Page 2 of The Duke's Vice

Little did she know she would feel completely out of sorts and woefully unprepared.

The man shrugged. “I’ll never complain about having a beautiful woman in my arms.

When he reached up to brush a stray curl off of her face she noticed a thin scar that ran along the man’s hand.

“So tell me, mistress of the night, what has you out and about in the devil’s hour?”

Beatrice bristled. “If you must know, I’m going to a party.”

The man’s eyes lit up. “A party you say?” A wolfish grin widened on his lips and Beatrice was sure he could hear her swallow.

She could only shake her head. Her nerves were getting the better of her.

The man looked past her to the now empty street. “Well, I don’t see a mask so you’re not heading to the establishment I am enroute to. And the houses along this street are particular about their invitees…” The man took a breath as he looked her over again causing little pricks of electricity to fire off in her blood.

She lowered her head, hoping the dark of the night would hide her blush.

“I assure you, sir, I have an invitation, it’s just my first time at this particular party and I was just making sure I was in the right area. But I am, so you can leave me be.”

Dark eyes narrowed on hers. “I have no doubt this is your first time.”

Beatrice rose an eyebrow in defiance. “Again, just as my plans, my experience is none of your concern. Now, good day, er night.”

Once again she tried to step around the man only for his arm to jut out and stop her from moving.

“Have you even kissed a man before?”

Embarrassment and horror bubbled within her. “How dare you ask a lady such things!”

The stranger’s laugh echoed off the surrounding buildings. “As if I needed any more proof that this is definitely not the place someone like you should be, you just gave it to me.”

Beatrice’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean, someone like me?”

The man gestured to all of Beatrice. “You. All of you. You are far too young, naive, and innocent to be traipsing around Water Street this time of night.” The man looked up into the night sky. “Actually, any time of day to be exact. Come, I’ll see you to the main road.”

He took her by the elbow and started her towards the way she came.

Beatrice pulled from his grip and stood her ground. “No. Thank you for your concern, but I am more than capable of handling myself. I have gotten myself this far haven’t I? I may be new to the area but I am not new to this type of scene.”

Beatrice crossed her fingers beneath her overcoat. She had hoped the fake bravado she mustered was enough for this man to leave her alone.

She didn’t even care about the party any more. Truth was the more she stood within this man’s presence the more her senses became aware of her surroundings. Every scrape of litter that skittered across the street raked down her spine. Her heart beating within her chest sounded like a bass drum between her ears.

Even the curious smell of sweet and smokey infiltrated her nostrils.

What is that smell?

It was much more pleasing than the first smells she encountered when she first reached Water Street.

Beatrice gave herself a little shake to bring herself back to the moment. She could not afford to be mindless on a desolate street with a masked stranger.

She had every intention of leaving after this conversation but her stubbornness would not let it be because a man told her to.

The man tilted his head. “Yes, look at you. All alone, unchaperoned on one of the most dangerous streets in London talking with a masked man twice the size of you. Well done. Your parents should be proud.”

His words dripped with sarcasm. Beatrice rolled her lips and thought of her options. There was no doubt in her mind this man had the ability to pick her up and sling her over his shoulder and carry her out. But what if he didn’t carry her back to the main road? What if he carried her off to a hideout where he planned his nefarious deeds.

Beatrice sighed. She was starting to sound like her older sister. Their mother constantly berated them for reading too much.Once again, her mother proved right twice in one night. This did not bode well for Beatrice.

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