Page 12 of Her Seven Nights with the Duke

Her voice was small, and Samuel had to strain his ears to hear her. His eyebrows rose. There were not many women who tried to run away, no matter how terrible their situations were. He looked her over. She did not look like she was suffering. However, he knew from experience that not every punishment could be seen.

He sighed, moving away from her, his ears detecting her sharp exhale of breath.

There was no way that she could ever destroy his reputation, no matter what she said to whoever. As unfair as things were, the truth was that he was a man, and a powerful one at that. Hewould escape unscathed and could make her life a living hell if he wished to. Still, when he had imagined her, this was not how he had pictured things to go.

His eyes snapped towards her as an idea occurred to him. He could use the situation to his advantage. They would both get what they wanted, no matter how much of a cad that would make him.

His seven nights with Lady Priscilla had come to an end, which meant that he was in need of a new lover. It had crossed his mind to have the little rabbit, although the situation had proved impossible, since he did not know who she was, but things were different now. Perhaps she was desperate enough to accept his offer.

“I will give you the money,” he said, watching the slight movement of her hands, the only sign that she was excited.

He smiled. She truly was magnificent.

“However, you must do something for me in return.”

She blinked, waiting quietly for him to continue.say what he wanted.

“In return for the money I give you, I will have seven nights with you.”

With his request laid bare, Samuel watched as the lady pondered on it. She slowly lowered herself onto the seat he had offered moments ago, staring at her hands like they held the answer that she needed.

She looked up at him, and Samuel sighed when he saw the uncertainty in her eyes. It was obvious that she had no choice.

“I don’t think I can do that,” she said. “I’ve heard the rumors, and I don’t know if I can…”

“There is something that you must know,” Samuel said. “You never had any chance of ruining my reputation. This is the only way you can get the money that you need from me. I will not pretend to know the reason why you wish to run away, and I will not ask either. However, this is your only chance of getting money from me.”

He waited patiently as she thought about it. He could see the wheels turning in her head as she weighed her choice. She did not seem like the type to blackmail a person no matter what she had heard about his reputation, which led him to believe that she was desperate for the money.

He was confident that she would agree to whatever he wanted. That much he could see from the fact that she was still here with him.

“Does- does that mean that you want me in the position I saw you in during the ball?” she asked as her cheeks burned.

Samuel frowned. She was more innocent than he had thought she would be after how long she watched them.

Perhaps I need to be more patient with her. She’s certainly not like the other ladies I’ve been with.

“I usually prefer my ladies with a little more experience.” He frowned. “However, whatever position we get up to completely depends on what you want. You do not have to end up doing what you saw last night.”with the other lady.”

She was jumpy. Telling her otherwise would only send her out the door without giving any consideration to his proposal.

She nodded slowly. “I have heard so many things about you.”

“Oh? What have you heard?”

She looked away as a slight blush crept up her cheeks. “I have heard that you’re a dangerous man, and I have seen the way people act around you. They fear you.”

Samuel chuckled. “Then you should’ve been scared as well and stayed as far away from me as possible.”

She blushed, biting her lip as she looked away. “I need the money.”

Samuel remained silent as she considered his proposal. The conflict in her eyes was clear for him to see.

“I accept,” she said through a shaky breath.

“Splendid.” Samuel grinned. “Before we move further, how about we start with you telling me your name, little rabbit.”

CHAPTER FOUR

---