Page 9 of The Duke of My Desire

Gregory took the seat across from her, a frown furrowing his brow as he thought again of last night, of Lovelace with his hands around her arms, holding her captive, refusing to let her go.

Ruddy brute. He ought to have given the blackguard a taste of his own medicine.

“Thank you, Your Grace.” Lady Dunne’s gaze met his across the table. “For giving me a place to stay last night. And for being so kind.”

Pleasure suffused his cheeks with heat, and he was relieved when his maid, Sally entered the room carrying a large tray, which she unloaded onto the table before leaving the room.

“Are you hungry?” he asked, as the room filled with the delicious scents of scrambled eggs, ham, toasted bread and hot tea.

As if on cue, her stomach growled, and she pressed a hand to her belly with a sheepish laugh. “Apparently I am.”

“So am I. Famished, in fact.”

He reached for a slice of buttered toast and she did the same, her hand colliding with his. Their fingers tangled and he froze, heat lancing through him at the brush of her skin, cool and remarkably soft.

He drew back, hoping she wouldn’t notice how the simple touch had affected him.

“After you,” he said, his voice gruff, and he took a drink of tea to wet his dry throat.

“Have you decided what you’ll do about your—about the viscount?” he asked a moment later as he spooned eggs onto his plate.

Lady Dunne was silent, her gaze on her work as she slathered her toast with marmalade. “I think it would be wise if I left London for a few days. Until all this…” She gave a little wave with her toast. “...has settled down a bit.”

She took a bite, the picture of calm, but Gregory would wager she was more concerned than she let on. She was leaving town, after all. He hated that she felt she had to hide away.

But he hated Lovelace even more for making her do it.

“Where will you go?” he asked.

“To Cheshire. I have a sister, Lizzie, who lives there with her family. She’s been asking me to pay a visit. Her husband is a trifle stuffy, so he won’t appreciate the surprise, but Lizzie will bring him ’round. She always does.”

“How will you get there? By coach?”

“Yes. If I’m able to leave today, I should be in Cheshire in three days’ time.”

The thought of her travelling with strangers in a cramped mail coach did not please him, especially if she planned to go alone.

He ate a bite of ham. He should stay out of it. She hadn’t asked him to help, and what she did was none of his business. Besides, he had his own affairs to attend to, including a meeting in—he glanced at the mantel clock—two hours.

He pursed his lips. It was none of his business.

He should keep out of it.

“Will you allow me to take you to Cheshire?”

The words popped out of his mouth almost as soon as the thought was fully formed, and despite all the reasons he shouldn’t get involved, it felt right to offer his assistance.

She blinked at him, her slice of toast hovering near her mouth, and in a matter of seconds, her eyes went from surprised to confused to suspicious. “Why would you do that?”

Gregory could hardly blame her for being distrusting. He was still a stranger to her, and the last man she’d had dealings with had mistreated her, frightened her. It was only natural she should question his motives.

“I’m concerned for your safety,” he admitted. “I’d feel better if I knew you had reached your sister’s house safe and sound.”

She eyed him in a way that suggested she wasn’t entirely convinced. People were rarely selfless, and most kindnesses came with conditions.

He had none, but she wasn’t to know that. If he wanted her to accept his offer, he would have to give her another reason, a personal one, one she could more easily believe.

“And,” he said slowly, as if reluctant to admit it, “I could use the excuse to get out of town for a while.”