“I had men watching you for your safety. When last Friday morning you left with a trunk, one of them followed you here. There was much discussion among them whether to tell me that. They assumed you had left for a few days to meet another man. It was not information they expected me to welcome. However, when I asked, the truth came forth.”
“You had no right to have me followed.”
“I did it so you did not walk to Lady Farnsworth’s unprotected. Little did I know, that was the least of the dangers you courted. At least you did not lie about that.”
She ate while she weighed what he might know and not know. “I lied very little to you.”
“To me, perhaps. I suppose that omitting information is not lying. Lady Farnsworth, however, believes you left due to your mother. That red-haired girl thinks you found another situation.”
Those were not lies either, strictly speaking. Pointing that out would hardly help her. “I am sorry about that. There was no choice.”
He looked around her chamber. “No choice but this? Well, you have not unpacked so you did not expect to stay long. I suppose it would do for a day or so.”
“You have found me and you know me for a liar. I would think a duke had more important things to do than wait all day to confirm that a woman had not been worthy of his attention.”
He stood abruptly and strode over. “I wish there had been a man here when I arrived, as Vincent and the other footmen assumed. Just as I wish you hid your identity from me because you feared losing your situation with Lady Farnsworth. But I think there is more to it. All of it. Much more.” He speared her with a dark gaze. “What are you entangled in? Something important. Dangerous. Illegal too?”
She could not bear standing this close to him. Even her indignation at his interference could not defeat the anguish and joy incited by seeing him again. His icy anger pained her, but that would only get worse if she told him what he demanded to know.
She moved away. “Perhaps I only left because it was a way to get away from you. I said when we first met that I feared you wanted too much, and you did.”
He looked at her hard and long, his expression inscrutable. “You are lying again.” He reached for her. She tried to duck away too late. He pulled her into a binding embrace. “Was wanting this wanting too much, Amanda?” He kissed her. She tried to resist, but her heart betrayed her. She allowed it and enjoyed his encompassing hold on her too much.
He released her. He walked away and out the door. She almost called after him. Misery filled her as he disappeared. Damn his pride. Damnhim. He should have stayed away even if he’d learned where to find her. He should have forgotten her at once and pursued a more appropriate woman. Why hadn’t he?
She poked into the basket, hoping it included some ale or wine. Perhaps she would follow Lady Farnsworth’s example and start imbibing in strong spirits. She certainly could use some now.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Heavy ones. Her first thought was that a constable had come for her. Dukes could probably get anyone dragged to gaol if they suspected them of doing illegal things.
Not constables. Instead Langford entered again with two other men.
“This is Vincent,” he said, pointing to a young blond man. “And this fellow here is Michael.” Michael was darker, older, and bigger. Much bigger.
“Would either of you care for some food? I seem to have extra ham.”
“They have dined already. They are here to help me remove you from this place.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I must decline.”
“It was not an offer. Until I learn what you have been doing, I am not allowing you out of my sight.”
Indignation finally achieved victory over womanish sentiment. “The hell you say.” She turned her back on all of them. “Go away. Especially you, Langford.”
“I am serious, Amanda.”
Her head almost split from holding in her fury. “Vincent and Michael, please go outside. I need to speak to the duke alone.”
They glanced to Langford. He nodded. The two footmen left.
“How. Dare. You?” She all but spit the words. “Is your pride wounded because the little servant would not be your mistress? Did you assume that if you chose her she should be grateful? Are you so conceited that you cannot accept that a bit of skirt would not do what you wanted?”
“If you had been no more than a bit of skirt, I would not care who you are or what you have done. I would already have forgotten your name. Hell, yes, my pride is wounded, but more is at risk than that.” He strode to her. “I need to know what you have done, because I think you entangled me in it, and while I can swallow pride, Iwill nothave my name and honor stained when the only sin I committed was wanting the wrong woman. Now tell me, or I swear you will tell me later.”
She refused to flinch. “I am not going anywhere.”
“There is a carriage a street over. You will walk there with me willingly or I will send it here and Michael will carry you out. No one will care if you cry out. You are unknown here and no one will stop us. If some fool tries, Vincent will hand him a few pounds and he will forget everything.”
Damn him.Damn him. “I have a better plan. Walk away and forget you ever met me. Give these two footmen a few pounds and they will forget everything too. We were so discreet that no one else knows you met me.”
