Page 75 of Romancing Daphne

Now, if only he could find reason to have faith in himself.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

James stood, hat in hand,in the entryway of Falstone House whilethe butler delivered his card to the Dangerous Duke. If ever a person had embarked on a fool’s errand, he had. But this was something he could not leave undone.

The butler reappeared.“His Grace says you may join him in his book room, but he advises you not to.”

Most any gentleman would take that warning and flee with all possible haste. James, however, had made his choice long before arriving here. The duke’s temper was infamous, and James had to be absolutely certain Daphne had borne no blame for what he had done.

“I will join His Grace in the book room, thank you.”

The butler’s seemingly unbreakable mask of dignified professionalism slipped.“Truly?” he sputtered before recovering himself.“Very well, my lord.” He turned and led the way up the stairs toward the first floor, no doubt still looking a touch shocked.

At the door to the book room, James paused long enough to firm his resolve. If His Grace’s reputation was at all based in fact, James might find himself in need of assistance to simply leave the house.

The door to the book room stood slightly ajar. Pushing it open and stepping inside, the butler announced,“Lord Tilburn, Your Grace,” in a voice entirely devoid of his earlier astonishment.

James stepped inside only to be met by the Duke of Kielder’s glare as he stood not ten feet from the doorway.

“Only a fool would have come up after being warned not to,” the duke said.

James nodded his understanding.“I believe that is one of the more accurate evaluations of myself I have heard lately.”

An unfamiliar voice chimed in.“Methinks the fool speaks in riddles.”

A single glance identified the third occupant of the room. He wore the uniform of the Royal Navy. His green eyes and golden curls immediately connected him to the youngest Lancaster sister.

“Linus,” the Duke said,“you see before you the very definition of an imbecile.”

“Ah.”

“Tilburn, this is Lieutenant Lancaster.”

James managed a creditable bow despite his growing apprehension. ConfrontingDaphne’s violent-tempered guardian had been an intimidatingenough prospect. Having her older brother present, he who had spent half his life training for battle, only made the situation worse.“I am pleased tomeet you,” he said.

“Odd,”Lieutenant Lancaster replied.“I am not at all pleased to meetyou.”

“I deserve that.”

The lieutenant’s expression remained thoroughly displeased.“Oh, you deserve far more than that.”

James nodded.“Agreed.”

The duke seemed to abruptly lose patience with the exchange. He made his way to one side of the room and sat behind a large desk.

James turned to watch him, only then getting a good look at the deskwhere the duke now sat. The entire surface was covered with weaponry. Several dueling pistols rested beside a hunting rifle.Who brings a hunting rifle to London?A good portion of the desktop housed swords of varying lengths, and a particularly dangerous-looking dagger sat nearest the duke’s right hand.

His gaze met the duke’s. Never before had a single look chilled James to his very core.“In light of the fact that there are ladies present in the house, I opted to leave the more menacing weapons out of sight,” the duke said.“Though several are still within reach.”

James had a feeling he did not want to know what or where the hidden weapons were.“Yes, Your Grace.” James’s eyes swept the arsenal once more before shifting of their own accord to the lieutenant standing at the duke’sshoulder, his hand resting ominously on the hilt of his uniform sword.

The duke picked up the dagger, casually spinning it about in his hand.“I assume you have come to plead your case. I suggest you do so quickly—that is my least favorite part of these encounters.”

“Hismostfavorite part involves the weaponry,” the lieutenant said. “All of it.”

He detected not an ounce of bravado in the declaration.“I have not come intent on defending myself, Your Grace. If I had only my own interestsat heart, I would have fled to Lancashire or the Americas or someplace fartherstill.”

“A much safer distance,” the duke said, still handling the dagger withan alarming degree of finesse. “I did, after all, promise that if you hurt my Daphne, I would remove your vital organs with a blunt instrument.”

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