Page 88 of Stolen and Seduced By the Duke

"It is information I have been forced to rediscover every day."

Pierce stepped closer, and Margaret refused to move back. "You are becoming very bold again."

"I never stopped being bold."

"That may be your greatest fault."

"And your greatest fault," she countered, lifting her chin, "is believing every thought that enters your head ought to become a household rule."

For a moment, he simply stared at her. The silence between them seemed to tighten, and Margaret became painfully aware of how near he stood. She could smell him, something clean and warm beneath the faint trace of his manly scent. She hated that she noticed such things. She hated even more that some part of her remembered how his hands felt against her skin.

"I make rules because someone must," he said quietly.

"And I break them because someone must," she replied.

His eyes darkened with amusement. "You admit it, then?"

"I am merely balancing the household."

"You are a menace."

"You married me," she said.

"I am beginning to suspect that was an error in judgement."

Margaret's heart gave an inexplicable little leap. She covered it with a smile. "At last, something upon which we agree."

He moved another step closer. "Do not tempt me to reconsider."

"Maybe you should reconsider everything. It might improve your temperament."

"My temperament is perfectly acceptable."

"To a prison warden," she said.

Pierce gave a low laugh, but it disappeared almost immediately as his gaze dropped to her mouth. Margaret's breath caught. The air seemed suddenly warmer, and for one foolish moment neither of them moved. She could almost remember the feeling of his lips against hers, and the memory made her pulse race.

Then Pierce leaned slightly towards her. Margaret's courage faltered. His eyes remained fixed upon hers. She could have stepped away.

Instead, she remained perfectly still.

Their faces were only inches apart when a distant clock chimed in the corridor, breaking the spell.

Margaret immediately turned her head, pretending to examine the books. "You were saying something about nonsense?"

Pierce's jaw tightened. "You are insufferable."

"And you are avoiding the question."

"I am trying to prevent myself from doing something equally foolish," he said.

Margaret looked back at him. "Such as?"

His gaze met hers again. "Kissing you."

Her heart pounded so violently she was certain he could hear it. She swallowed and forced herself to sound composed. "That would certainly be foolish."

"Then why," he murmured, "are you still standing there?"