Page 7 of Last Night with the Duke
“I do,” she answered honestly. She felt no fear whatsoever concerning this man. “I have no uncertainties that I could take care of myself should I feel you were stepping outside the lines of propriety and forgetting that you are a gentleman.”
The duke took his time and smiled slowly. A low, attractive chuckle passed his lips.
He was such a handsome and devilishly arrogant man. She couldn’t deny that she found everything about him pleasing, from his powerful good looks to the tone of his mellow voice. It was maddening that she was attracted to him—a peer—considering her dislike for them. And yes, she could ward off any advance from him, but first she would have to want to. That would take reminding herself that it was because of a titled gentleman that her mother’s life had changed so dramatically. Esmeralda had no desire to ever become a member of Polite Society again.
“I have no doubt of that either, Miss Swift. You are the one I want watching over my sisters.”
What nerve he had to continue up this path, she thought. Even for an arrogant duke!
“I appreciate that you are a duke and—”
“That I’m used to getting my way,” he interrupted, finishing her sentence for her.
“Yes.” Her voice was a mere whisper. “That’s exactly what I was going to say.”
“And it’s true.”
She observed him while she did her best to come up with an answer that would satisfy him. The way he was looking at her, the nearness of his body to hers, was playing havoc with her senses and she felt her resolve weakening.
But placating the duke was beyond her strength to accomplish at the moment, so she huffed aloud and said, “For the love of heaven, Your Grace. You are being obstinate.”
He blinked and looked as if he couldn’t believe she said that to him and, quite frankly, she couldn’t believe she had either.
He was a duke!
Covering for herself, and hoping to minimize the effect of her cutting words, she said, “You did give me permission earlier to speak my mind. I assume you meant always, right? Not just that one time?”
“Always,” he answered without hesitating. “I respect anyone who has the courage to speak their mind whether or not I agree with what they say. But you are the one being obstinate.”
He had an aura of authority that was fair and yet intimidating at the same time. She swallowed hard and answered, “I am being truthful.”
“If this is to be a battle of wills between us, Miss Swift, I must let you know that I don’t like to lose.”
Chapter 3
Do find a way to be reasonable. Everyone will appreciate you for it in the end.
MISSMAMIEFORTESCUE’SDO’SANDDON’TSFORCHAPERONES, GOVERNESSES, TUTORS,ANDNURSES
It had taken a long time, but Esmeralda had finally met her match. The duke was not a person she could easily win over to her way of thinking.
“I don’t know of anyone who likes losing.”
The duke nodded once. “But I usually don’t. Accepting defeat is not in my nature.”
“Obviously it’s not in mine either.”
“Good. I enjoy a worthy opponent.”
And therein was the problem. So did she.
In spite of her obvious need for money, and her very real attraction to him, she resented his demanding way of not taking no for an answer. Why did he continue to refuse to compromise with her and accept another woman for the post of chaperone?
Her shoulders lifted automatically as her resolve strengthened. She responded, “So to that end, I can only continue to state, I’m not available but I have employees who are.”
“Something tells me you are one good game player, Miss Swift. You hold your cards close to your chest and drive a hard bargain. I’m willing to double your usual price.”
Esmeralda gasped. He thought she was holding out for more money when that couldn’t be further from the truth. She would happily accept the standard fee if only she could.
