Page 92 of The Scottish Duke
“I’ve wanted you to.”
What the hell did he say to that?
“I’ll find out who did this.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said.
“Of course it does.”
She shook her head. “Some of the herbs were difficult to find. Some of them were specimens I’ve had for a few years. They would be hard to replace. So it doesn’t matter if you find out who did this. The damage has already been done.”
“Someone did this to hurt you and I’m not going to tolerate it.”
Her eyes widened.
“Because I’m the Duchess of Kinross.”
He managed to hold onto his temper. “No, because you’re Lorna. You shouldn’t be punished for being the Duchess of Kinross.”
“Why not? You’ve done a good job of it. A most excellent job, as a matter of fact.”
She swiped at her hair, made a face, and then used both hands to arrange it into a bun. Her hair finally done, she frowned up at him.
“What are you doing here?”
“I live here,” he said.
“Not for nearly half a year.”
“It wasn’t that long.”
She gave him a look that felt like it scorched.
“Very well, it was too long.”
“Did you address the society?”
“Yes.”
“Did it really take all that time?”
He’d never had the need to explain himself. But, then, he hadn’t often done something as egregious as his recent behavior. She was absolutely right. He’d given her every reason to be angry. How did he tell her the truth?
“Were you seeing a woman?”
“What?”
Of all the questions she could have asked him, that one was the least expected.
“Mary said you had a mistress.”
“Mary talks too damn much.”
“Do you?”
“Have a mistress?” He speared one hand through his hair. “Does it matter?”
“Yes, I find it matters very much.”
