“Should not have done what?” He did not look or sound upset. If anything, and it might have been her imagination, she thought that he moved closer across the couch and toward her.
“Tried to…” She swallowed, and her tongue swelled in her mouth. “I did not mean… I am not even sure.” She laughed awkwardly.
He said nothing as he studied her with those eyes that reflected fire. She felt utterly exposed by them, naked and on display in ways that she never had before.
A part of her was afraid and embarrassed for what she had almost done, another part excited, and a further part wanted to reach out once again. What was more, from the way that he looked at her, she thought he was of the exact same mind.
What I would not give to know what he is thinking…
The silence between them built. The tension increased. Their eyes locked, and the distance between them vanished. She looked to his lips, back to his eyes, and he continued to stare.
“Your turn,” he said.
“M – me?” she stammered and leaned back. “What… do you mean?”
“I’ve told you my deepest and darkest secret. Let me hear yours.”
It was a fair question, and Yvette could not fault him for it. But Yvette felt exposed suddenly, weakened by the moment, not to mention the confusion that she felt concerning the Duke. Whyhad he not reacted to her reaching for him? Did he want her to touch him…
Yvette had her own secrets, of course, and they were just as dark as what the Duke had told her. But to reveal them… she did not want to open herself like that, lest he see her in ways that she wasn’t quite ready for.
She was starting to know him better, and she was just as terrified of him knowing her.
“I… I do not know if that is such a good idea,” she said and looked away.
“Tell me…” He shuffled closer. “If this is to work, we should know one another better. Yes? For Hugh.”
She licked her lips, and her pulse quickened. Again, she dared to look at him, and her heart stopped when she realized how close he was sitting. The night was quiet. The fire crackled and popped. It was just the two of them in this whole world, nothing else seemed to matter, and Yvette found that she wanted to tell him everything.
And not because of Hugh, although that is a good excuse. I want the Duke to know me… I want him to…
“I… I…” She stammered, so close to spilling her secrets. “I…” He edged even closer still and his hand started to reach out to reston her lap… “I… I should be going.” She stood up quickly. “It’s getting late. I… I have a big day tomorrow.”
“Is something the matter?” he asked her. “Did I –”
“No,” she said, almost shouted. “I… as I said, I need to be getting to sleep.”
He did not believe her, and that was obvious. What was more, he almost looked hurt by her dismissal. That gap that had been closing between them expanded suddenly, a gorge across which she could not traverse, and Yvette cursed herself for it.
“Yes, maybe that’s for the best.” He looked away and picked up his empty glass of whiskey. “Some things are better discussed without the aid of alcohol.”
She laughed awkwardly. She stood there for a moment longer. She waited for the Duke to say something else – anything to break the weighty silence! When he did not, back to looking into the fire, she turned and hurried from the room.
…
CHAPTER TWELVE
Alistair was sitting in his office and working when he heard it.
The sound was unmistakable, and it had him stopping what he was doing and perking his ears. He frowned and tilted his head as he listened closer, noting the sound of what could only be carriage wheels rattling down the driveway of his manor.
He wasn’t expecting any guests today, which only made the sudden appearance of this carriage more interesting. For that reason, he walked to the window where he might see who it was that had decided to pay him a visit.
What he saw brought him little clarification.
Where it was indeed a carriage that he had heard, he realized immediately that it wasn’t an unannounced guest who had come to see him. In fact, the carriage belonged to him, and it wasn’tarriving at his home but being brought from the side of the manor to be parked outside. Someone was leaving.
His stomach dropped in realization, because there was only one person in this house who would think to use one of his personal carriages without permission.
