Page 37 of Good Duke Gone Rogue

And when she did, she didn’t seem out of sorts. She hadn’t blushed. Hadn’t gasped. Hadn’t teetered or swooned or tapped her toe. Or anything, really. But…what was that? A slight clenching in her jaw. The tension there prompted him to look down at her hands, and he saw them fisted behind her back. Business in the front. Battleground in the back.

“How long will this take?” Reggie demanded.

“I can take my time with this fine specimen if you want a thorough job.”

Reggie was about to thoroughly beat this man to a pulp. “Make it quick.” He offered his hand to Bernadette and guided her away from the stifling obnoxiousness.

Before he could apologize on behalf of the man, Bernadette pinched his arm.

“What was that about, Reggie?”

Appalled, Reggie felt a heat called rage blanket his body. “That man,” he nearly sputtered. “He was—he was—” He was trying to think of any descriptor words he could use in polite company.

“He was shameless. But also harmless.”

“Harmless?” This time Reggie did sputter. “That man is anything but harmless. If I hadn’t been there, who knows what he would have said or done.”

“Nothing. He probably wouldn’t have said or done anything. Mostly because I would never find myself alone with a man like that.”

“You can’t say that. It could happen.”

“It could. But I’ve never let it happen before. I’m cautious, you know.”

“You’re cautious, but you’re not as cautious as you used to be.”

Abruptly, she withdrew her arm. “What the devil is that supposed to mean, Reginald?”

Drat. Why was she turning her anger on him? She should have been infuriated with the veterinarian. She had never called him Reginald before. This was not looking good. Also, being the recipient of her anger twice in one day…this really did not bode well.

“I just mean that…you’re…um, different now.” His gaze met her eyes. Which was a terrible decision since they were on fire.

“Am I different now? Or do you just know me differently?” Her hands were not on her hips. A safe place to keep hands or limbs. They were extended into the open air. Where anything could happen.

“I…um…I don’t know how to answer that question.” Run ragged from lack of sleep and emotional roadtrips, he took a guess, “Both?”

She threw her hands in the air, the unequivocal sign indicating that her threshold had been passed.

If only he knew the universally accepted apology that could counter a woman’s fury, he would have offered it.

Chapter 18

AWASH IN EMOTIONS, BERNADETTE could hardly see straight. Reggie being jealous in front of the veterinarian was a turning point. Perhaps it would make no sense to anyone else, but it was enough for her. He was too close to her. She needed to put a stop to this, and for that she needed space. Unfortunately before that could happen, she needed to spend a fair amount of time with him in a confined space. She was only thankful that Jacob would be with them.

It was almost lunch which meant there was still time to travel home today. The horse was fine, so she had heard from Reggie and Quinn. And she had left the auction up to Quinn, since he offered to help. In being the duke for such a short time, he had already received a few inquiries about the horse, so he would know who to invite to the auction. Whether he held a public or private auction she didn’t care. She trusted his judgment.

And she just wanted her money. And her space.

She stuffed her clothes, or books, or whatever she had in her hand into her bag. She had told Reggie that they were leaving within the hour. Despite his shock, he nodded in agreement saying he would be waiting.

Sure enough, when she and Jacob arrived at the carriage, he stood just outside of it, waiting as sentry.

She pasted a smile onto her face, knowing she wasn’t upset with anyone except herself and Reggie. “You have been such a dear to host us on such short notice, Kat,” Bernadette hugged her friend. “I hope to see you again soon.”

“Come visit us anytime. Come stay with us if you want. We would love to have you and Jacob here.” Kat gave the boy a quick embrace, then leaned back toward Bernadette. “And don’t forget my offer.”

“Your offer?”

“To help find you a husband.”

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