Page 35 of Duke of Pride

“Yes. Plus, I wouldn’t want Annabelle to suffer that dreadful color. Will you join me?”

“I have asked the mason to come today to talk about repaving the path to the small lake, and he is so hard to pin down.”

Victoria was ready to ask Mrs. Charlotte to get ready to tag along as her chaperone.

“I have to go to London,” Stephen said over his tea, without looking at them. “I’ve got some papers to sign at my solicitor’s.”

Which was a half-truth. Or rather, a blatant lie. He had received zero notices that he needed to be there, but he was sure he could come up with an issue.

Why am I doing this?

He did not linger on that, only on the way Victoria’s mouth fell open. She seemed to be panicking at his suggestion. He smirked at her, and she narrowed her eyes. It should look unladylike. Itwasunladylike, but he didn’t care.

The only thing that mattered was that this woman, who commandedhishousehold with unshakable poise, could be so visibly shaken by the prospect of sharing a carriage with him.

“Your Grace is too kind,” Victoria said through gritted teeth, “but I couldn’t possibly impose?—”

“I insist, My Lady.”

“Of course, you do.”

Victoria’s fingers whitened around her napkin. Stephen chuckled lowly with perverse satisfaction at how her pulse fluttered at the base of her throat. That delicate, vulnerable spot he’d?—

No. Don’t think about that.

Yet it was all he could think about these days. He tried to convince himself that what had happenedthatnight was a result of his unchecked anger. That he merely wanted to teach her a lesson. That he set his boundaries.

But the truth was that he wanted it. Hecravedit. He gave in to his desire, consequences be damned. He had thoroughly enjoyed learning how her skin tasted, how his name sounded on her kiss-swollen lips, how she would catch his lip with hers and he would almost snap.

Now, he was plagued with those sensations, and instead of locking himself in the study or leaving the house altogether as if it were on fire, he was lingering where her perfume could reach him.

“Get ready, Miss Victoria.” He got up. “We are leaving in exactly ten minutes.”

And then he left the room.

* * *

The carriage ride was excruciatingly silent. Victoria was looking out the window with purpose, intentionally avoiding his gaze. And looking at her was all he did as they rode toward the center of the bustling city.

“Tell me, My Lady?—”

“I’d rather not,” she deadpanned.

“I wonder what could have spoiled your mood this morning.”

At that, Victoria gave him a sideways glance that he supposed was meant to be irritating. He found it adorably unconvincing.

“Why didn’t you allow Mrs. Charlotte to come too?” She turned to him fully. “Being with you unchaperoned is not proper, Your Grace.”

Stephen smirked at the way she fought for his housekeeper to come. She even stomped her foot. It was obvious she didn’t want to be in here, alone with him.

“Mrs. Charlotte has her job cut out for her. You are perfectly capable of completing the task on your own. As for propriety, I have been your guardian since I returned to the house. Plus, why would any speculation start? I am devoted to finding you a husband.”

“So, this is whatthisis?” She clenched her jaw. “Not some twisted ploy to disrupt my peace.”

“I have no intention of doing that.”

Stephen leaned back, stretching his legs slightly until his knee brushed hers. It was deliberate. She jerked her leg away as if scorched.

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