“Did she?” he said coolly. “And why would she do that?”
Her heart contracted in relief that he immediately assumed Hubert was the guilty party.
“He deserved it,” she muttered fiercely.
Dev’s expression hardened as he glanced at her again, taking in her disheveled hair and rumpled clothing. The torn neck of her dress. Her skin heated in an embarrassed flush.
All his playful amusement vanished. “Did he hurt you, Liv?”
His voice was suddenly deadly calm and Olivia realized she was looking not at the careless, playboy Duke familiar to theTon, but at the ruthless soldier he’d been in the war. A man who’d seen and delivered death.
Uncle Hubert saw it too; he took a step back, but his eyes burned with accusation as he scowled at her. “She stabbed me in the leg with that letter opener!”
Dev’s lips thinned. “Then I can only assume you did something to deserve it.” He turned to her. “What did he do?”
Livvy swallowed. “He proposed. I declined, and . . . he refused to accept my decision.”
Dev raised one brow, whether in surprise or derision she couldn’t be sure, but he turned back to Hubert. “You heard the lady. She said no. You should leave.”
Hubert bristled. “I’ll do no such thing. I’m her father’s executor. I’ll be staying in this house until it’s sold. I’ve a meeting tomorrow with the auctioneers to inventory the contents.” He glanced over at Olivia and tried to look placating. “Come back into the house, girl, and stop being so foolish.”
Livvy shook her head.
Hubert forced a cajoling smile. “You can hardly walk back to London on foot, my dear. And the next stagecoach isn’t until tomorrow.” He addressed Devlin. “This is a private family matter, your Grace. You need not concern yourself.”
“Actually,” Dev countered smoothly, “I came to settle this.” He reached into the pocket of his jacket and withdrew a folded piece of paper. “Sir Arthur owed me six hundred pounds from a loan I made him last year. I have the agreement here.”
Hubert’s lip curled. “I’ll add you to the lengthy list of his creditors who require compensation, Your Grace, but I doubt you’ll see a penny of it.” He sounded bitterly gleeful.
“I’d already assumed as much.” Dev said.
“Then why are you here? You want first pick of the contents of the house? Is there a painting you’ve had your eye on?” Hubert shrugged. “Most pieces with any value have already been sold.”
Livvy’s cheeks heated with embarrassment. The truth was bad enough, but to have it laid bare in front of Devlin was another level of humiliation.
“And you’ll have to wait until they’ve been properly valued,” Hubert added spitefully.
A cool smile tugged at the corner of Dev’s mouth. “Oh. I already know what I want. And how much it’s worth.”
Livvy glanced up to find him looking directly at her, his dark eyes glinting with a strange intensity.
“What is it?” Hubert demanded.
“Her.” Devlin held her gaze. “I want her.”
Olivia’s mouth fell open in shock. There was a moment of stunned silence.
“You want . . . Olivia?” Hubert’s tone was both suspicious and calculating.
“Yes.” Dev said simply.
“As repayment for the debt?” Hubert clarified.
“Yes.”
Olivia finally recovered her voice. “Excuse me,Your Grace.” She infused the title with as much scorn as she could manage. “But you can’t buyme. I’m not part of the estate!”
“I’m not buying you,” Dev said coolly. “I’m taking you in lieu of payment for an unpaid loan. There’s a difference.”
