Page 26 of Duke of Pride

Stephen was going to murder her. His eyes must have conveyed as much because for a brief moment, her confident facade cracked. As if she just realized she was playing with fire.

She swallowed and wetted her lips with a quick flick of her tongue. For some reason, that made his gut clench, fueling the fury that was commanding his body.

“This,” he said, his voice icy and deadly, “ends now!”

He had used the same tone in the House of Lords, its force bringing men—greatmen—to their knees, shaking. In the room filled with ladies, it had a devastating effect. With his eyes still locked onto Victoria’s, he could hear the ladies scurry away.

Lady Weatherby finally stubbed out her cheroot, mumbling that it was getting late, and the other ladies around her agreed hastily. The gamblers gathered their winnings and their belongings and left, giving him a wide berth. Mrs. Charlotte, looking appropriately ashamed for a woman who had just been caught gambling with her employer’s mother, scurried out of the room without a backward glance.

The room was empty except for his mother, Victoria, and him. And absolute disdain from all sides.

Stephen let the silence stretch, the sound of retreating footsteps echoing in the hallway. Then, slowly, deliberately, he turned to his mother.

“Mother, I think it’s best you retire for the evening.”

Dorothy gave him a look that held fury, sadness, and atonof disappointment. “Stephen, you are being?—”

“I am being the Duke and lord of this house,” he asserted, softening his voice for her sake.

His mother was not to blame. She was always so mindful of her ways. No. There was only one person to blame here.

“Very well,” Dorothy sighed. “Let us go, Victoria.”

“Miss Victoria will stay,” he said, eyeing her narrowly.

“I think there is no need to—” Dorothy tried.

“I happen to see every need,” Stephen bit out.

Victoria turned to his mother and took both her hands. Something unspoken passed between them, and she responded with a smile to whatever plea Dorothy was conveying. Then, with just a nod, Dorothy left the room.

“Well,” Victoria drawled, “that was rather theatrical.”

“What are you doing?”

“I did warn you, Your Grace,” she said brazenly. “Iwouldfind other ways to amuse myself.”

“I ask again, what the hell do you think you are doing?”

“Well, we were simply playing cards and enjoying some lovely refreshments. But then you burst in, in your usual charming fashion, and now”—she gestured vaguely to the door—“everyone’s gone, and you’ve ruined the fun.”

“This is not a game!”

“I beg to differ. It was quite entertaining.”

He took another step, forcing her to arch her neck if she wanted to keep pinning him with that bold look of hers.

“The rules clearly state no social gatherings. No visits from unwanted company. No unnecessary disturbances to the order of this house.”

“For the love of God!” She laughed. “We were drinking tea and lemonade and playing whist. We were not gorging on alcohol and running an illegal gambling hall.”

“You were gambling in my house.”

“Penny wagers,” she shot back. “Hardly the downfall of civilization.”

He dragged a hand through his hair, clearly trying to maintain his composure, but his voice was clipped when he spoke again.

“Smoking!”

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