“And what makes you think I have any wish in talking at such an hour?” The man’s voice was dangerously smooth, making the hairs on the back of Natalie’s neck stand on end as though he had touched her.“I confess, you are hardly the company I am used to keeping at such late hours. Though you are rather more entertaining than the last person who tried to break in.”
Anger and fear warred within her. Her heart was beating so loudly she was surprised the man could not hear it.Perhaps he can.
“I… I am not interested in being your plaything.” Natalie willed her voice not to shake.This was a mistake.“You are trying to scare me. But it will not work.”
The man’s soft laugh sent chills through her. “Is that so?”
She shuddered.
“You are a brave little thief, I will give you that. Like a sparrow, darting too close to a fox.” The man stretched, a vulpine grace in his movements. “But bravery will not save the bird. And it will certainly not save you.”
Chapter Two
“Perhaps Magpie would suit you better. After all, they do so love stealing shiny objects.” Adrian Stone, Duke of Blackwood, smirked at the woman in front of him.
He had been sitting in his armchair, in the corner of his dark study, when the woman had climbed through the window. Lost in his own ruminations, he had not bothered to relight a fire or a candle, when he had heard the scuffling at the wall.
Adrian had decided to grab a fire poker, and wait for the would-be intruder, intent on finding out why they were coming for him.
Yet to his surprise, a woman had pulled herself through the window. He had been so astonished, he had decided to watch her, after all, she had not noticed him.Always have the upper hand.
He had followed her as she slipped into the hall, his amusement growing at her obliviousness. Yet when she had spoken, he’d been unable to resist making his presence known.
Adrian turned away from her, making a dismissive gesture as he walked down the corridor. “Take whatever little trinkets you happen upon. I doubt I will miss them. And you will find nothing of importance lying around.”
To his surprise he heard her footsteps behind him. He refused to turn around or slow his step.
“I have already told you that I am no thief.” The woman swallowed, her hands twitching slightly.
“So you are perhaps a truly intrepid reporter. Why else would you follow me?” Adrian whirled around, knowing he would catch her off balance. “Do I seem like a man who takes kindly to intrusion?”
The woman was scared, that much was clear. But to his surprise—and amusement—she did not cower away from him. Her eyes did not even dart down the corridor, looking for some sort of escape.
Instead, she stood up straighter, her warm amber eyes meeting his as she said calmly, “I did not come here to steal anything. And I have no intent to harm you.”
Adrian canted his head towards the woman, taking in her height.She is no doubt the tallest woman in any room, I daresay taller than many men.“If you are not here to steal or to harm, then why have you entered my house in the dead of night?”
Despite her height, Adrian still towered over her. Unsurprising given that he was a head taller than even the tallest man in most rooms. He was used to using his height to his advantage, and from the way the woman seemed to make the conscious decision not to shrink away from him, he could tell the opposite was true for her.
Women make themselves smaller, and she is fighting her own instinct to do so.He was impressed, though he took care to hide it from his face, instead letting the corners of his lips quirk upwards as his eyes glinted.Keep them off balance.
“Why are you so desperate to follow me? Unless…” Adrian paused, deliberately moving closer as he murmured, “you are here for a rather more… salacious reason.”
The young woman’s cheeks flushed scarlet, but she did not break his gaze.Fighting spirit, how amusing.“I have no interest in being another one of your conquests.”
“Despite what the scandal sheets say about me, I am not so cavalier with a woman’s virtue. No matter how pretty she is.” He kept his eyes locked on hers, his lips stretching into a slow languid smile, watching the colour rise in her cheeks. “Perhaps you thought to steal my heart? Flattered as I am, you will find that an impossible task.”
“Because you do not have one?” The woman shot back, and then she shook her head.
Adrian saw the tightness in her jaw, the way her hands curled into fists.I am surprised there is not steam coming out of her ears.
“What does it matter to you?” Adrian said languidly. “You are not here to steal it.”
“Perhaps I did not make myself clear the first time, but I have no interest in stealing anything of yours.” The woman glowered at him.
“Of course you do not.” Adrian arched an eyebrow at her and gave her a patronising smile. “And I have no interest in being lied to.”
“I came to ask for your help.” The woman said, still scowling at him.
