The man was dressed in a dark suit, his hair as black as night, his eyes clear blue and as cold as ice in the stare they fixed on Mr. Ramsay. Tall and imposing, broad-shouldered and thick-bodied, power emanated from him such that even the light from the lantern seemed to wither in the face of it. Handsome too, with a perfect jawline, a straight nose, full lips, all symmetrical and damn hypnotizing.
Under normal circumstances, Helena might have found her heart fluttering. In this instance, however, she could do little more than gape as her stomach dropped and the room spun.
“Your Grace!” Mr. Ramsay let go of her arm and stepped away from her. “This isn’t what it looks like.”
“And what does it look like exactly?” the Duke asked, taking another step closer.
“Lady Helena and I. We were just… She and I… It is just?—”
“You were just leaving,” the Duke spoke over him. Another step forward, towering above the publisher like a tidal wave threatening to drown a small village. “Unless you care to explainwhy you were manhandling Lady Helena. Unless you care to be manhandled in a similar fashion by me.” He bared his teeth. “I assure you, it is not something you would enjoy.”
Mr. Ramsay cried out in fright. He opened his mouth to argue, thought better of it, and then ducked his head and scurried around the Duke’s indomitable frame.
As he went, Helena caught his eye. He sneered at her with pure wickedness, the sense that he was not quite ready to forget what had happened here.
She was left alone with her savior—although that title felt somewhat hopeful. A better title was His Grace, the Duke of Hawthorne, a man whom Helena knew a little about, but nowhere near enough to gauge what might happen next.
He stood in silence as he looked down at her. On his lips was a crooked smile, a glint in his eyes as if something amused him. Curiosity, perhaps. Wondering why she was alone with a man like Mr. Ramsay, and how she had allowed such a thing to transpire.
Her mind raced. Eyes flicking every which way for an exit, he continued to stare at her, and she felt the pull of his power and command because he was a man who was used to getting what he wanted.
“So,” he finally spoke in a deep voice. Shefeltit in her chest. “Tell me, Lady Helena. What on earth have I stumbled upon?”
CHAPTER 3
“Nothing!” Helena exclaimed. “I mean…” Her eyes widened as she racked her brain for an explanation. “Thank you.”
The Duke tilted his head, smirking as he looked at her. “Thank you for…”
She blinked and leaned back. “Ah, for saving me.”
“Saving you from what exactly?”
“From Mr. Ramsay,” she said slowly, the sense that she was about to walk into another trap. “It was nothing—a misunderstanding. In fact, had you not come along, I am sure I would have been fine.”
“So, no need to thank me then.” He continued to smirk. “I am glad we got that sorted out.”
He continued to look at her, the smirk on his lips reaching his blue eyes. He stood still, exuding confidence, seeming to enjoy the way she was squirming. How uncomfortable he was making her.
Helena did a quick assessment of the situation. As said, she knew little about the Duke, but she knew enough to understand that the farther away she was from him, the better. He was not known to be wicked or malevolent, but a political animal who was as charming as he was dangerous.
Best that I put this sordid situation behind me and hope he does the same.
“If there is nothing else…” She bowed her head and went to step around him.
“What were you doing here exactly?” He stepped across to block her path. “I admit, when I heard your voices drifting from down the hallway, I had no idea what I might stumble upon. The truth is, I am still not so sure what I witnessed.”
“Nothing,” she said, her eyes darting past him for an escape. “And it is none of your business.”
“Is that right?”
“It is.” She furrowed her brow and glared at him, pushing down the nerves that threatened to wreck her, needing him to grow bored or dismissive or simply decide she was not worth theworry. “And I ask that you… that you forget what you saw here tonight.”
I certainly plan on it.
“I would, if I knew what it was that I was forgetting.”
“As I said, it is nothing to concern yourself with. Now, please…” Again, she tried to step around him.
