Page 23 of Duke of Pride

“You at least had the sense to stay inside.” Stephen leaned down, and the dog leaned into his hand.

Stephen glanced out the window, where Victoria was picking up the croquet gear. He absentmindedly petted Euclid, scratching behind his ears. He glanced down, only to find the mongrel looking up at him with utter adoration.

“I’ll tell you this, mutt,” he said, his voice softer than he had expected. “You’ll stay. But Victoria Crawford has to go!”

* * *

As lunchtime drew near, Stephen was contemplating whether he should request to eat at his study. He hardly had done any real work, to begin with, and things had deteriorated after watching that wretched croquet game that ruined the sport for him. But he knew that any retreat would be perceived as weakness, and he needed to assert his dominance in his own house.

“Let’s go, Euclid,” he ordered, waking the dog that had slept at his feet.

He made sure to make an entrance, coming down when both his mother and Victoria took their seats at the table, perhaps wishing that he hadn’t joined them. Arriving just a second later, he ensured both ladies were seated, lulled into the belief that they might enjoy a peaceful meal without his presence. He let them have that fleeting illusion, let them begin to conspire. And then he strode in, Euclid trotting dutifully at his side.

Victoria’s head snapped up first, her fork pausing at her lips, her blue eyes flashing with distinct displeasure. Yet he caught it. That fleeting, near-imperceptible flicker in her gaze. Not the usual irritation, nor the pointed defiance. For the barest of moments, she had regarded him with something else entirely. Too sharp to be amusement, too assessing to be indifference.

“Stephen, dear, we were wondering if you’d join us.” His mother sounded genuinely happy to see him.

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Where else would I take my meal?”

He took his seat at the head of the table, adjusting his cuffs with practiced ease.

Victoria gave him a long, assessing look, her eyes narrowing.

“The study,” she mused. “Your room. Perhaps a dark, empty corridor where you might better contemplate your ever-growing list of grievances.”

“Tempting, but I thought I’d grace you with my presence instead. The lack of discipline in this household is growing alarming.”

They spent the next blissful minutes eating in silence. He didn’t want to break this rare occasion, but he had plans for the evening.

“I am visiting Lord Prevost after tea,” he announced.

The women looked at each other. His mother seemed sad, Victoria angry, and they seemed to be having some sort of silent conversation. It was Victoria who turned to him first.

“I am sure you will have arivetingtime while Lord Prevost lists all the misconduct he observed.”

“I intend to take notes.”

“Should I be worried?” Victoria seemed anything but worried. “Or will my transgressions be neatly categorized? A full report, perhaps?”

“I wouldn’t dream of being so disorganized,” Stephen replied dryly. “Your misdeeds require a ledger of their own. I was actually late adding ‘ruining croquet’ with a full account of this morning’s foolishness.”

Victoria opened her mouth, her eyes darkening, ready to fight back. But Stephen was a fast fencer.

“Speaking of which,” he continued, “in my absence, I would advise that whatever brilliant ideas you have about ruining additional sports should be discarded at once.”

“How unfortunate. I was about to suggest a game of battledore and shuttlecock right after lunch.”

Stephen gave her a look that could only convey his annoyance. For a few moments, they were locked into a battle of wills no one seemed to be ready to back out of.

He raised his chin and blinked slowly, lowering his voice warningly. “Might I suggest more suitable activities for the afternoon? Perhaps some embroidery? Watercolors?”

“Oh yes, that sounds fascinating.”

“One does not need to be fascinated, Miss Victoria,” he said blandly. “One merely needs to be civilized.”

“Civilized, not bored to death.”

Stephen leaned forward in his seat, almost looming over the table menacingly. “You might want to practice behaving as atruelady ought. For once.”

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