He surveyed her through narrowed eyes. “Let us get to the point. I see no need for subtleties.”
“I couldn’t agree more, your grace.”
“What will it take for you to disappear from Case’s life?”
She looked at him askance. “I do not intend to disappear from anywhere. What is it you have against me? You know nothing about me.” Oh he probably knew quite a bit, she corrected herself. He didn’t seem the kind of man that would be ignorant of much. A sick feeling clenched her stomach at the thought of having to encounter this man on a regular basis. No, she shouldn’t have to see him much even if he was Case’s brother. According to Case, his brother much preferred life in Yorkshire.
And why was she so disappointed over his blatant disapproval? When had she ever cared about an opinion other than Case’s?
“I know enough,” he said quietly, his eyes flitting over her gown.
“Do you really?” she asked, her voice deceptively soft. “Frankly, your grace, I don’t give a fig what you know, orthinkyou know, about me. How egotistical of you to assume I would.”
His arm tightened around her waist.
“Careful, your grace,” she said mockingly. “You wouldn’t want to give everyone the wrong impression.” She was pressed firmly against his chest, his arm gripping her tightly, and her face just inches from his. For a moment she was transported back to the park. She could smell the crisp scent of his riding coat and feel his warm breath on her lips as he dipped so close to her. And then just as he had done in the park, he backed hastily away, releasing her so quickly she nearly stumbled.
“Let me make myself perfectly clear, LadyPenroth. I don’t give a damn what you do or who you do it with, as long as it’s not with Case. I will not have you making a fool of him or my family name.”
Anger quickly removed the remnants of her fanciful thoughts. “Howverynoble of you,” she said with heavy sarcasm. “Now let me make myself perfectly clear. I will do as I please, and nothing you say or do will make the slightest difference. I know your kind,” she said distastefully. “You thrive on controlling others. Well, hear this. I will not be controlled by any man.”
“I did not come here tonight to argue with you,” he said tersely. “But if you persist in your course of action and in your relationship with Case, I will do everything in my power to make sure you won’t be able to show your face in society again.”
She laughed abrasively. “That threat might actually work on someone who gave a damn. Look around you, your grace. I am not exactly the darling of theton. You don’t intimidate me,” she said coldly. “My relationship with Case is none of your affair. Has it ever occurred to you that he is perfectly capable of making his own decisions and that they do not concern you?”
“Everythingto do with my family is my concern,” he said icily. “I will not stand idly by and let some trollop make a fool of my brother. Howdareyou appear in public as you do, flaunting your blatant disregard for propriety. You dishonor your late husband and the Penroth name.”
A brief moment of pain gripped her before her mounting rage took control. “You arrogant bastard! You know nothingabout me or my husband. You can go straight to hell. Case and I decide the terms of our friendship, no one else.”
As the music died, Jillian was astonished to find they were completely across the room from Case. The duke gripped her elbow and quickly ushered her out onto the veranda. The cool air was welcome to her flushed cheeks, but they warmed again considerably as her indignation erupted.
“Remove your hand from my arm at once,” she said imperiously. “I wish to return to the ballroom.”
“You will return in good time,” the duke said as they came to a stop several feet from the nearest entrance.
Jillian jerked her arm from his hand and distanced herself from him as much as possible. Her eyes darted quickly around, looking for a possible avenue of escape.
He closed the distance between them and stared down at her with fiery eyes. “Come now, Lady Penroth. Surely there is some mutually beneficial agreement we can come to. One that doesn’t involve your associating with my brother.”
“Are you offering to take his place, your grace?” She forced lightness into her voice and gulped when he moved even closer to her.
“Is that your game, my lady? Use Case to get to my title? Or is it my money you want? Let me tell you now. I am not interested in greedy, calculating women, no matter how beautiful they may be.”
Despite her fury, she smiled. “So you find me beautiful, your grace?” She stared mockingly at him. “What a surprise for you that I find you not in the least attractive. What could you possibly offer me that Case does not possess? Indeed, Case is a true gentleman, one I happen to like quite a lot. I want nothing from you, my dear duke. Nothing except for you to crawl back into the hole you reared your ugly head from.” God forgive her for that lie, for she found him too attractive by far, but hell would sprout icicles before she would ever admit it.
Justin stared at her incredulously. The chit was purposely baiting him. He had the strangest urge to throw back his head and laugh. His jaw worked back and forth as he vacillated between amusement and anger. Finally anger won out. “Somehow I wouldn’t expect a woman of your standing to act with decorum. I cannot countenance what my brother is thinking beyond his desire to bed you. Tell me, Lady Penroth, how long did you wait before making a cuckold of your husband?”
Her green eyes blazed as she drew herself up in indignation. Her chest heaved and he was mesmerized by the soft mounds of her breasts that strained and threatened to break free from the daring gown. “That is none of your affair,” she said coldly. “I will not be intimidated by you, your grace. You are wasting your time and mine. Now, I demand to be returned to the ballroom.”
He nearly chuckled as she glared at him with the full force of her fury. Her full pink lips were set in a fine line, and he wanted to taste them so badly he nearly dipped his head to do just that. It was just his luck to be attracted to such a despicable woman. Out of all the women in London he could choose from, he had to want the one who would likely jump in front of an oncoming carriage rather than give him more than a passing glance.
With regret he stepped to one side and swept his arm back towards the house. “By all means, Lady Penroth. Don’t let me keep you from your conquests. But remember something. If you hurt my brother, you will have me to answer to.”
She swept past him as if she couldn’t get out of his presence fast enough. He watched as she gathered the folds of her dress in her hands and stepped back into the ballroom. He lost sight of her as she was swallowed up into the crowd. Once again, disappointment edged his mood. He turned away from the windows and stared out into the night.
Jillian looked across the room as she re-entered the ballroom and saw Case looking in her direction. His face was alight with unasked questions, and she had no desire to endure an inquisition about her disappearance with the duke. She fled to the refreshment table and hastily downed a glass of wine.
She drew several steadying breaths and squared her shoulders. His grace could rot. She wasn’t going to let him intimidate her.
