Page 92 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke
“I always have.”
“So I have noticed.”
She smiled. “My governess frequently complained.”
“I imagine she had reason.”
“She claimed I asked too many questions.”
“I suspect she was correct.”
“I was curious.”
“Were?”
She laughed. “Am.”
“I thought as much.” He reached for her wrist. “This time, try to move before I do.”
She frowned in concentration. The instant his fingers tightened, she twisted instinctively. He released her. A flicker of approval crossed his face.
“Good.” He almost smiled. Again.
She was beginning to suspect Hector smiled far more often than society believed. Only rarely in public. Almost never fully. But here…
There was warmth beneath the reserve. Hidden carefully from the rest of the world.
After another series of movements, Jane wiped a stray curl away from her temple. “Who taught you all of this, Your Grace?”
Something changed in his expression. “My father.”
She waited. He resumed demonstrating another movement before continuing.
“He believed every gentleman should know how to defend himself.”
“You were young?” Jane asked.
“Eight.”
Jane blinked. “That seems terribly early.”
“It was.” Hector’s voice was tight.
She looked at him expectantly. For several moments, he remained silent.How much did he want to reveal?The truth was she could tell that he did not want to reveal much at all.
Then he spoke almost absently. “Evan disliked lessons.”
She smiled. “I cannot imagine why.”
“He believed rules existed merely to inconvenience him,” Hector said with a choked laugh.
Jane shifted so that she was closer to him. “That sounds rather charming.”
“It wasexhausting.”
She laughed. “So you taught him?”
“He refused instructors,” Hector said. His voice was quiet, but there was a warm sincerity when he spoke of his brother.
