Page 10 of The Design of Dukes
“Some other time, perhaps. I need to return home.”
Romy pressed a palm to her mid-section, trying to staunch the roll of her insides at the knowledge that her masterpiece, with all those precious tiny suns she’d created, was going to Beatrice.
Beatrice gave Granby a pretty pout, followed by a determined flutter of lashes. “I will only be a moment longer, Your Grace.”
His massive shoulders rolled in annoyance, the errant wave of hair falling over his eye once again. “I encourage you to shorten your visit as much as possible.”
“Of course, Your Grace. Madame Dupree, if you will.” Beatrice bobbed politely in Romy’s direction. “I’ll call upon you, Lady Andromeda. We have much catching up to do.”
“I look forward to it.” Romy would not be receiving that day or any day Beatrice decided to call.
Madame Dupree dipped politely to Granby and Romy before escorting Beatrice to the back of the shop.
Once they’d disappeared, Romy turned to face him. “Your Grace.” She bobbed politely before walking quickly to the door, eager to escape his presence. Granby had the most unwelcome effect upon her senses.
“Allow me to escort you to your carriage, Lady Andromeda.” The deep gravelly words tickled her skin, lifting the hair on her arms.
“There is no need.” Romy didn’t halt as she strode by him, catching a whiff of pine mixed with a hint of soap and leather. Woodsy. Just as before. How could she recall how Granby smelled while he didn’t even remember her?
“I insist.”
His long legs easily kept pace with hers as Romy made her way to the sidewalk outside. Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she studied the austere line of his jaw dusted with dark hair, wondering if the rocky hardness of his features allowed him to smile.
“Is there something you find interesting about my cravat, my lady?” His lips pressed into a line.
“Not in the least,” she replied, horrified he’d caught her looking. “I was only observing that though your cravat is finely twisted, I don’t care for the color.”
“The color?” Humor edged his reply though his lips didn’t so much as twitch.
“It reminds me of bathwater that has gone cold.”
Granby pushed at the errant wave of his hair again. “Very descriptive. You feel I behaved in an insulting manner by assuming you to be one of Madame Dupree’s assistants, so you are returning the favor by disparaging me in return.”
Romy didn’t care for his observation, mainly because it was true.
He took her arm, the touch sending a tingling sensation up to her shoulder. “How is it that we have never beenproperlyintroduced, Lady Andromeda?”
“Avoidance, I suppose.”
“Why would you wish to avoid me? We’ve only just met, haven’t we?” The chill was still there in his words, but there was something else. A silky, slightly carnal quality that hadn’t been present before.
It was rather unnerving.
“I feel certain that should be obvious,” she retorted sharply, wishing he would simply stalk off and terrorize some children instead of herself. Surely there were some about.
When finally they reached her carriage, Granby halted, dark gaze fixed on the ducal seal and the livery of the footmen. “Averell.” He rolled the name over his tongue as if he found it distasteful.
“Yes. I’ve two brothers. The elder is the duke.” Romy always made it a point to remind everyone of the fact that she possessed not one but two brothers. Bastard or not, Leo was beloved by her and her family just as much as Tony.
Granby’s mouth pursed in disdain. He was yet another titled gentleman who adored spending his coin at Elysium all the while despising Leo for being a bastard. If Granby was such a bastion of propriety, it was likely he didn’t care for the Duke of Averell either.
Romy decided she found Granby and his rudeness beneathher.
The Averell footmen immediately came forward as Romy approached. They were both big, strapping young lads who eyed Granby with a stern look while moving immediately to Romy’s side, though the duke towered over them both.
“Hello, Wicks.” She nodded to one. “Rondal.”
Granby raised a brow at her casual tone in addressing the footmen, probably wondering why she would even bother to learn their names. He wasthattype of duke. The kind she disliked.
