

Leo sighed, recognizing the futility of teasing her when her expression was set in such determined lines. “Very well. Miss Finley appears to have abandoned her position atthe Gilded Lionapproximately a fortnight ago and subsequently abandoned her lodgings three days after. The circumstances suggest she feared for her safety.”

“Her safety?” Beatrice echoed, her momentary irritation giving way to genuine concern. “From whom?”

“That remains unclear, though the mention of Lord Westbury’s name elicited a most illuminating reaction from a maid at theestablishment. It seems my cousin may have connections tothe Gilded Lionthat extend beyond casual patronage.”

“We must return to her lodgings,” Beatrice declared, her expression resolute. “Perhaps there’s a clue, an indication of where she might have gone.”

“There’s nothing there,” Leo said, shaking his head. “The landlord made that quite clear. Besides, I have no intention of involving you in what is clearly becoming a dangerous investigation.”

Her chin lifted in the now-familiar gesture of defiance that he found both irritating and oddly compelling. “I will not be relegated to ornamental status while you undertake all meaningful action, Your Grace. I am as invested in Philip’s whereabouts as you are, and potentially more knowledgeable about his relationship with Anna.”

“The establishments and areas we must search are no place for a duchess,” Leo insisted, stepping closer until merely inches separated them. “This is not a matter of convention or propriety, but of genuine concern for your safety.”

“My safety is my own concern,” she retorted, refusing to yield ground despite his proximity. “I am not some delicate hothouse flower to be sheltered from every uncomfortable breeze.”

Their faces were now close enough that he could detect the faint scent of lavender that clung to her hair, could observe the rapid pulse at the base of her throat. The proximity awakenedthe same awareness that had characterized their encounter in the library, a tension that hummed between them like a plucked string.

“This is not a request, Duchess,” he stated, his voice lowering to ensure she understood the finality of his decision. “You will remain here, where your safety is assured.”

For a moment, he thought she might continue to argue, her eyes flashing with indignation that transformed her from merely beautiful to utterly breathtaking.