“I have entertained the idea.”
“I was so engrossed in my problem that I hadn’t examined that angle. They used me because I am a nobody. Plus, my family’s reputation…”
The Duke stepped away and went for the whiskey decanter. He seemed tense, and anger radiated off him in suffocating waves. There was a reason the thought of the Duke being the onetargeted never crossed her mind. Who would be foolish enough to go against him?
“Either way,” Prim said since the hour was getting late and the Duke was consuming alcohol at an alarming pace, “we need to work together to address this problem.”
“I totally agree.”
“Such a novel sentiment, I am sure. Is there a plan?”
“Be mine.”
Prim’s body seized all functions. All her cognitive functions were focused on analyzing what he said. Her jaw slacked, and she shook her head lightly in disbelief.
“Such anintoxicatingidea,” she said pointedly.
“Are you calling me drunk?”
“I am not calling you. You are apparently.”
“You did promise to insult me for the next half an hour,” the Duke chuckled.
“You are not in any state to discuss seriously on the matter.,” Prim said, and turned to leave.
“I am sober. And I am offering the only solution.”
“Your Grace, what are you offering, exactly?”
“Courtship. Fake, of course.”
Prim studied him, a dangerous endeavor, looking upon his face, but she needed to know if he was serious. Unfortunately, the Duke seemed to be totally sincere in his proposal. He set the glass aside and walked up to her, the same way a wolf carefully circles its prey.
“Come on, Miss P.J.,” he purred. “You must agree this is the optimal path.”
Prim tightened her jaw and inhaled. Being courted openly by the Duke would temporarily, at least, hush the gossip.
“It is the last thing that the culprits would expect of me,” the Duke said, his voice laden with contained anger. “We’ve established that they are arrogant. And arrogant, angry people make mistakes. Only you, me, and these people would know that this is fake.”
“So, they wouldn’t expect you to behave decently. They seem to know you intimately. Perhaps a scorned lover, though the list must be exhausting.”
“Two insults in the same breath. I am impressed.”
“Impressing you is my life’s goal,” she said, sarcasm dripping with every word.
His look turned cold. His mind seemed to focus.
“It’s my job to lure them out,” the Duke replied darkly. “So, do you agree?”
He was once more close to her. Prim hated the fact that he was this tall, dominating over her.
“Your reputation will be restored. Gentlemen will notice you. You will certainly get suitors. Envy works wonders on men.”
Prim felt dizzy from his suffocating presence, his look dangerous and inviting. It was as if he were asking her to play. And for a moment there, she was tempted to.
“All you need to do is play your part,” he said darkly.
Play her part.The Duke was ready to play a game and she was just a pawn. She would have to pretend being smitten by him, bask in his false attention, feel lucky and grateful that the Duke, awed by his regard.
