Page 7 of Dueling with the Duke
“I came out here to have some time to myself, and you have ruined that, just as you ruined my day earlier.”
Nicholas sighed, and that seemed to irritate Bridget more.
“You are angry at me because you met me on the moors? I did not make you late for the meeting between our families.”
Bridget placed her hands on her hips. “That is not why I am annoyed at you.”
It took all the Duke’s energy not to laugh or smile at the sight of the woman scorned before him. If she did not have a permanent scowl on her face, she would have cut a very beautiful figure. She was tall and athletic, with long blonde hair. Her features were small enough to be cute, and her lips were plump without being overly full.
“Then why are you annoyed at me?” the Duke asked.
“Because I overheard you talking about me in our sitting room with your brother.”
Nicholas smiled. “Ah, you were eavesdropping on us?”
“I was doing nothing of the sort. You were speaking loudly enough for the entire house to hear,” Bridget retorted.
“As I said, I have no qualms about talking about people to their faces. What was it you heard that was untrue? What might have upset you?”
“I’m not upset,” Bridget claimed. “Don’t try to boil this down to emotion. You think because I am a woman, I must have run off and cried about it. I don’t care what you say about me. I only care about people speaking behind my back.”
“Then we have no disagreement,” the Duke pointed out.
“You hate that I have opinions of my own, don’t you?” Bridget accused.
“Nothing of the sort,” Nicholas replied. “I believe you can have any opinion you like.”
“And I did not glare at you from across the room,” Bridget stated. “I looked at you, and that was all.”
“You either glared or stared romantically,” Nicholas pushed.
“Oh, you wish,” Bridget snapped. “And for your information, I don’t sound like a squawking crow.”
“Well, you are not making a very good argument against that right now,” the Duke pointed out.
“If anyone will cause trouble here, it is you,” Bridget stated. “My sister might not know the sort of things you get up to, but I certainly do. A rake and a rogue. Would that be an apt description?”
“Sounds like fun.” Nicholas smirked.
There was something about her intense anger that intrigued him, and he wanted to remain by her side.
“I am glad your brother is nothing like you,” Bridget scoffed.
“And I am glad you are nothing like your sister,” the Duke returned.
“Yes, well—what? What do you mean?” Bridget asked, caught off guard.
“Your sister is perfectly pleasant and makes a fine match for my brother, but you are much more fun. I would loathe to spend a week with someone who wants to talk all about flowers and the future.”
“Oh, you are insufferable,” Bridget snarled.
“What is going on here?” Margaret asked, appearing through the bushes. “Bridget, are you arguing again?”
“I was… debating,” Bridget assured her.
“Nicholas, I thought you were to be on your best behavior,” Michael stated, appearing behind his betrothed.
“I am trying my best to be extremely pleasant.” Nicholas turned back to face Bridget. “Nothing quite like being scolded by your younger siblings, no?”
