Page 87 of The Dueling Duchess

Cecile realized that she’d been staring at his mouth—which was surely one of God’s great creations—and wrenched her eyes to meet his, yet another impressive creation. “Is that all you wanted to tell me?”

He hesitated, and then said, “Yes.”

“Good. Then go.”

He sighed and turned, taking such a long time, she wanted to shout at him.

Once he’d gone, she yanked the servant pull. When Mary opened the door she said, “Show Lord Whitfield up.”

“Here?” Mary asked.

Cecile couldn’t blame the girl for her confusion; she’d always shown Whitfield to her boudoir in the past.

“Yes, here.”

Cecile smoothed her skirts as she waited, taking several deep, even breaths so that when the door opened a minute or two later, she was calm and smiling.

She held her hands out to him. “I’m sorry to make you wait, Nathan.”

He smiled, his sharp eyes flickering over her person. “You are worth waiting for,” he said, kissing the backs of her hands and pulling her toward him, until their bodies touched from knees to chest. He bent to kiss her properly—and he was a very good kisser.

Cecile allowed it but did not prolong or encourage the embrace.

When she pulled away, he groaned and set his forehead against hers. “Why do I feel that you are going to send me on my way, Cecile?”

“Because I must—tonight is not a good time. I am terribly sorry I did not send word earlier and you’ve made this trip.”

He brushed away her apology with a casual wave. “Must I leave immediately—or can we at least have a little time to chat?”

She would have preferred him gone, but that was hardly polite.

“Of course, I have time for you.” She forced a sweet smile—well, as sweet as she could ever muster—and they sat on the settee that faced the fireplace.

He took her hand in his and idly played with her fingers. “I suspected this would happen when I heard Darlington was here.”

She opened her mouth to demand what he meant, but he was not finished.

He gave a derisive laugh. “What a buffoon. The man has no pride, coming—”

Cecile pulled her hand away. “What? He has no pride to work for a woman?”

“No, of course that wasn’t what I meant. I just meant that it is a known fact that he wants you and that you have denied him repeatedly over the past year.”

Cecile’s jaw sagged. “It is not a known fact! Is it?” she demanded a few seconds later.

“Well, perhaps known is an overstatement,” he admitted.

Other than Marianne, Blade, Sin, and Elliot she had never said anything about her involvement with Guy to anyone and she was certain he hadn’t spoken of their time together either.

At least he’d better not have done.

“How do you know such a thing?”

“Please, darling, I have my ways.”

“You mean you bribe my employees?”

He shrugged. “I do whatever is necessary to get what I want.” He smiled at her, but the glint in his icy blue eyes was dangerous. “For example, I know he sent you letters that you didn’t open, and I know you were lovers at some point in the past.”