Page 84 of The Duke's Impossible Deal
Tobias swallowed. He felt like she was not just looking at him, like she was seeing him. The strength and warmth of her words hit him with the force of a bullet. His heart thundered in his chest as his mind went over her words over and over again.
Including you.
“You could have swooped in, put yourself between me and her. I have seen how protective you are, how fiercely you defend people.” She swallowed. “You trusted that I could save myself.”
“How could I do anything else?” The words escaped before he could stop them.
She smiled, and as they twirled across the dance floor, she leaned towards him, whispering in his ear, “And that is what makes you exceptional, too.”
Her breath tickled his skin. Every muscle in his body tensed. He felt as though his chest was caught in an invisible fist.
He opened his mouth, ready to refute her statement, but she shook her head. “I will not hear a word to the contrary.”
“Is that an order, Duchess?” Tobias’s voice was hoarse.
She is so close.
“No, Colonel. It is simply a fact.” Her eyes met his, and she laughed, bright and beautiful.
He could not help but laugh with her, even as a part of him twisted with disquiet.
He would not dampen her mood. He could let her be wrong. He could give her one wonderful night.
“And that is what makes you exceptional, too.”
Rowen’s words kept playing in his head the next day. The feel of her lips against his skin, the sound of her laughter…
Just thinking of the evening made him smile.
“Tobias, have you heard a word I said?” Rowen’s voice called him back to the study.
She was standing by his desk, pointing to several things on a large map of the estate. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun, and she was wearing an elegant but practical dress. She gestured again at the map.
“I was a million miles away,” Tobias admitted, unable to keep from smiling as he leaned against the mantelpiece.
I thought distance would give me a clearer head.
“Clearly.” Rowen laughed and perched on the edge of the desk, her arms folded. “And are you going to tell me what you were thinking about?”
“Last night.” He smiled at the slight blush that spread across her cheeks. “I cannot recall the last time I had such a good time at a ball.”
“Nor can I.” Rowen moved to stand beside him, leaning against the opposite side of the mantelpiece. “Aside from the interlude with my mother, it was rather a perfect evening. And the widows adore you. Cora, especially.”
“I am glad I had the opportunity to get to know them a little more.” Tobias grinned. “Lady Cora has quite the sense of humor. I have heard sailors tell less scandalous jokes.”
“I suspect she was testing you. She has little patience for men who balk at a woman who can joke like one of them.”
“And do you think I passed her test?”
“Would it matter to you if you had not?”
“Yes. I have no wish to get on her bad side. And I know she is important to you.”
“She is. And it is obvious that she thinks well of you. She would not have invited you to her house otherwise.”
“Then I am honored.”
“I wondered about making the journey in the summer. The roads are awful in winter, and there will be too much to do in spring.”
