Page 19 of My Daring Duchess
She called upon the memory of how Lord Cad had nearly destroyed her, and with renewed purpose, she broke Simon’s kiss, stepped back, and pressed her fingertips to her throbbing lips. Good heavens, the man could kiss in a way she had not known possible.
“Do not ever do that again,” she said, pleased her tone sounded severe, though it was her anger with herself creating the tension in her voice.
“Why? Do ye fear ye could not control yerself with me?”
Yes!
“It’s not honorable,” she said, “to kiss a woman to whom you are not betrothed. You claimed to be an honorable rogue, though I feel obliged to point out that the very definitions ofhonorandroguecontradict each other.”
He scowled, and when he dragged his hand through his hair frustration flickered across his face. Her stomach knotted. She felt like a spectator watching a man battle himself. Simon was struggling with what he wanted and what was right.
The study door suddenly swung open, and Caitlin was there, holding the blanket that Simon had ordered his butler to fetch. Simon’s sister glanced at the two of them with a knowing look. She tsked at her brother. “Ye’re standing too close to Miss Adair. Ye know what mother always said…”
Simon’s chuckle filled the room as he moved back from Anne. “Aye,” he rumbled.“Leave enough room between ye and the lasses for the Lord.”
“Your mother sounds very sensible,” Anne said. “Where is she? I’d love to make her acquaintance.”
Simon and Caitlin exchanged a swift, strained look, and then Caitlin cleared her throat and said, “Our mother passed some years ago.”
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry,” Anne replied, thinking of her own mother. “My mother passed less than two years ago, which is when my sister and I came to meet our grandfather.”
Simon frowned. “Why did ye not meet yer grandfather until yer mother passed?”
Before Anne could respond, Perceval appeared in the doorway. Behind him was Lord Rutledge. Anne’s heart leaped at the possibility of speaking to Lord Rutledge on Fanny’s behalf.
“Your Grace, Lord Rutledge is here to see you,” Perceval said.
Anne tensed, half expecting Simon to chastise the butler, who had botched his duties by bringing Lord Rutledge to the study to announce him to Simon. But Simon simply smiled and said, “I can see that, Perceval, as Rutledge is standing right behind ye.” Simon motioned to the door.
Perceval inclined his head and murmured, “I’ll just take my leave, then, Your Grace.”
“By all means,” Simon replied. Anne could see that he was fighting a smile.
Rutledge entered the room as Perceval exited. When Rutledge’s gaze fell on Anne, his eyes widened. “Miss Adair,” he said in a formal, stiff tone. “I cannot imagine what brings you to Kilmartin’s home.”
Anne felt herself frowning as she looked at Lord Rutledge. The smirk he tried to discreetly direct toward Simon seemed to belie his claim that he could not imagine what had brought her here. She had a sinking suspicion that these two men had discussed her already. She refused to dwell upon it, though.
“Since you and His Grace are such close friends, I came here to urge him to encourage you to do the honorable thing and request Lady Fanny’s hand in marriage.”
Rutledge turned an alarming shade of red. “Lady Fanny tried to trap me into marriage, which is quite simply sad!”
Anne clenched her teeth. “Fanny did no such thing!”
Rutledge cocked his eyebrows at her. “And who told you that?” he snapped. “The scheming lady in question?”
“Rutledge,” Simon growled. “Mind yer tone with Miss Adair.”
Rutledge’s face grew tense, but he nodded. “As you wish. I believe I’ll depart. Send word when you have a moment to meet with me, Kilmartin.”
Oh dear! She needed Rutledge to stay so Simon could offer him a position. “I must go, so you should stay,” Anne assured him, aware he was leaving because of her presence.
“I will see ye at one o’clock tomorrow as we discussed, aye?” Simon asked.
She was going to have to be careful not to raise her grandfather’s suspicions, but she nodded, knowing she would find a way.
“I’ll see ye out,” Caitlin said.
“Thank you,” Anne replied, moving toward the door. As she and Caitlin strolled away from the study, Anne asked, “How old was Simon when your mother passed?” If he had lost his mother at a young age, it might explain why he had not been taught how to properly treat ladies.
