The Duke’s voice lingered most persistently—the tone he had used when speaking about Tempest. He was frustrated, yes, but not careless with him, and that unsettled her more than she cared to admit. He was supposed to be a cruel man who had stolen what was hers, but he did not seem that way at all.
By morning, she hoped that the matter would become clearer. It did not.
The sound of carriage wheels arriving at Rosemere disrupted the household shortly after breakfast, drawing servants to the windows and forcing Lady Carlisle into a state of visible irritation.
Anne had just entered the corridor when one of the footmen appeared at the top of the stairs.
“My Lady,” he said, slightly breathless. “The Duke of Ashford is here. He has requested an audience with you.”
“Why?”
“I do not know,” he replied. “Your mother was hoping that you might.”
Anne had an idea, of course, but she could not be certain. Ideally, the Duke was going to ask her if she would like Tempest returned to her, but she did not think that was possible.
When all was said and done, the Duke was still a man, and a stubborn one at that. If he had made a decision, she doubted he would be all too willing to change his mind, and he had wanted Tempest.
She closed her eyes briefly before descending.
The Duke was waiting in the drawing room as though he had every right to be there. He stood near the window with his gloves still on, relaxed in a way that suggested he was entirely at ease in his surroundings. When Anne entered, his gaze immediately shifted to her.
“Good morning,” he greeted.
“It is not,” Anne retorted.
A faint smile flickered across his expression.
“I assume you are here to ask me to assist you with Tempest again?”
“I am here to ask you properly,” he corrected.
“My answer is unchanged.”
He stepped away from the window. “Diamond nearly injured two stablehands this morning. He will do worse if left without direction.”
“His name isTempest,” Anne corrected. “And he is frightened.”
“He is dangerous.”
“He is without me for the first time in his life,” she said sharply. “How do you expect him to feel?”
Dorian studied her for a moment. “He could do severe damage, Lady Anne.”
“And you believe I am the solution to that.”
“I believe that he trusts you in a way he does not trust anyone else.”
“That is not my responsibility.”
“It is if you care about him, for you and I both know that there is only one fate for a dangerous animal.”
The words landed between them hard.
Anne’s eyes burned. She hated that he would make such a suggestion, especially since Tempest was not dangerous when under her control.
“I do care about him, but that does not mean I will be dragged to your house as though I am part of your staff.”
Something sharp passed across his face. “I did not ask you to become my servant,” he said quietly. “You would stay at Ashford Hall?—”
