He mirrored her expression. “I have many talents, Miss Givenwald, although most I choose not to reveal.”
She was quite enjoying this flirtatious banter, and when the earl attempted to interject, she smoothly spoke over him.
“I suppose we should be?—”
“Whyever not, Your Grace? Are you afraid that they shall be rejected? I can’t imagine you having any such insecurities.”
He lifted a brow. “Everyone suffers from some form of doubt, Miss Givenwald.” His gaze boldly traveled up and down her frame, and she found that she was no longer feeling any sort of chill from the air. “Surely there is something that even you might fear?”
As his focus hesitated on her mouth, her lips parted in invitation. Her body went so far as to sway slightly toward him. “I cannot think of anything at present,” she returned breathlessly, finding that with him so near, she wasn’t coherent of thought.
“We have taken up enough of your time.”
Lexie had to hold out a hand to steady herself as the earl abruptly set the carriage into motion. She told herself not to look back at the duke, but she made the mistake of doing so, only to find that his intense stare continued to follow her.
CHAPTER 6
Since his intentions to settle down and do his duty to the duchy, Dominic had joined more society events than he had been comfortable attending. But riding through the park during the hour of the fashionable set was not something he had ever contemplated. However, since he was so deprived of Miss Givenwald’s company and eager to catch a mere glimpse of her blond head, he had dared to enter the realm of the forbidden. Although he carried a respectable title, his name was besmirched to the point that his article had received very little interest. Most of the matrons that had daughters of marriageable age wanted them to make a suitable match, one that wasn’t littered with scandal and speculation as they would have to suffer the same if such a union was made.
This should have made Dominic angry that most weren’t able to see beyond their prejudices to get to know the man behind the grand estates and wealth that he carried. Unfortunately, that was the only motivation for some and how he had been able to cancel most of the interest with a flick of his wrist.
But Miss Givenwald—she was different from all the rest. From the beginning, she had seemed drawn to him in spite of hisdark reputation. He had to wonder what she would think of his dealings in the East End but decided that even she might have her limits of tolerance when it came to a gang leader in London’s underworld.
As the earl’s carriage turned a bend and took the lady from his view, Dominic reluctantly turned his horse around and started to head for the exit. There would be no further opportunity for him to engage with the lady as her companion had made it quite clear that his attentions were not welcome.
Dominic’s jaw clenched in irritation. Surely Miss Givenwald wasn’t considering accepting the earl’s suit, as it would be a jest to allow someone like the seemingly straitlaced gentleman to pay her court. While he did not know the lady that well, it was obvious that she would tire of him soon enough. A man like Lindley could not keep a woman like Miss Givenwald satisfied for long, whereas Dominic would gladly accept the challenge.
Again, he reminded himself that until this nasty business with his journal had been resolved, he needed to keep his attention focused not on pursuing the delights of Miss Givenwald. Thus, he steered his horse toward his townhouse where he would secure his mount and change his attire, returning to the visage of Avalon.
As he made his way to the Crown & Sceptre, he headed for his office and paused the moment he entered. “Bloody hell,” he muttered beneath his breath as the entire space had been thoroughly ransacked. Books and papers were scattered all over the floor, his entire desk with open drawers and in a state of pure upheaval.
He scrubbed a hand down his face as a dry voice said behind him, “I just sent a messenger to fetch you.”
“Yes, well, as you can see, there is no longer a need for that,” Dominic returned evenly as he faced Amos. The eyepatch was secured over his left eye while the blue one on the right narrowed in displeasure.
“Don’t get angry at me when you are the one who has chosen to brush aside the need to correct this latest threat.”
“I haven’t brushed it aside,” Dominic snapped, and then just as quickly, he corrected himself with a scowl. “At least, not completely. I certainly don’t understand what the thief might be searching for now. They have already made off with the pages needed to secure the ease of conscience from the names written in that journal.”
Amos looked at him intently for a moment and then said, “Devon and I have a theory about that.” He reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved a letter that he passed to him. “This should offer some further insight into the matter.”
A shiver of apprehension traveled up Dominic’s spine, but it turned into rage when he read the few familiar scribbled words.
I recently discovered you in a compromising position with a member of the fairer sex. I wonder how much this individual might pay to keep this information away from the papers…
He clenched the missive in his fist. “Alert every Blue Boy that we have a blackmailer on our hands. This now extends further than me. He has threatened a lady.” Seeing red, Dominic nearly tossed the letter into the nearest fire, but then he refrained, reminding himself that it had served him well in the past not to destroy any sort of evidence that could be used to condemn anyone else. This man certainly wouldn’t receive any quarter from him.
Fortunately, while Dominic had employed secure tactics for himself, this cretin had still managed to gain enough content that it would cause undue suspicion regardless of his recent efforts to keep his name from being completely besmirched in the papers.
Amos inclined his head. “Consider it done, Avalon.”
Whenever his pseudonym had been called before, Dominic relished it, had enjoyed the sense of power and mystique that it had brought with it. Now, he only felt dread and the feeling that he stood to lose everything he might hope to gain.
Including Miss Givenwald. He had never allowed any woman to worm her way under his skin the way she had managed to do in such a short time. He didn’t know when they had gone from casual acquaintances to the verge of lovers, but he vowed to protect her name at all costs. Her reputation would not suffer because of his failure to secure it.
But in order to do that, he realized that he could not succeed without her assistance. She would have to be told of the threat and thus, Dominic might be forced to combine his two worlds for the first time. Could he trust her with such a monumental secret?
It appeared he didn’t have much choice.
