“To what purpose?”
“I do not know, Your Grace. To what purpose indeed?”
To her annoyance, the Duke laughed. “I must admit, I do not think there is another woman in England quite like you. It is both alarming and… deeply intriguing.”
She prickled and tried her best not to let it show. With the way he looked at her, though, she had a feeling he could tell. “Forgive me, Your Grace. I did not mean to be either.”
“The latter, I fear, is unavoidable. I doubt anyone could meet you and not be intrigued.”
“Not for the reasons you imagine.”
“No, Elowen,” he said, his gaze unwavering. “Not for the reasonsyouimagine.”
Heat crept up her neck. The room seemed suddenly too small. They were surrounded by their families, yet the air between them felt uncomfortably intimate.
“What were you and my brother discussing?” she asked quickly.
“Are you certain you wish to know?”
“I would hardly have asked if I did not.”
“Very well. But you may regret the answer.”
“Allow me to be the judge of that.”
The Duke only tilted his head to the side as he regarded her. She couldn’t decide if she disliked the way he never took his eyes off her whenever they spoke, as if she were the only thing that mattered.
“I’m not sure if anyone has ever told you this, Your Grace,” she said, unable to keep the irritation from her voice. “But you are the most cryptic and dramatic gentleman I have ever met. It is a wonder you have ever been able to complete a conversation with anyone without them growing cross with you.”
His laugh burst forth before he could stop it—rich and unrestrained. Heads turned.
“You are quite blunt,” he said, still amused. “I knew that already, but it continues to surprise me.”
“I suppose you bring it out of me.”
“I do, don’t I?”
“You are quite frustrating.”
“You are easy to frustrate.”
“Clearly, that seems to be your chief aim when you speak with me.”
“Not the only aim.”
“Then what else?”
“I want to know the woman behind the mask.”
“Why?”
“Because you deserve it.”
She didn’t answer, their tit-for-tat coming to a swift, tense end. Everything inside her seemed to flare up at once, engulfing her until she could focus on nothing else but him and his words.
Because you deserve it? What does he mean by that?
“Elowen?”
