Page 44 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke
The duke leaned slightly toward her. “Stay by me,” he murmured.
Jane frowned. “I wasn’t planning on going anywhere else.”
He placed a hand at her waist and guided her forward anyway. The contact sent a jolt through her that was so sharp, she nearly forgot what she was about to say.
“What are you doing?” she hissed under her breath.
“Blending in,” he said calmly.
Her cheeks warmed, though she refused to acknowledge why. They were led to a table. Cards were dealt. Chips pushed forward. Eyes flicked toward Jane immediately, too interested, too lingering.
One man smiled at her as if she were part of the wager. The duke did not look at him.
“Again,” he said flatly.
The man chuckled.
The duke leaned forward slightly. “If you look at her like that again, you will lose more than your stake.”
The tone was quiet. The effect was not. The men stiffened. Even the dealer paused, unimpressed but aware. This was not unusual here. Jane swallowed.
The game began. The duke played like someone who already knew the outcome. Jane watched more than she played, though she tried to embody an air of confidence.
He won. Cleanly.
The table shifted. The men muttered. Someone cursed. The duke collected his winnings without celebration.
Jane leaned slightly closer. “That was fast.”
“I do not like to waste time,” he said.
Something in his tone made her look at him longer than necessary. Then he stood. “We’re done here.”
Jane frowned. “Already?”
He gave her a look she couldn’t quite read. “We are waiting.”
“For what?”
He did not answer. Instead, he reached out, lightly tapping the dealer’s arm as they passed—a gesture so casual she almost missed it. Then they left.
Outside, Jane turned sharply. “What was that?”
The duke didn’t stop walking. “A message.”
“You bribed him,” she said immediately.
“Yes.”
“And now we wait.”
“No,” he corrected. “Now we confirm.”
He stopped at a narrow alley between two buildings. “Here.”
Jane frowned. “Why here?”
He glanced at her. “Because if I am correct, he will come.”
