Page 23 of Keeper of Secrets

Well, that certainly did settle a few things.“Next husband?”

“I’m a widow,” Caroline stated matter-of-factly.“My first husband was an earl, three times my age, and not particularly friendly.I’m done with emotionally unavailable men.”

Sympathy coursed through Chloe.“His Grace,” she said carefully, “is as exhausting as he is detached.”

“Hmmm.”Caroline stopped near a dark corner of the room.“It’s interesting because while I noted that he neither talked to you nor looked at you, he touches you quite often.”

Thatwasinteresting and it mirrored her own feelings.One minute he seemed indifferent, the next anything but…

“I understand what you mean but honestly he’s very complicated.”

Caroline gave her a sympathetic smile.“You’ll have to decide if you wish to be the duchess or not.Being a powerful man’s bride isn’t always an easy position.”

“And if I didn’t?”It was the very question she’d been asking herself these past few days.

Caroline’s smile widened.“Do you wish to be rich or titled?”

Chloe blinked in surprise.“I beg your pardon?”

“You might be able to accomplish both with your beauty, but if you had to choose…”

Chloe cocked her head to the side.“Financial security is most important along with companionship.”

“Oh, that will be easy, then.Merchants are making money like lords and many of them would love to marry the relative of a duke.You’d have your pick of men, no dowry required.”

Was this true?She shifted closer to Caroline.“Really?You’re certain?”

“For you?Very.Tell me more about what you wish.I’d love nothing more than to play matchmaker tonight.It would give me something to do.”

She drew in a breath.“Kind and caring would be nice.”

Caroline laughed.“No complicated men for you either.Understood.But what about attractive?”

She thought of her reaction to Ryker.How he made her forget herself.Would any man compare to that?She began to answer but a deep voice rumbled behind her.“There you are.”

She turned to see Ryker just behind her, his gaze as unreadable as ever.“Here I am.”

“I require your assistance.”

“Of course.”

“Demanding too,” Caroline softly whispered, making a small smile pull at Chloe’s lips.“If I can’t help you tonight, I will call on you tomorrow so that we might plan another evening in which to hunt for husbands that are to our liking.”

Chloe let out a rush of air.“You are an angel.”

Caroline laughed at that, but didn’t have a chance to respond as Ryker took her hand, whisking her toward a hall.“Where are we going?”she asked.

“It’s better that you don’t ask.”

She looked at him then, her heart climbing into her throat.Couldn’t anything be simple with this man?

* * *

Ryker had spotted Adam.The man was difficult to miss with those scars on his face but with the large crowd and the low light, he’d almost missed the man.

He watched Adam slip down a hall, cursing softly under his breath.He shouldn’t have let Chloe go off with the countess.It had meant that Ryker had had to collect his charge before they could follow Adam down the hall.

Had he lost him?

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