As her aunt retired, Lexie could feel her heart deflate slightly. Although she had promised the earl that she would attend him on the morrow, perhaps it would be for the best if she declined. She did not want to chance her aunt accepting a proposal on her behalf without any intention of following through with it.
Her steps were heavy as she made her way to her chambers, but when she fell asleep for the night, it was the duke’s face that carried her into dreamland.
Lyingin his bed that night, Dominic stared at the canopy above and willed himself to shut his eyes, but the blessed relief of sleep would not claim him. He kept seeing Miss Givenwald’s passion filled face and the way she’d moved toward him when they had kissed.
He ground his teeth together as his unruly cock started to twitch with renewed vigor. It had been that way all night. He hadn’t made it to his carriage to come home, having taken his hard member in hand in a dismal alley outside of the theatre like some lust driven lad who couldn’t control his urges.
He wanted to snort at the irony. He was supposed to be the experienced one, and yet, for someone who claimed they were untried, Miss Givenwald had a certain talent for making him breathless with desire. He chased after her like a hound after its master. He had never before allowed himself to lose such focus, and especially now, when danger was standing at his doorstep.
He kept waiting for the blackmail that would surely arrive from the thief who held the pages to his journal, as well as the proof about his own misdeeds masquerading as Avalon. Dominic realized now what a ruthless risk he’d taken as the leader of the Blue Boys, but at the time, he’d wanted to lash out at his sire, even though he’d long been cold in his grave. Finding some way to rebel against the loss of his brother and his mother’s abrupt withdrawal had sent him into a tailspin of which he couldn’t find a way to stop. He had thrived on the intrigue and danger until recently when he had started to realize that he could do more good by taking up the reins of the dukedom and trying to bring his mother back to life.
It scared him because in some ways Miss Givenwald had done the same to him. His heart had started to beat in his chest for more than just vengeance or predatory means. He actually wondered about what the future might hold walking the halls of his estate and sipping on coffee in his study.
A muffled noise somewhere in the house immediately sent Dominic sitting upright. Something told him he wasn’t just hearing things, so he quickly reached for the pistol he kept under his spare pillow on the bed and got to his feet. Although he normally slept naked, he had left his small clothes on hoping that they might calm his raging erection. Thankfully, this distraction seemed to work where the other idea had failed and he was primed and ready for a fight in spite of it.
Grabbing his dagger from his washstand, Dominic slowly opened his bedchamber door just wide enough to listen. It didn’t take long because it sounded as though a muffled conversationwas ensuing from downstairs. He couldn’t make out who the voices were, but he intended to find out.
Walking on steady but silent bare feet, Dominic was careful to avoid places that might make any sort of sound. While most of the townhouse was made of marble, he was cautious as he prepared to confront the intruder.
The faintest glow came from his study, and as Dominic drew closer, he knew this was the villain he’d been looking for. This wasn’t some random thievery at play. His eyes narrowed as he searched the darkness around the hall before he slowly slid his head around the corner to peer inside. He saw one shadow and it appeared to be searching his desk for something. Curious, as Dominic decided the cretin had already taken anything of value, he trained his pistol on the agitated shadow.
However, the moment he cocked the weapon, movement instantly ceased. But rather than fall to his knees and beg for mercy, the scoundrel actually spun around and cast a blade straight for Dominic, landing an almost perfectly precise throw just inches from his head.
The shadow darted for the open window, but Dominic was ready for him. He fired the gun and was satisfied by the grunt of pain that followed. He ran toward the curtains that were flowing in the cool autumn breeze, but when he glanced outside, the stranger had vanished.
Dominic uttered a curse as he glanced down at the sill. He lowered his hand and his fingers came back with blood, proof that the assailant hadn’t disappeared without a scratch.
A shuffle near the study door brought his pistol back around. Although the bullet had already been spent, staring down the muzzle of any weapon surely made one think twice.
The housemaid, Elizabeth, instantly gasped in alarm and held up her hands in supplication. “I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but I had found it difficult to sleep and then I heard the shot?—”
He glanced at her nightdress and wrapper, her long, darkunbound hair and childish face, and blew out a steady breath and lowered his gun. “That seems to be the trend this evening,” he muttered.
“Your Grace?” she asked, confusion in her voice.
Ignoring her query, he walked over to his desk to inspect the damage, but other than a few things scattered about haphazardly and a couple drawers disturbed, there didn’t seem to be any other damage done.
Dominic glanced at the window. Other than the blood staining the sill, of course, and his own anger that he hadn’t been prepared for a second attempt to rid him of his personal effects. After this latest threat, it was obvious he would have to hire some security until the threat was vanquished for good.
Scrubbing a hand down his face, he walked over and secured the window as best he could. He considered dragging the settee over to sit in front of it but discounted the notion. The thief likely wouldn’t make another appearance so soon. But just in case…
He addressed the housemaid. “Send for the watch and wake the servants. I shall apprise them of what has happened and offer further instructions.”
Her dark eyes were wide and she quickly nodded her head obediently. “Yes, Your Grace.” She hastily padded away while Dominic paced his study and waited for reinforcements to arrive. It was going to be a long morning, but undoubtedly a longer afternoon because he would have to pay a visit to Amos and discuss these latest developments. Whether he liked it or not, his focus was going to have to be fully on the thief and what he thought he still required in Dominic’s possession.
An image of Miss Givenwald floated through his mind, but he pushed it firmly aside. He’d learned long ago that duty came before passion.
Lexie sankdown in a chair in the parlor with a dejected sigh. She had managed to make it through the luncheon that Lord Lindley had escorted her to, smiling and chatting her way through the entire affair with the poise of a seasoned debutante. The earl, however, wore a perpetual frown on his face and looked as though he’d woken up on the wrong side of the bed that morning.
When curiosity got the better of her on the carriage ride home, she asked, “Is something wrong? You’ve seemed out of sorts all afternoon.”
His lips thinned tightly. “It was a stressful affair. I had to conduct business while entertaining.”
She accepted his explanation without hesitation. “I can certainly understand the hardship of trying to differentiate the two. My father often had meetings at the estate where I was to play the gracious hostess at his side while, at the same time, attempt to blend into the wallpaper.”
His brow deepened into a frown. “I hope that wasn’t the impression I gave.”
“Not at all.” She waved a hand and offered a genuine smile. “I was just replying that I understood the strain you must have been under.”
