Page 25 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

Gerald did not like the fact that he owned such an establishment as this. It was beneath him. It was morally reprehensible. It forced him into situations he did not like being in, questions of his character constantly rising to the surface, the black and white code that he lived his life by called into disrepute more often than he had ever intended.

That was why he had Victor, a man with no such scruples as that.

“I was surprised to see you here, this evening,” Victor continued, taking another large mouthful of ale. “What’s the matter? Keeping an eye on me?”

“Do I need to?” Gerald said, not looking at him. He watched the floor, keeping an eye on the patrons as they had a tendency to turn rowdy if not kept in line.

“By now I hope you know that you do not, and I should be insulted that you think you do.” Although Victor was a duke, one look at him might have you thinking him more of a common thug. He was big and brutish, grizzled and mean looking. The type that if you saw walking down the street toward you, you would likely cross to the other side of the road. Just in case.

“I am not here for you,” Gerald assured him. “No need to get upset.”

“Then why are you here?” Victor demanded. “I know how much you hate this place. Or rather...” He chuckled wickedly. “How much you claim that you do. For a man who despises coming here, you are here an awful lot, you know.”

Gerald curled his lip at his friend but said nothing.

Victor was right in what he said. Gerald hated coming here and liked to avoid it as much as he could. That was why he put up with Victor, knowing that where Victor lacked certain social decorum, he knew how to keep the patrons in line and collect on debts. Better than he ought to have.

Technically, the men were partners. His acquiring of this gaming house had been a necessary evil, a weight he had not wished to bear, which was why when Victor found out about it, rather than panicking that his secret would be out, he offered for him to join in on the enterprise. Victor did not hesitate.

One day, Gerald hoped to be free of this place. Sadly, that would not be today.

“I needed to get out,” Gerald offered under Victor’s harsh stare. “Cooped up at home for far too long, is all.”

“Ah yes, that old story,” Victor sighed. “Can’t say I blame you.” He snorted. “For you, especially. Having to play the role of perfect duke day in and day out. It must grow tiresome.”

“I am not playing anything,” Gerald snapped. “That is not what I meant.”

“Yes, yes,” Victor chuckled knowingly. “I forgot. This here is the role that you play at...” He winked and took another sip of his drink. “While the perfect duke, loved by all, is the real you. How silly of me for suggesting differently.”

Gerald glared a warning at his friend, which had little effect. Victor took pleasure in ruffling Gerald’s feathers, constantly trying to goad his darker side to the surface, for no other reason than he found it amusing. But Gerald was being truthful when he claimed that this was not the real him. He was a good person. A morally astute character. A bastion of his station and title!At least that is what I tell myself, for it makes it easier than admitting how effortless it is for me to slip into the role of loan shark. Why that is... I refuse to even consider.

In this instance, at least, Victor was wrong about Gerald’s reason for being here. Yes, it was to escape his home in the hope that he could clear his mind. But it had nothing to do withthatside of him.

It might be easier if it did. At least that is something I understand, even if I do not like it. What troubles me right now... I don’t even know where to begin.

It was thoughts of Lady Hawkins which plagued him. Just as they had been doing all week. Ever since she stumbled into his office dressed as a man, begging to have her debts forgiven, behaving in a way that wasn’t a surprise to him, for he knew what she was like, but didn’t disgust or upset him nearly as much as it should have.

On the surface of it all, Gerald’s reasons for involving himself with Lady Hawkins were righteous. She was a lady of the ton, the debts on her family were not her fault, and he wanted to help her. He certainly did not wish to see her fall into peril. So, he offered her his help, hoping this would sort the matter out quickly.

Typically, it only made things worse.

He could not understand why he felt the way he did about her. Why he could not get her out of his head! She was just so abrasive. So coarse and rough around the edges. So argumentative and chaotic that he should have loathed the very sight of her. And a part of him did that. The other part...

The kiss they had shared was an accident. He had not meant to do it. But as they had been bickering, he had felt that same fire erupt in him that came whenever she was in his presence. That need to put her in her place. That needed to assert himself, to let go as he never could around other ladies of the ton. To behimself!It had come over him before he could stop it. And then... the kiss.

He felt his blood begin to pulse hot through his body. His leg began to shake. Thoughts now of what might have happened if he had not had such self-control. How he might have lifted her onto the table. How he might have spread her legs. How he might have dropped to his knees and dove his head between her –

No!Gerald forced those thoughts away. Just as he forced his manhood to soften, as he could feel it growing stiff in his breeches. Now was not the time for that. Or ever, for that matter.

The only thing that Gerald was certain of was that it could not happen again! Which meant that he needed to rid himself of Lady Hawkins as soon as was possible. Still, he would help her, as that was the right thing to do. But he needed to be careful around her. He needed to control himself!

“How goes your sister,” Victor asked suddenly.

“What?” Gerald turned on Victor, feeling a fire blaze inside of him.

“Your sister,” Victor said simply. “How is she? I have not heard you mention – woah!” Victory held his hands up as Gerald took him around the scruff of the neck. “What is the matter with you man!”

“What have I told you about speaking of my sister!” he growled.

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