His eyes narrowed as he mulled over her words.
Ha! Take that.
“All right.” His chest heaved again. “Why did you not simply ask me where I went?”
She crossed her arms. “Would you have told me?”
His gaze remained riveted on hers. The world seemed to continue on around them, people, horses, and carriages out on the street creating the usual sounds of London—not to mention her gray mare huffing a breath nearby.
“I . . . I don’t know. But had I been aware you would go to such lengths—”
“For all I knew, you were going to a mistress.”
His lips formed a tight line across his face. “I would never do such a thing.”
“What was I to suppose, then? That you simply wished for fresh air in the middle of the night?” She flung her hand out,attempting to accentuate her point, but instead, a searing pain shot through her fingers. Particularly, her thumb. “Ow.” She hissed, pulling her hand back.
“What is the matter? Did he hurt you?” He stepped forward, taking her hand in his bare ones. Robert slipped her glove off, cradling her hand in his as he inspected it. Tape was wrapped about his palms, lightly scratching her skin as he looked over her fingers.
“No. Well, not exactly. I punched him.”
His eyes shot up to hers. “You punched him?”
“Yes,” she said, nodding.
“Where?”
“In the face.”
“And then what happened?” He looked at her as he cradled her hand.
“He . . .”
“Yes?”
“He laughed.”
Robert’s chest expanded, and he bit his lip. Was he—washetrying not to laugh?
“Excuse me,” she defended. “What was I supposed to do when faced with a strange and forward man in an alley?”
“Just as you did.” He turned her hands over, running his thumbs along her palm. Her breath caught at the touch. “But clearly you could use some training.”
“Are you offering?” She had meant it sarcastically, but the duke’s mouth turned down as he nodded.
“I can do that. Especially if you plan to keep finding yourself in seedy neighborhoods.”
“No, I had certainly not planned on it. Unless you have more places you sneak off to?”
“No.” He sighed, gently letting go of her hand. “This is all. This is my secret.” He raked a hand through his hair, a slight mistof perspiration along his hairline. “You have found me out.” He paused when his eyes caught on her self-made ladder. “Did you do that?” He tipped his head behind her toward the stack of boxes.
She glanced over her shoulder for a brief moment. “I am a determined lady.”
A smile crept across his lips, but his eyes held a lingering sadness that she had seen before he left that afternoon. The sun was setting, creating a soft glow in the sky, and causing a chill to nip at her arms. Louisa rubbed her hands along the bare skin, wincing again at the pain in her hand.
Robert sighed, giving his head a quick shake. “Let us get you home. I don’t believe your hand is broken, but we had better have it checked.”
“You don’t wish to continue your . . ?” Her eyes involuntarily trailed over his arms. “Exercise?”
