Page 32 of The Taming of the Duke
“Don’t touch me, Your Grace,” she hissed. “I think you’ve done enough.”
Head held high, she turned her back and strode toward the doors.
“Wait!” he cried. “Don’t you want to know why I told you the truth now?”
She turned and shrugged. “Because you knew I’d find out. Your friend had as good as confessed. All you’ve done is fill in the details.”
“It wasn’t because of that,” he said. “It’s because I have too much respect for you—I care about you too much to want to conceal the truth. I want you to love me—allof me—including my flaws.” He took a step toward her. “As I love you—all of you.”
Her hand flew to her mouth, and her eyes shone with unshed tears. Then she shook her head.
“No,” she whispered as if to herself. “I’ll not fall for it—not again.”
“Catherine!” he cried. “Won’t you at least listen? Give me a chance to atone? I regret deceiving you. But the deception was short-lived. And, in some ways, I’m glad I set out to court you. For had I not done do, I would never have seen the real woman.”
“The real woman?”
“The kind, caring woman,” he said, “who thinks nothing of herself and everything of those that she loves. The clever woman with the sharp tongue and ready wit—who conceals herself beneath the façade of the shrew.”
She flinched at that last word, then sighed.
“Shrew I may be,” she said, “but at leastI’venever set out to toy with someone’s heart for my own ends—or for a hundred guineas.”
He approached her again, and she raised her hand.
“No further, sir!”
“What must I do?” he asked.
“Spend your hundred guineas wisely,” she retorted. “Or, if you’re unable to grasp the concept of a wise purchase, use it to buy yourself a woman who doesn’t mind being deceived. I hear there’s plenty in the bawdy houses of London.
Before he could respond, she turned her back and strode inside.
Shit.
He thrust his hands into his pockets. What the bloody hell was he going to do?
“Ahem.” The footman cleared his throat. “Will you be wanting the curricle again today, Your Grace?”
“Bloody hellfire, man!” he cried. “Do I look like I’ll need it?”
“Very good, Your Grace.” The footman bowed, then climbed into the curricle and drove off, disappearing round the side of the building.
Only a week ago Dax would have been crowing at the notion of having won a bet—and a hundred guineas to restock his wine cellar with.
But, in doing so, he’d lost something far more precious.
The only woman in the world he was capable of loving.
Chapter Ten
Asharp knockon the door roused Catherine from her doze.
“Come in!”
The door creaked open, and Lady Hardwick’s maid appeared.
“Excuse me, miss, her ladyship’s been asking for you, seeing as you missed dinner.”
