Page 71 of The Gambler Wagers Her Baron

Bloody hell…he wanted her to stay, no matter the cost to him.

He was a fool to think he could fix whatever had gone wrong between him and Payton. At each step, it only grew worse. He made it worse; with his words and his actions.

Damon sat frozen and waited until he heard her coming down the main stairs. Her attempt to slip from the house silently was made impossible as he heard her struggling with her trunk as she slowly made her way down.

To halt himself from rushing from his study to assist her, he grabbed his tumbler and took a long pull. The scotch burned its way to his stomach as his insides roiled against the spirits so early in the day. Yet, with what was to come when the children awoke and learned of Payton’s departure, he shouldn’t turn away from the anesthetic provided by the scotch. It would undoubtedly diminish the ache that would remain after she was gone.

The front door opened to several voices, both male and female.

Likely Mr. Brown and the other servants giving the governess a final farewell.

What seemed like an eternity later, the door closed, and his household fell silent once more.

Miss Samuels was gone.

Relief should lessen the tension in his shoulders. Annoyance at Payton’s sudden departure from her position should flare his anger. It was over, she was gone, and he no longer need fight the urges within him, the draw to take her into his arms, and the desire in his heart to hold her tight.

Yet, he could neither grasp his relief nor anger.

The stark realization that he’d need to start his search for another governess was enough to have him draining his glass.

“My lord?” The partially ajar study door opened behind him. “The Duke of Catherton is here to see you.”

“Tell him I am still abed,” Damon mumbled, massaging his temples.

“I do not think that will do.”

“Tell him I have already departed for a morning meeting.”

“Again, my lord, that will—"

Damon slammed his empty tumbler on the table, refusing to turn toward the butler. “I am in no mood to see the vile man. Get rid of him.”

“Vile man?” The sound of the duke’s Hessians rang across the floor until he stepped on the carpet. “I think I shall endeavor to embrace your words as a compliment, though I dare say they were not meant as one, Ashford.”

“What do you want, Catherton?” Damon stood, turning to face the unwanted duke. “You have your money. We have no other business together.”

The duke gave a gruff laugh before waving Mr. Brown from the room. “I have my money but not the masked lady’s name.”

“What does that matter?”

“It is the only thing that matters, Ashford,” Catherton hissed. “I will have her name and see her punished.”

“We have been over this, Catherton. You have your money…the woman will not be allowed in my home again. It is the best you can hope for.”

“You are more of a simpleton than I thought if you assume this is only about money.”

“I do not know the woman’s identity.” Damon strode to his desk, putting the large expanse of the surface between him and the duke. “If I learn it, you will be the first to know.”

The duke paced farther into the room, picking up Damon’s empty glass and smelling it. “Scotch? This early, Ashford?” His tsk-tsk was as disapproving as possible. “Who was the woman I passed when I arrived?”

The hairs on the back of Damon’s neck stood on end, but he managed to keep his stance from showing his alarm. “My children’s governess.”

“Early to be departing without the children,” Catherton mused. “Not that I am afflicted with children…or the need for a governess.”

“Just as my actions are none of your concern, neither are those of my servants or children.”

“The trunk she carried appeared quite cumbersome.” He set Damon’s glass back on the table, trailing his fingertip along the rim before turning toward the door. “She was very familiar. Perhaps we are acquainted. What is her name?”