Joan swallowed hard. “Your Grace, this really isn’t a convenient time?—”
“Joan?” Victoria’s voice called from inside. “Who is it?”
No. No, no, no.
But it was too late. Victoria appeared behind Joan, still wearing her flour-dusted apron. Her eyes widened as she took in theDuke’s imposing figure, and she immediately dropped into a curtsy.
“Your Grace! What an unexpected pleasure.”
Joan closed her eyes briefly in defeat. There would be no hiding this now.
“Please, come in,” Victoria continued, her voice bright with barely suppressed glee. She shot Joan a look that promised merciless teasing later.
The Duke stepped inside, and Joan had no choice but to close the door behind him and lead him toward the parlor where Damian waited.
This is going to be a disaster, she thought.
Victoria practically skipped ahead of them, and Joan could see her sister was thoroughly enjoying the situation.
They entered the parlor to find Damian rising from his chair, his expression shifting from curiosity to wariness as he took in their visitor.
The Duke’s gaze swept the room and then settled on Joan. “You look beautiful today, Miss Sinclair.”
The words were simple, direct, and utterly inappropriate given the circumstances.
Damian’s face darkened. “That is an inappropriate thing to say to a lady, sir.”
The Duke turned his attention to Damian, his expression unrepentant. “Have you never complimented a lady, Lord Sinclair?”
“Not in front of her family,” Damian shot back.
“Then you’re a coward.”
Joan suppressed a groan.Of course he would say that. Because subtlety is entirely beyond him.
Victoria had settled onto the settee and was eating a cookie with evident enjoyment, watching the exchange like it was a theatrical performance.
Damian drew himself up to his full height. “I don’t know what manner of relationship you have with my sister, Your Grace, but I must insist that you not visit her again. It would be damaging to her reputation.”
“I disagree,” the Duke said calmly. “It’s an innocent visit.”
“Innocent?” Damian’s voice rose slightly. “Anyone seeing you enter this house might think otherwise. Your presence here could scare away potential suitors for my sister.”
The Duke’s expression shifted into something dangerous. He took a step closer to Damian, and Joan saw her brother’s hand clench into a fist.
“Why,” the Duke asked softly, “would you assume I’m not a suitor?”
Victoria gasped—a delighted sound—and her cookie paused halfway to her mouth.
Joan felt the blood drain from her face. “That’s enough!”
She glared at the Duke, who met her gaze with that same infuriating calm.
He cleared his throat. “Forgive me. I came to bring Miss Sinclair some medicine for her cold.” He reached into his coat and withdrew a small glass bottle. “A remedy that has proven quite effective.”
Joan took the bottle with trembling hands and immediately thrust it at Victoria, who accepted it with a grin that could have lit the entire room.
“Your Grace,” Joan said through gritted teeth, “let me see you out.”
