Page 109 of A Knave By Any Other Name
But she took several sips more just to be sure and felt her mind begin to change on the subject.
This is not peace—this is life.
This was the sort of burn that could trail across all you believed to be true and turn the world to chaos and ash. But once that burning settled, the universe danced at your fingertips.
Selena let out a small laugh. Theodosia would give her the evil eye if that thought ever became known. She wiggled herfingers, sliding into a reclining position, swallowing another, smaller sip. Beer did, however, taste better. No contest.
A knock at the threshold bounced off the spines of the books in the library and echoed in her ears. “My lady?”
Selena strained her neck to peer over the sofa and settled down again. “What is it, Miles? Has my brother finally shown his face? Show him to his waistcoats.”
“No, my lady. The Duke of Mortimer has requested an audience with you.”
Selena bolted up right, bottle clutched to her breast. “The Duke of Mortimer?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Interesting.
“Are you sure it’s not someone impersonating the duke?”
“I am sure, my lady.”
What business would the duke have with her?
The book.
Right, of course. She fell back down onto the pillows stacked at her back. The only reason anyone approached her—that cursed book.
She waved a hand in the air. “Show him in. Don’t bring tea.”
“Very well, my lady.”
The solid click of footsteps approached, paused, and then continued until it stopped before the couch.
“Lady Selena.”
Selena glanced over to the man but did not bother to rise. “Duke. Take a seat.”
He stared at her a moment before lowering himself down into a chair. His gaze shifted to the bottle then back to her. “You seem to be going through a patch of difficulty, my lady.”
“A patch.” She reluctantly rose from slouching to a little less slouching. The man was a duke after all. He deservedsomeform of courtesy. “What brings a duke to our humble home?”
“Your brother.”
A twist. “Saville is out and about.”
“Warrick?”
More of a twist? “Should you not call onhisresidence if you desire an audience with the earl?”
He leaned forward so that his elbows rested on his knees. “Lady Selena, I’ll be frank. Have you been searching for a club with a crest of roses and a sword?”
So, he knew, too. Why did she not find that surprising? She would not bother to deny it. At this point, nothing could astonish her anymore. Confuse her, yes, but not stun her. “You are quite impressive, Duke. You even know this much.”
“I saw you at The Rose.”
It took a moment for his words to sink through all the sips of brandy and connect to the alehouse she’d visited. “You were there?” Then it dawned on her. “The mysterious man in the corner with a cap on his head.”
