“You sound as though you are accusing me of wanting that.”
“Of course not. I only wish to tell you how I feel about all of this, so that we may come to an agreement.”
“Do not lecture me about agreements,” he sneered suddenly. “I do not forget easily, Lady Adelaide, and you and I both know what you owe me. If it is peace that you want, you have to fulfil my requests too.”
Bristling, Adelaide decided that the kind looks she was receiving were not worth the discomfort he brought her. She was not so oblivious as not to know why he had told her that he was unwed, but she wanted no part in it. She wanted to put the past behind her and move on.
“Good day, Mr. Hargrave,” she said quickly. “I ought to return to my mother.”
She quickened her pace, only for him to match it, following her. She turned into a quiet lane, only for him to give chase. So she began to run. Still, he caught up to her, seizing her wrist roughly as he had done a year prior. She winced at his touch, not daring to look up into his face.
Mere seconds passed, before his grip loosened and he staggered back from her.
“What are you doing?” a low voice demanded.
“Pardon me, Your Grace, but this is a private matter!”
Your Grace?
Adelaide lifted her head, only to find the same gentleman she had seen the day before. He was even more handsome than she remembered, and he was holding Mr. Hargrave back with very little effort.
So he’s a duke?
“I did not ask you whether or not you wished to be seen. I asked you what you were doing to her.”
The man cast a glance at her, when recognition dawned on her.
Of course…
Standing before her was Cassian Blackmoor, the Duke of Ashford. Though he was more known as the Dragon Duke. A terrifying man, he did as he pleased. Adelaide did not know who to fear more.
Mr. Hargrave did not respond, and she decided that was for the best. He had no excuse for what he had done, so if he did not want to anger the Duke further, it was best that he said nothing at all.
“Coward,” the Duke sneered, a lethal glint in his eyes. “If you ever touch her again, I will consider it an affront to the Ashford name. See to it that you remain far away from her.”
He released Mr. Hargrave, who immediately took off running, not daring to risk a backward glance.
Adelaide let out a breath she had not realized she had been holding. No one had ever stood up for her like that, and though she was quite afraid of the Duke, she was grateful to him.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said in a quiet voice.
“You need not thank me. I saw him chasing you, and I will not allow that to happen to a lady. Do you know him?”
“You might say that. We used to…” she trailed off.
If he had not already heard the rumors, she preferred for it to remain that way.
He took a step toward her, towering over her in a way that did not scare her, but that made her weak at the knees. He was the sort of man she had imagined for herself, and though she was not foolish enough to think that she would be so fortunate, she started dreaming for the first time in years.
“You do not deserve to be treated that way,” he said firmly. “Should he trouble you again, tell me, and I will have it taken care of. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Your Grace. And thank you, again.”
“Do not thank me. I only did what any respectable gentleman would have done.”
But there was nothing respectable about the way he was looking at her lips.
Despite everything, Adelaide dared to believe that he wanted to kiss her in plain daylight. He was rogueish and frightening, but she was drawn to him, and she had to admit that he was not as menacing as she had initially thought.
