She winced at the sight of blood. And she tried to pull her hand back on instinct, but he held on tight. His brow was furrowed as he studied the wound, and he expertly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and began to dab softly around the wound.
He said nothing as he worked, fixed on what he was doing. And Margot, thinking that pain was what she would feel, felt nothing but a warmth spreading from where the duke held her hand and rushing up her arm and across her body. Tingles too, prickling across her skin, stabbing at her heart so that her body began to shake.
“I… I am sorry,” she said to break the silence.
“You did nothing wrong.” Tenderly, he wrapped the finger with his handkerchief. “Although you might owe me a new handkerchief. Kidding,” he then said with a smile.
Her smile was awkward, unable to concentrate because the duke still held her hand, wrapping it in both of his, pressing the handkerchief into the wound with such care that she could not feel the cut at all. All she could feel was the racing of her heart and the pressure forming on her chest, which was suffocating.
“You’re lucky,” he said, still holding her hand, looking into her eyes now. “The wound was not deep.”
“But there was so much blood.”
He laughed softly. ‘Keep this wrapped around it, and I doubt it will require any stitches.”
“Tha – thank you,” she stammered, unable to look at him. She felt her cheeks flush and was mortified by what the duke might see in them.
“No need to thank me,” he said. “Although I do feel somewhat bad for you.”
“W – why?”
“The vase,” he said with a joking smile. “It might be a bit difficult to use it now that it’s smashed into a dozen pieces.”
She snorted with laughter, feeling the pressure leave her chest and the tension melt between them. A good thing too, because in that moment, Margot had felt something pass between her and the duke that went beyond their usual antipathy and bickering and transcended the heights of mere attraction. As strange as it was to think…it felt just then as if he cared for me.
Margot was quick to rush from the room after that, citing the need to wash her finger and change for supper, needing to put some distance between herself and the duke before she did or said something she would regret.
Minutes later, she found herself in her room, standing before the mirror, staring at herself as if she was trying to scold her reflection for the way she had acted. Her heart still raced. Herbreathing was still heavy. And whenever she thought of the duke’s touch, it sent a tingle through her limbs and down her body.
As to what that might mean? Margot tried to convince herself she did not know and did not want to know. Deep down, however, there was certainly a part of her that was excited to find out. Perhaps a little too excited to be perfectly honest.
Eleven
“Well, this is a surprise,” Cassian chortled as Sebastian strode into the empty tavern. “It looks as if I owe everyone a drink.”
“It would be coin if you weren’t too scared to make a real wager,” Ronan scoffed. “You’re like an old lady without its teeth. All bark, no bite.”
“The way you drink, Ronan? It might have been cheaper to offer up a coin over a drink.”
Ronan chuckled with mirth as he took a long mouthful from his tankard, draining it dry and then pushing the empty vessel across the table at Cassian. “Time to make good on the offer, I think.”
Cassian rolled his eyes. “Ravencourt, are you getting in on this also? Might as well, while I’m at it.”
Alaric did the same as Ronan, finishing his drink and pushing across the empty tankard to signal that he was ready for another. This saw Cassian indicate toward the bartender, holding up four fingers and pointing at the tankards before him.
“What are you three prattling about now?” Sebastian said as he took his seat at the table, the last to join the group of four. “And do I even want to know?”
“Just a little wager we made,” Cassian said with a wicked grin that was mocking. “Whether our happily married friend here would be able to drag himself away from a life of wedded bliss to join us. And no, we are not referring to Alaric.”
Sebastian looked at Cassian flatly. “Oh, very funny of you. Well done.”
“If it makes you feel any better, Ronan and I both bet against Cassian,” Alaric said with laughter. “Although it was a close thing.”
“It doesn’t,” Sebastian snapped. “And I would prefer it if my personal life were not the center of discussion, nor used for illicit gambling practices, so the three of you might be able to fill in the dullness of your lives.”
“Someone is touchy.” Cassian leaned back as if to get away from Sebastian. “What’s the matter? The wife kick you out of bed this morning?”
“More like she didn’t let him in in the first place,” Ronan added.
