“I am merely curious if there is at least one side of your life that you are fulfilled.”
His jaw ticked, not exactly irritated, but more calculating. He took the still-folded napkin in front of him and leaned.
“Allow me,” he said coldly, maintaining eye contact. “You missed a spot.”
He dabbed the corner of her mouth. Arabella heard the moment the shop held its breath for a moment before the wave of whispers erupted. The Duke glanced over her shoulder, and the whispers hushed. He leaned back in his chair, leaving the napkin on the table.
That conceited, insufferable…
“Speaking of rations,” Arabella regrouped, “what would be my monthly allowance?”
He stared at her as he sat comfortably, although the whole shop was watching his every move, his eyes unblinking.
“Are you negotiating, Miss Arabella?”
“I hear that is what one does in business transactions,” she smiled innocently.
“You will have enough.”
“Enough, according to you, I presume.”
His lips twitched to a slight upwards position that could have passed as a smile if it didn’t make him look so dangerous. Instead of an answer, he pushed the plate with the biscuits.
“You forgot these,” he said. “We wouldn’t want you to be… unsatisfied.”
* * *
Not long after, they exited Gunther’s after she deliberately stopped at each table for a short conversation for the fourth and final part of her plan. It was supposed to make him awkward and underline her extroverted personality that was sure not to his liking. Instead, he gave the people such a look that the small talk was cut short.
And now they were walking in Mayfair, Winnie in tow. The Duke insisted on escorting them back to her house, and Arabella couldn’t find a good reason to avoid his gallant gesture without offending him.
On the other hand, this was one of the ways to see the fruition of her well-laid plan. She was sure that by the time they reached the Lambourne Manor, he would have found a good way to tell her that he would be finding someone more suitable.
“Are you feeling well, Miss Arabella?” He asked suddenly.
“I am fine, thank you for your concern.”
“You made a rather disturbing face right now, so I had to make sure that the sugar that you consumed hasn’t impaired your cognitive functions.”
“My cognitive functions are in top-quality condition.”
“Are you sure that the raspberry hasn’t staged a rebellion?”
“Do not worry, I would be quick to squash it.”
“I would expect nothing less after you annihilated the whole of Gunter’s supply efficiently.”
Choke on water,Arabella thought to herself, and then turned to him in her most saccharine smile.
“May presume that His Grace was watching me?”
“It was rather hard to avoid you. You were sitting across from me,” he stated in that icy cold tone. “The spectacle was… fascinating.”
“Fascinating,” she repeated flatly. “How flattering.”
“It was not in my intentions to flatter,” he corrected. “I meant it was as fascinating as a carriage accident is fascinating. One cannot look away, even though one knows it will be dreadful.”
Arabella had to conjure all her acting powers and inner peace to keep from expressing her true opinion on the matter.
