Page 51 of Her Ruse with the Rakish Duke
“Gardens are not exactly the right place for private conversations,” she spat letting her ire show.
His brows dipped into a frown as he processed her words but she said nothing, waiting for him to recall the conversation she had hinted at. His eyes widened when he did. “What did you hear?” Victor asked, somehow keeping his voice level so he did not betray his surprise at her revelation.
To know that she had known all this time about that conversation he’d had with Harry and still cared for him the way she did made him feel like a bastard in many ways.
She unfolded her arms and folded them again as she collected her thoughts.
“I heard you say you could not fall for an innocent. And your desires could only be satisfied by a woman with experience and not by a cloying virgin.”
If he were a lesser man, he would have berated himself for such harsh words. But he was not a lesser man, and he had meant those words to a certain degree.
“Is that all you heard?” he asked, wanting to know the full scope of what she had overheard.
“Yes,” she answered, and he did not pry.
If she had heard more, she would have said so. He had not given her enough credit for her bravery.
“All right,” he answered. “Four years ago, I might have considered it, but I have changed. I am not the man I used to be.”
“I do not care for the man in your past,” she told him. “And do not confuse my words for love. I do not love you.”
He laughed at her strong words but nodded, even though the words left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“I would not expect you to love me when I have done nothing to earn it.”
“Love is not earned, Victor.” She smiled. “It is a gift you could either choose to accept or reject.”
“How can you be such an expert on love when you claim to have never been in love?” he asked with a playful tone but was taken aback when she looked away, biting her lip.
She has been in love. But with whom?
“I am sorry. I did not mean to pry,” he muttered.
She turned back to him with a placid expression on her face.
“It was a long time ago. I have learned since then.”
“You really should leave now,” he told her, breaking the heavy silence that had settled between them.
“Why should I?” she asked stubbornly. “Because it is improper?”
“Yes,” he said in exasperation. “And I am a man.”
“I have nothing to fear from you.”
He laughed a low laugh letting his frustration show. She really did not know how close he was to putting his hand up the skirt of the accursed nightgown she wore and showing her just how dangerous he was.
“Why do you say so?” His curiosity got the better of him as he stalked her predatorily, hoping to scare her off. Yet Daphne, being the minx that she was, stood boldly and proudly before him, squaring her shoulders.
Her breasts came into better view and his self-control started to wane.
“Because,” she said stepping even closer, her voice dropping low. “You have been nothing but proper with me.”
She kept a fierce look on her face that showed her true intention.
He stepped back in shock as he hadn’t thought her capable of such impropriety. Did she even know what she was asking?
“Daphne, you are a lady and you are to be treated as such.”
