Page 26 of Love, the Duke
The duke frowned thoughtfully. “I don’t expect that. I’ve known the man most of my life. He is not into collecting anything other than a full bottle of brandy and enough blunt for a game or two of cards every night.”
“Maybe Mr. Halaway needs money to keep his bottle full and money on the table.”
The duke stifled an amused grin. “I keep his allowance adequate. You need not worry about how plump his pockets are or anyone else in my family. They are all well cared for. I will question him thoroughly about the reason his name is in the book.”
The possibilities for an answer to what happened leaped into her mind. “Let me go with you when you query him.”
Laughter sparkled in his eyes as his gaze met hers. A flicker of emotion she couldn’t identify seemed to pass between them. It was good. She was certain he felt it too, for his gaze swept up and down her face slowly as if he was taking the feeling in and trying to ascertain what it was too.
“Have you gone daft?” he teased, after the moment between the two of them passed.
“Perhaps, but if I have, I don’t regret it. I want to go with you and hear what he has to say.”
“You can’t go with me to talk to him, and you know it. Besides, I’ll probably just send a message for him to come see me.”
“That will work for me too. I can meet you there,” she answered excitedly. “I could wear my gentleman’s clothing, and no one would ever be the wiser.”
“I will know. Besides, I thought I told you to get rid of those clothes.”
“I don’t think so. I don’t remember.” Ophelia wrinkled her nose.
“Well, if I didn’t, I should have.”
“I wouldn’t do that. I might need them again.”
He closed the registry book with a thud, and in a voice that was almost a whisper he said, “No matter it was acleverdisguise, if I hear of you wearing them again, I will personally come over, search this house until I find them, and burn them myself.”
She gasped with pleasure at his boldness to say such a thing. Ransack her house, burn clothing? If he was trying to scare her, he was taking the wrong approach. She was intoxicated by the soft-sounding passion she heard in his voice. What she did mattered to him.
Not wanting to back away from his nearness, she answered, “I knew dressing as a man would be quite objectionable to you, but destroying perfectly good clothing seems quite unnecessary. I appreciate you admitting it was a clever idea. I only wish you had come up with acleveridea to aid me.”
His gaze stayed tightly on hers and his face came so close she feared their noses might end up touching before he stopped his slow descent toward her. “Is that a challenge to out-clever you, Miss Stowe?”
She didn’t know how long he looked at her without moving, without blinking. She didn’t even know if she was breathing but heard herself say, “Please be so kind to accept it as one.”
He stroked his thumb across her cheek. “You lookgood enough to kiss,” he said. “And I think I’m going to do that for you.”
“What?” she whispered in a hushed voice. How could him saying such a thing enchant her? A hot dizziness spun in her head at the thought. It was ridiculous that she wanted him to do just that. She couldn’t understand why she was having such feelings for this man.
“Don’t worry,” he said huskily. “I promise you I’ll do it in a manner that protects your virtue.”
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Your Grace,” Maman said quietly, walking into the room with the grace and poise she’d always conveyed.
Ophelia and the duke peeled away from each other into separate directions.
Her mother stopped, curtseyed, and smiled. “Welcome to our home, Your Grace.”
The duke nodded, laying the registry book on the table beside him. “I heard you were at the ball last night, Mrs. Stowe. I’m sorry I didn’t get the opportunity to speak to you before you left. I wanted to see you and offer my sympathy.”
“Perhaps that was best. Conversations about such things are usually safest handled in a private setting such as this and with the minimum number of words spoken.”
The duke gave her a reassuring smile and nodded his understanding.
“It’s so kind of you to make the time to stop by and let us know.”
“It’s good to see you, Mrs. Stowe. I have fond memories of Winston and being in your home when I was a youth.”
“So do I, Drake. Oh, my. I just called you by your first name. I do remember my manners and know not to dothat. First names are all but forgotten once a gentleman becomes a duke.”
