Page 17 of A Virgin for the Duke of Ash

Suddenly, he pulled back, his breath coming out in a harsh exhale. For a moment, she gazed back at him, still reeling in surprise.

And disappointment.

Once again, a very keendisappointment.

“Leave, Evelyn,” he whispered huskily.

She wrinkled her nose as she glared up at him. “I told you that you cannot tell me what to do.”

His eyes flashed at her defiance, and she could see the feral Wolf lurking in their vivid green depths once more. It stared at her hungrily, as if she were its prey.

Not tonight, she decided.Tonight, he can have a taste of disappointment.

Nimbly, she ducked under his arm and skipped away. Just when she was out of his reach, she paused and looked at him over her shoulder.

“Good night, Your Grace.”

She swore she heard a hoarse curse behind her, but she did not dare look back. She should leave while she had the upper hand.

After all, it was infinitely much better to walk away with one’s head held high.

CHAPTER 7

Evie found it quite fortunate that breakfasts in the city were held much later compared to the country. Otherwise, she never would have found the strength to crawl out of bed after spending the better part of her night tossing and turning, wondering what else Daniel mightcommandher to do.

She honestly did not know why that idea sent a shiver down her spine.

“Oh, Evie, darling! There you are!” her grandmother called out with a smile that was much too bright for Evie’s tastes.

Lady Wellington set aside her fork as she bid her to sit by her side.

Opposite her grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Ashton smiled serenely at her as she sipped her tea. At the head of thetable, Daniel sat wordlessly, muttering a soft grunt when Evie took her place beside her grandmother.

Nothing unusual there. He never participates in conversations between women, anyway.

As she reached for a plate of freshly baked rolls, she stole a glance at him. Dressed in a fresh linen shirt, he looked the very picture of a wealthy English nobleman languidly enjoying his breakfast while the womenfolk of his household fluttered uselessly about him like butterflies.

Evie fought the scowl that threatened to break through her facade and forced a smile as she buttered her bread and listened to her grandmother and the Dowager Duchess chatter excitedly about the opera to be held next week.

“I heard that Miss Mallory will be singing the aria,” the Dowager Duchess remarked. “I must say, I have never come across someone as talented as her in a long while.”

“That is quite true.” Lady Wellington nodded slightly in agreement. “All these new singers coming along and they simply cannot compare.”

Evie stole a look at the stoic man who had turned his attention to the morning paper. Every once in a while, he would pause to take a sip from that wickedly strong coffee that was brewed especially for him in the morning.

She could not detect the slightest inflection from him. Not even a faint quiver.

His ability to remain unfazed is truly admirable.

She would have thought that he would show at least the slightest reaction. After all, it had been widely rumored once that Miss Mallory was his paramour.

“How I wish dear Colin would return soon,” Evie heard her grandmother sigh. “Then, I can hold another house party. These things have always been so entertaining, especially for one at my age.”

“Not to mention that it resulted in one of the most talked about matches of the last Season.” The Dowager Duchess smiled in agreement. “Would you not agree to that, my dear?”

The last question had been aimed at Daniel.

Evie surreptitiously watched him from beneath her lashes as she pretended to be wholly engrossed with the business of stirring the exact amount of sugar into her tea. She noted the minute changes flashing through his dark eyes as he casually set the paper aside.

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