Page 51 of Winning Her Duke

It was one thing for these men to attempt to lure Gia from the ballroom to the gardens, but to go to the next step of calling on her? It was too much.

Lord Duncan was sitting entirely too close to Gia on the settee. Why was Lady Tomison allowing such a thing?

“Good day, Your Grace.” Lady Tomison noticed him by the door and offered a rather stiff welcome.

“Good day, ladies.” He moved to come closer, but it was no use, the seats in the room were all filled and no one seemed willing to budge. Not even for a duke.

He generally wasn’t one to use his title to intimidate others, but in this case he couldn’t resist. Not if it meant having Gia to himself.

“If you’ll excuse us gentlemen?” He didn’t try to disguise his brogue as he cast a look about the room that would not be tested. He was only grateful he was of the highest rank or he might not have been successful at clearing the room as effectively.

Fortunately, it only took a few minutes for them all to get to their feet, pay their final wishes to see Gia at a future event, and leave. When they were gone, he took a seat in front of her, fighting the desire to reach for her hands. To reassure her of something he couldn’t name. But whatever this unease was he felt coming from her, he wanted to vanquish it immediately.

“Are you well? You weren’t in the park this morning. I do believe Godspell was put out,” he said as Lady Tomison rolled her eyes in a most unladylike fashion before she rose and left the room. Leaving them alone.

It wasn’t uncommon. Since the first day he’d come to Tomison house, they’d been left alone often. The door always open enough to hint at propriety. He didn’t know whether to be grateful, or to be offended that he was not considered a threat to Gia’s reputation.

And didn’t that conflicting thought sum up his feelings for Gia perfectly?

“I am fine. I was just not up for a ride this morning,” she said.

“I see.” He sat straighter and looked her over. Had he inadvertently stumbled into some female situation?

She chuckled. “You look as if you are about to bolt for the door.”

He shook his head at his idiocy.

“I only just realized there could be a reason you are unhappy that is not quite illness.” What had he just said? He’d spent too much time with Gia if his thoughts were to start blurting out of him unfiltered.

She smiled and leaned closer to whisper.

“Do you wish to talk about a woman’s courses, Your Grace?”

“Good God, no.” He rubbed at his temples. “Unless you wish to—bloody hell.” He winced and shifted uncomfortably. Why was the room so blazing hot?

She was nearly to the point of falling from her chair and losing her breath she was laughing so hard.

“Ungrateful witch,” he said as he gave her a playful shove before he broke out laughing with her. “I was going to make an attempt to speak of it if you needed to, but forget it now.”

“I’m sorry. I do appreciate it. But it is unnecessary.”

He gave a curt nod. And they sat in silence for a moment.

“You’ve become quite popular,” he noted, looking toward the door her suitors had left through.

She dismissed his comment with a wave of her hand.

“They will lose interest soon enough when they don’t get what they want. I could save them all a bit of time if it wasn’t impertinent to do so.”

In a very Gia-like gesture she shrugged.

He looked away remembering his impertinent conversation with Lord Rhinehart the evening before.

“As you say, I’m sure they will find out the truth of things soon enough.”

“And what is the truth?” she asked.

“That you’re too good for all of them.”