He leaned closer, practically into her. “See, Lady Elowyn, with the right pressure applied to such a flimsy excuse, even the best man would fold, and you are no man.”
In other words, she was frail and weak? Her nails bit into her palms. Never in her life had she wanted to throttle a man so much as she did this one. Not even her brother, and he had mastered the skill of the annoying older brother. Drat it all. She had a plan. A plan for this to be the best season ever. Being caught between a cunning fox and a dangerous wolf was not part of that plan.
“If you cannot believe me, why are you even here, Your Grace?”
“What was the outcome of that woman’s visit this morning?”
Ah, so that was why. “I told her I have no intention of being dragged into her affairs. I have no intention of withdrawing my claim.” She sent the duke a wry look. “Apparently, I shall regret my decision.”
He stared at her.
She stared back.
“I see,” he said after a moment.
What, exactly, did he see? She couldn’t get a read on the man, and she wasn’t about to ask. She simply wanted to find a way to reassure him and send him on his way so she could return to her grand plan. “What exactly do you want from me?”
He took another step closer. “I should ask that of you.”
Elowyn had to tilt her neck up to keep his gaze. “What doIwant? Fromyou?” Absolutely nothing!
“Yes. An exchange for keeping your silence.”
Elowyn blinked at the man. Was she understanding this correctly? He wanted to purchase her silence? Would that reassure him? “There isn’t anything I want from you . . .” Except to leave . . .
“There must be something.” His voice dropped, though the coldness didn’t quite leave. “Name it and you shall have it.”
“There’s nothing you can give me,” Elowyn insisted. Nothing good.
“Are you sure?”
His voice suddenly dripped with so much suggestion, Elowyn started. “I’m . . . sure.”
He straightened. “Then I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Her eyes narrowed at his tone. “What can’t be helped?”
“If I only have your word, I’ll have to attach myself to your side in order to make sure you keep your word. It may prove a bit tedious, but our options are rather limited until this mess gets sorted.”
No! That couldn’t be allowed to happen! Attach himself to her side? That would completely ruin all her plans. She searched his face. He would truly go so far? But she didn’t have to wonder. The quirk of his lips told her everything she needed to know. Yes. Yes he would. He would go as far as he deemed necessary to get his way.
Elowyn saw all of her firsts going up in tragic flames.
No.
By Jove.No!
She could not allow her dreams to resemble that of a Shakespearean play. But . . . She had nothing to ask for. Money?That would be too . . . Elowyn shuddered. Theonlyother things she desired . . .
Absolutely not, Elowyn!
“You do have something.”
She shook her head furiously, but the man had caught onto a scent.
“Tell me,” he demanded.
Her mind flew through the possibilities—jewels, money, her signature on some document promising she’d never speak his name out loud—respectable, sensible requests a sensible woman would make. She sensed, however, none of these would work. This duke would not accept anything less than something that mattered. She stared unblinkingly into the depth of those swirling amber eyes.
