Page 4 of To Ensnare a Duke

I whirl around and slide my hand around her throat, pinning her to the wall. Fear wafts off her and drifts in the air like dust motes twinkling in the setting sun. I breathe it in, dragging it deep into my lungs as if it is an elixir made to stave off my madness.

"I must, nothing," I grind out, tightening my grip until no air can pass back into her lungs. "You do not have a maid strong enough to entice me. And until you do, I will pass them by. You, of all people, should care about their well-being."

After a few moments, I release my grip, my cock lengthening as she gasps for air and runs her fingers over the delicate column. She will not bruise. I know my own strength well enough.

"Of course I do, Your Grace," she croaks out, her eyes flitting to the floor in a show of submission. "I care for these girls as if they were my own daughters."

"Ha." The bark of laughter erupts from my throat before I can hold it back. "Some mother. To throw your most delicate flowers in the path of trampling hooves."

"You're not a monster, Your Grace," she murmurs, squirming under the intensity of my gaze. "You may think your demons to be insurmountable, but I guarantee you, they are not."

Leaning forward, I run the tip of my nose around the shell of her ear, my hand flexing next to her head as I attempt to get my emotions under control. "You know nothing of me. You only know what I show you. I promise you will not like the man I hide from everyone, including you."

"But, Your Grace," she cries out, her eyes wide and her breathing haggard.

"But nothing." I turn, giving her my back, prepared to walk away. Glancing over my shoulder, I allow the mask to slip even further, showing her the monster who lurks beneath the surface. "Oh, and do not attempt to humiliate me again. I care not what your purpose was. Do it again, and I'll make sure you regret it."

I refuse to look at her as I leave, but I hear the pounding of her heart as keenly as I do my own. The madam plays a dangerous game, and in my world, she will never win. It's high time she learns the lesson when the stakes are not so dire.

CHAPTER 3

AUGUSTA

Boredom. It washes over me in a wave as I look out the window while enjoying my warmed chocolate. I sip it, allowing the flavor to explode onto my tongue. It's the only stimulation I have, so I might as well enjoy it.

With a long-suffering sigh, I set the cup down and look at my lady's maid, Lydia, watching as she tidies up the room. I'm sure she's never bored. There's far too much to do in this house to be bored.

Not that I wish to do menial labor, but the fluttering in my stomach demands I take action somehow. Frustration sizzles down my spine as I palm the cup, doing my utmost not to hurl it across the room just to find some relief. It wouldn't be fair to my friend and helper to have to clean it up, and it certainly wouldn't be fair to the cup to find itself smashed to bits.

Besides, I know that's not what I really want. Deep down, I wish nothing more than to crawl into my hiding space where the breeches lay and walk out and about into the world as a man. Only then do I seem to find freedom.

No one questions what I'm doing or where I'm going. No one finds it scandalous that I am without a chaperone. Freedom. Rolling my neck on my shoulders, I take another sip and set down my cup.

"I wish to ride." In truth, it is the next best thing, a way to ease the doldrums threatening to pull me under.

When Brother is not in attendance at our country estate, I can allow my hair to stream behind me as I tear through the earth on the finest steed. While in London, however, I am forced to ride the gentlest of mares as I trot through Hyde Park, my doddering aunt in tow. Not nearly as entertaining as I would like, but it would grant me some fresh air.

"Yes, Miss," she bows, her lips twitching up into a ghost of a smile. "However, I must remind you of your friends attending the luncheon later this afternoon. Beforehand, Lord Hardon, has requested your appearance at breakfast. I am supposed to prepare you for that. Perhaps tomorrow?"

A sullen sigh flits past my lips as I lean back into the chair. Of course there are plans and I already forgot them. Blast. If only the Season wasn't upon us, and I could just be back at home.

"They're not my friends. More like acquaintances my brother wishes I become closer with. Just because he became fast mates with his friends from the academy doesn't mean I have to indulge their kin."

"No, Miss," she says, keeping her tone agreeable. "But then, there's nothing saying you can't make good friends with them."

Rising, I wave my hands with a flourish, an unladylike snort coming from my nose. "Indeed. If the honorable Greyson Hunt wishes for me to make fast friends with them, then they can't be too scandalous. I suspect they will be nothing but perfectly reasonable and boring."

"Come now, Miss," she teases, helping me into my morning dress. "Not everyone can be as exciting as you."

With a wink, I fluff up my hair, smiling to myself as I prepare for the morning. Not even my lady's maid knows the half of it. If she did, she'd tell my brother in a hurry. That much I'm sure about. After being put over his desk for some unremembered infraction, I constantly make sure to never end up there again.

Once of that pain was more than enough. Now, I just know how to hide it better. But then, that makes what I do all the more exhilarating.

Perhaps tonight I shall indulge and don on trousers while everyone else is asleep. That will surely do my spirits right after dealing with the friends Greyson wants me to meet. Settling in the chair, I wait as patiently as I can while my maid does my hair.

It's so hard to sit still when everything in me wants to burst out and fly about the room. It's an affliction that comes all too often and is far too difficult to quell. Especially when Greyson is home. Though I give him no reason to outwardly worry, I fear he will keep his eyes on me until I'm wed.

Once I'm no longer his problem, I'll be free to do as I wish. And won't that be a glorious thing? Leaning forward, I take in my appearance in the mirror, frowning at the finery.