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She choked on air, so outrageous was his suggestion.
The glint in his eyes said he funned her. “I would not tell a tattle that has the potential to ruin a life.”
“How excessively diverting. A gossip columnist with integrity. I am in admiration,” he said with chilling sarcasm.
She flushed. He tugged her scandalously close and turned her in to a spin. “I do not appreciate even the hint of my name in a tattle sheet. Why have you targeted me, Miss Cavanaugh?”
“Are you so uncaring of your misdeeds you had not thought it possible? Or are they so vast it is difficult for you to keep abreast of them?” She threw the accusation at him with a quick, disgusted narrowing of her eyes.
Curiosity flashed in his gaze. “Ah…this is revenge is it?”
“Yes,” she snapped, thoroughly vexed with his cavalier attitude. “I shall occupy myself with the revelation of the true nature of your character until I am satisfied society is fully aware of it as well!”
“And what is the truth, Miss Cavanaugh?”
She ignored the cool warning in his tone, searching his expression for any hint of remorse or guilt. There was none, only a watching ruthlessness, characterizing the duke a man she needed to be careful with, a warning she did not heed. “That you are a libertine! A seducer of innocents, and that the Duke of Saints is a carefully cultivated persona that is no more factual that I am actually a widow called Lady W!”
Icy civility settled on his face. “And whom have I supposedly seduced?”
She glanced away recalling her vow. “I cannot say, but I am certain you are guilty!”
“Ah…and to think I’d believe you were different from the typical gossip monger.”
A quizzically raised eyebrow brought blood rushing to her cheeks.
“If you dare repeat such a falsehood, I will sue you for slander.”
The soft menace in his voice shocked her speechless. “This is not mere gossip. You hurt someone close to me, someone, who trusted you, someone who has taken me into her confidence of your dastardly nature!”
Only icy coldness peered down at her, and in his eyes, she saw ruination she’d not thought possible. This man would not allow serious scandal to touch his name without her facing the consequences of his power and connections. Intimidation pressed in on her, and she regretted she had ever wanted to kiss this deplorable blackguard.
“You will scarcely deny that you are acquainted with Lady Miranda Cheswick,” she whispered fiercely, assessing every nuance of his expression.
Chapter 9
The duke stared at Pippa, arrested, his expression one of mild shock. “And what has she accused me of?” he demanded softly.
“I ought not to have said that. My wretched tongue!”
A cold, intimidating fire leaped into his eyes. “I ask you again, Miss Cavanaugh, what dastardly act am I meant to have done, to Lady Miranda, I presume?”
The disdainful slant of his lips inflamed Pippa’s ire. “Only what you have done, surely you should know it!”
“You have a remarkably false notion of my character.”
The waltz ended, and she was grateful, hardly knowing what to make of the man. The look of surprise in his eyes now seemed so genuine. But she knew her dear friend would not mistake the matter, would she? Pippa hated the doubt worming through her heart. She did trust Miranda, they were the best of friends. But why did the duke betray such surprise?
Only now, the eyes peering down at her were blank with icy civility. “You set out on a campaign of ruin without confirmation of this dastardly act. You are a silly, immature miss not worthy of my regard!”
Pippa flinched. She had felt suddenly breathless, and embarrassed, and perplexingly hurt.
The countess came up at that moment to tell Pippa that her mamma required her presence, preventing her from uttering the retort that rose to her lips. In silence, he escorted her toward her mother.
“This conversation is not over, Miss Cavanaugh. Nor is our game. I will see you at midnight.”
“I thought I was unworthy of your regard?” she snapped.
“It seems as if I am a damned fool, for I want nothing more than to meet you.”
