Page 32 of The Duke Who Dared Me
He was going to be all right.The relief was so fierce it left her dizzy.
She peeked behind her and tried to smile at Alistair, who stood in the doorway.He gave her a short nod, like something inside him had unclenched, too.
“Your brother’s in his study,” the housekeeper added, already backing away.“Said he’d like to see you both when you’re ready.”
Verity nodded, brushing her fingers gently over Colin’s downy curls.Blond like his father.“Thank you.”
When the door clicked shut, Verity sat on the wooden chair beside the crib, folding her hands in her lap.Alistair didn’t move, didn’t speak.The silence dragged on until, finally, she couldn’t bear it.
“You’re awfully quiet,” she said without looking at him.
“Can’t wake Colin.”
She turned her head, narrowing her eyes at him.He looked every inch the duke again, all composed, remote, untouchable.She hated that mask.She hated how easily he wore it now after tearing it off so completely last night in the firelight.
“You don’t have to pretend it didn’t happen.”
His jaw ticked.“I’m not pretending.”
“No?Because you look like you’d rather be anywhere but here.”
Those eyes of his were back to being icy blue.Piercing.Alistair stepped into the room.“Do you want me to stay away?I will.”
She rose to her feet.“If I wanted you to stay away, you’d already be gone.”
He gave a short, bitter laugh.“You make it sound so simple.”
“I didn’t say it was simple,” she snapped.“I said I don’t regret it.Do you?”
He didn’t answer.His eyes dropped to the floor.The silence dragged until Verity’s stomach twisted.
“That’s what I thought,” she said quietly.
“I don’t regret you.”His voice was low.Rough.“I regret the timing.I regret you think I could use last night against you.That I might hold it over your head.”
“I don’t think that.”
“Don’t you?”
Verity crossed her arms, trying to hold herself together.“You’re the one who looks like you’ve been sentenced to death.”
Alistair stepped forward, slow and deliberate, until he stood just inches from her.“Because if I let myself want what I want, I’m going to ruin you, Verity.I’m going to lose control, and you’ll be the one who pays the price.”
She stared up at him, heart thudding.
“You think I don’t know what last night means?”he went on.“You think I don’t know I’ve started something I can’t finish?”
Her breath caught.“Then why start at all?”
“Because you asked me to,” he said.“Because you looked at me like I was more than I am.Because I’d die before I said no to you.”
The rawness in his voice struck her harder than a slap.
She opened her mouth, then closed it again.
“Percy,” she said finally, clearing her throat.“He’s waiting for us.
Alistair nodded.The spell shattered.He stepped back, all sharp lines and careful distance.
