He thought that an odd question for her to ask but answered, “With what?”
“With my brother.”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
Her gaze continued to search his face as if surely he must be hiding something from her. “So he’s not in any trouble?”
That comment gave him cause for concern. Perhaps there was something about the man Hawk didn’t know. “Does he often get into trouble?”
“Often?” she asked, clearly dismayed by his question. “No, of course not. Not at all really. Why would you ask that?”
“Because you asked me if he were.”
As if taking note of the slight accusation in his tone, her spine stiffened. “It was a logical question to ask.”
“How so, if you say he never gets in trouble?”
“What else am I supposed to think?” she asked innocently.
“Perhaps that I wanted to talk to your brother, which I do.”
She let out a deep audible breath and took another step farther into the drawing room. “So there are no problems?”
Hawk shook his head in exasperation. “I just said as much. You are frustrating me, Miss Quick.”
“And you are the pot calling the kettle black, Your Grace,” she said defensively.
Another prickle of awareness rushed through him. It was rare anyone had the nerve to speak their mind so quickly and candidly to a duke. It surprised him, but it also impressed him. “That’s a rather rash statement.”
He watched her softly rounded shoulders relax a little. “Nonetheless, true. You are the one making this conversation difficult.”
“Me?” She was unbelievable. “Does your boldness have no boundaries, Miss Quick?”
“Not where my brother is concerned. But aside from that, what am I supposed to think other than something is wrong when adukearrives unexpectedly to see my brother.”
Unexpectedly?More reason for him to worry.
“We live a little too far from Hawksthorn for a social call, Your Grace,” she added as if to give credence to her statement.
Hawk could easily attest to that fact. When he’d started this venture, he had no idea that Mammoth House was so far from the village of Grimsfield and still another half day’s ride from London. He had doubts that even a hermit would embrace a place this far from civilization. Living out here took being alone to an extreme.
As the nephew of the Earl of Switchingham, Quick was a socially acceptable husband for Adele. Quick always wore a friendly smile and kept a cheerful attitude, which might become obnoxious to Hawk if he had to spend a good deal of time with the man, but he thought Adele would love it.
While Hawk had no idea what kind of allowance the earl had bestowed on Quick, it really didn’t matter. Adele had a generous dowry and, once she married, she’d have access to a home in London as well. She wouldn’t have to reside in Mammoth House if she preferred not to, which he was fairly certain would be the case.
With graceful movements, Miss Quick walked the rest of the way into the room to stand in front of him. He could see clearly the tempting shape of her inviting lips and her smooth, delicate-looking complexion, which enticed him to want to reach up and caress her cheek with the tips of his fingers. She had uncommonly long, dark lashes for someone with hair so satiny blond. Her eyes were so expressive he found it difficult to focus on the matter at hand.
Ah, yes. It would be easy to concentrate on the intriguing miss, if not for the important issue before him.
“I don’t believe I’m unexpected.”
“You must be,” she answered without the least bit of hesitancy or caution that she might be wrong.
More impertinence.
“I have an appointment with him, Miss Quick.”
“But Paxton isn’t here.”
