Page 16 of The Duke's Mysterious Lover
“But I believe that plenty of fun can be had outside of marriage.”
A wry chuckle, and he met her eyes. “A refreshing attitude. I’m certain, in a few years, ladies will be throwing themselves at ye and—”
“I don’t prefer to have fun with ladies.”
The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, and her shocked expression must’ve mirrored his own. They both began to chuckle, until Thorne waved her away and sat forward—wheezing from the smoke—to reach for the bottle once more.
“Direct and to the point, Kit, eh? Well, I believeA Harlot’s Guidehas a few entries for lads like ye.”
The book, written centuries ago as a sort of illustrated catalog of sexual positions, had any number of entries for a woman interested in obtaining pleasure. But Thorne thought her a man.
He gestured to her to bring her glass closer, and when she did, refilled it before refilling his own.
“Haven’t ye had enough, Your—my—sir?”
“Thorne,” he corrected with a smirk. “And I’m a big lad, Kit. I ken when I’ve had enough. Tonight was…” He blew out a breath and slouched back, gazed across the room, brows drawn in. “Bull is smart. Too smart, I sometimes worry. He’s too far into all of this, and I worry he’ll be hurt when the time comes…”
“What time?”
“Danger is coming for us and I dinnae want him to be caught in it.”
It was such a simple statement, but Kitfeltthe weight of it, sinking into her chest with horror as she realized he believed it.
“I’m the only one left without a family,” Thorne continued. “Without someone to care for. Someone to worry for me.” He stared into the depths of his glass. “The others, they have people who’ll miss them. So it’s down to me. I started this, and I’ll end it, and I’m terrified Bull will insist on being in the crossfire.”
What in the hell was he talking about? “You’ll keep him safe, my lord.”
His expression was bleak when he looked up. “I cannae wager on that.”
“Look,whatdanger are you speaking of? And it’s nonsense to say no one cares for you.”
Thorne was shaking his head. “Everyone else is married, withbairns. It’s too much…”
Suddenly, Kit understood.
Thorne was sitting here with her, drinking himself into a stupor, because he wasscared. He’d been thrust into this dukedom and he had no one.
No one to confide in, no one to rely on. No one to tell him he was doing a good job, no one to hold him when he needed support.
All of his friends had married, had children, and Thorne…Thorne thought he was stuck doing this all alone.
It was why he’d befriended her, wasn’t it?
“Thorne…” She began softly, pushing herself upright to watch him cautiously. “You don’t have to do this all alone.”
He scrubbed his free hand across his face and seemed to force a half-hearted twitch of his lips. “Aye, I do.”
“No, you don’t. You’ve shouldered so much responsibility in such a short amount of time.”Haven’t you? “You need…”
As she tried to find the words for what he needed, she realized Thorne was staring at her. Hard.Eagerly.
He wanted help.
Heneededhelp.
Kit blew out a breath.Oh, hell.“I’m sorry, my lord, if I’ve overstepped—”
“I think we’ve gone pastmy lording, lad.” His thumb and forefinger were pressed to his temple and forehead, as if holding himself in place, his elbow resting on the arm of his chair, his other hand cradling the untouched whisky and cigar. “What do ye think I need?”
