“You should apologize for the entire situation,” Damien replied, arching an eyebrow as he approached the fireplace.
A faint flush appeared on her cheeks, though she otherwise remained composed.
“I had little choice,” she answered, lifting her chin slightly.
Damien folded his arms more tightly across his chest. “That remains to be seen,” he said dryly, watching her carefully.
“What are you doing here Lady Seraphine?” he asked.
To his surprise, she immediately launched into a summary of events from two years earlier.
“I was the one who uncovered my father's schemes and exposed his plans. I protected your sister, Thalia when matters had become dangerous,” she said.
She reminded him how she had quietly helped save his family from disaster. Damien listened patiently, though he already knew every detail she recounted.
When she finally finished, he raised an eyebrow and regarded her steadily. “I am aware of all this,” he said, gesturing lightly with one hand.
She hesitated for a brief moment before continuing. “Then you know I helped,” she said, searching his face for a reaction.
“I do,” Damien replied with a short nod.
“And yet you appear unimpressed,” she observed, narrowing her eyes slightly.
“Because I fail to understand what any of this has to do with me tonight,” he answered, his tone remaining cool. Her shoulders straightened immediately.
Determination flashed across her face. She looked absurdly young and impossibly stubborn all at once.
“I require a favor,” she announced, clasping her hands more tightly together.
Of course she does.
Damien nearly laughed aloud at the predictability of it. “A favor,” he repeated, studying her expression.
“An eye for an eye,” Seraphine said firmly, refusing to look away. His amusement deepened at once. The audacity of her request was remarkable even by his standards.
“You arrive at my house after midnight, alone, and demand repayment?” he asked, taking a slow step closer.
“I politely requested repayment,” she corrected, lifting her chin.
“Sweetheart, there is nothing polite about this situation,” Damien replied with a faint smirk.
He crossed the room slowly, unable to resist testing her composure. Something about her fascinated him more than it should have. Most ladies would have been nervous standing alone with him at this hour. But Lady Seraphine stood upright with flawless posture and impeccable manners. Her self-control seemed almost unnatural. It made him want to test that, which was a tempting thought indeed.
He stopped directly before her, leaving little space between them. Close enough to notice the freckles scattered across her cheeks. Close enough to see her pulse flutter delicately at her throat. His fingers rose without permission and he tilted her chin upward. A sharp breath escaped her lips at the contact. The sound stirred something within him.
Good God.
Damien fought to keep his expression neutral despite the sudden rush of temptation. A reckless part of him imagined simply throwing her over his shoulder and returning her home himself. The image was absurd and strangely amusing. Another, far more wanton thought followed immediately after. He could pull her into his arms and watch that flawless composure crumble.
The desire arrived with alarming force, but Damien crushed it immediately. He would never be that careless with a lady's reputation. Never risk her future for his own amusement.
Seraphine lowered her gaze, apparently finding the carpet fascinating. She muttered something he could not quite hear. His thumb brushed lightly against her jaw before he spoke.
“Look at me when you ask for my help, sweetheart,” Damien said softly, tightening his hold just enough to keep her attention.
Slowly she lifted her eyes to meet his. Brown met green, and for one suspended moment neither of them moved. The room seemed strangely quiet around them.
Then she drew a steady breath and gathered her courage. “I need you to marry me, Your Grace.”
