Page 18 of The Duke of Pain

Close to an hour later, he rose, dressed, and departed.

Chapter 5

Olivia did not get much sleep the night before.

He beat me.

Gideon’s words, laced with such stark misery, tore at her soul. After all these years, the duke was still affected by his past.

The situation was so similar to her anguish, an emotion she thought was long gone—empathy—had surfaced.

Olivia didn’t want to feel.

But she did.

After a quick breakfast, she retired to the office to tally the earnings from the previous night.

What to do with the sack of sovereigns? Gideon said not to share the money, but that did not sit well.

James entered at that moment, carrying two mugs of tea, their mid-morning ritual.

He sat opposite and took a sip of his steaming beverage. “How did we do?”

“Better than the night before. Word is getting around. I expect profits to rise accordingly.”

“Good. Now, I am dying to know. What of the duke? Did you birch him good and proper?” James gave her a wink.

“One strike. The duke will be returning tonight at the same time. After my appointment with Doctor Flehming.”

James gazed at her over the rim of his mug. “Will he, indeed? Isn’t this against your strict parameters of engagement?”

“He is paying extra for the privilege. He presented me with a sack of gold sovereigns. Thirty, to be exact.”

“How extravagant,” James murmured.

“He said to keep the transaction between us, but I want you to have your share and keep the remaining money in your safe.”

“I will have to have a stern word with His Grace about making clandestine deals with my staff and make that part of the agreement for any future customers,” James mused, looking annoyed.

“And I should not have taken the money. I am sorry, James. It will not happen again.”

“I trust you more than anyone, Olivia. And I’m glad you told me. I will take six sovereigns as my cut, and I will keep your coin safe with the rest of your savings. Now, the duke?”

“He wanted to give and take. For a strike, a sharing of long-buried fragments of our past, a touch, and a kiss,” Olivia said softly.

“I see. Actually, no, I don’t see. What a strange request from such a cold, ruthless man.”

“A request made to a cold, ruthless woman?” Olivia stated sardonically.

“Have a care, my dear. These kinds of arrangements can easily slip into a deeper connection, one you say you are not looking for. It can happen like that.” James snapped his fingers. “Especially between two damaged, lonely, and vulnerable people. And you both are, make no mistake.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t allow it to progress that far.”

But it had already. The duke affected a part of her that Olivia had thought long dead.

“Wait, how do you know that Gideon is damaged?” she asked.

James raised an eyebrow. “Gideon, is it?”