Page 12 of Once You Love a Scoundrel

“I’m perfectly all right,” she said in a prim tone. “Are you going to open the door?” She gestured toward where his hand was curved around the handle.

He glanced down and frowned. “Yes,” he said. “Are you?”

“If you’ll allow me to enter.” Her tone was filled with exasperation.

Daniel sighed. She would not make this easy, and he didn’t blame her. He had been a right arse the previous night. The ton called him a scoundrel, and he had earned that reputation in his misspent youth, but he hadn’t been that wayward man for a couple of years now. He still had lovers, but he was far more discriminate in his choices. What he had never done was accost an innocent lady with unwanted attention. He had never felt more terrible than he did in this moment. He turned the handle and opened the door. “After you,” he told her.

She didn’t meet his gaze as she slid past him and went inside. They were not alone in the room. He wasn’t certain if he was happy about that or not. He should apologize to her, but he also didn’t want to call any attention to their time alone in the library. Daniel would not ruin her reputation because he had kissed her without her permission. Lady Winchester sat next to the Duchess of Lindsey. They were family and deep in conversation about the rest of their relatives expected to arrive.

“Iris,” the duchess said in greeting. “How are you feeling today?”

“Much better,” she answered.

Daniel frowned. She hadn’t been feeling well? That was another thing he had to add to his long list of transgressions. Lady Iris went to the buffet set up on one side of the room and filled it with eggs, kippers, and ham. After she had her plate filled, she sat down at the table. A servant brought her a cup of tea, silverware, and a plate with toast. “Will you require anything else, my lady?” the servant inquired.

“No,” she said, then smiled at him. “This is fine, thank you.”

She was so polite. Daniel clenched his jaw. She wouldn’t be that friendly with him. He hated that he hurt her and he wished he could turn back time and change it. There was so much wasted time and sleepless nights over the past year. He had been thinking a lot about what he wanted in his life. All his younger declarations of never marrying or falling in love... Total rubbish.

He didn’t want to look back in a couple decades and realize that he let the best thing that he’d ever had slip through his fingers. He wanted her, and damn it, he would find a way to win her. She had been interested in him before. Somehow, he would have to reach that part of her heart again. He didn’t want to waste another day. If he had to choose between her and living with his demons, there was no contest. She won every time.

Daniel filled his plate and then sat at the table across from her. He wanted to sit next to her, but it wasn’t time for that much closeness. He would have to charm her and she didn’t seem inclined to even notice him. “Your Grace,” he greeted the duchess. “Lady Winchester.” Daniel nodded at them. “How are you this morning?” He didn’t glance at Lady Iris, but he could almost feel her glare.

“Please don’t be formal with me,” the duchess said. “You’re one of Matthew’s closest friends. Call me Francesca.”

“I’m not sure that is wise,” he drawled. “Your husband is a jealous man. I like my head where it is.”

The duchess laughed. “You don’t have any plans on seducing me, do you?”

“Not today,” he said in a light tone. “Ask me how I feel tomorrow.” Daniel winked.

“Why not today,” Lady Iris said. “Are you feeling indisposed for some reason?”

He turned toward her. Fury filled her gaze. She didn’t like him flirting with the duchess. That was interesting... “I am not feeling my best,” he confirmed. “I had a restless night.”

“Nightmares?” She lifted a brow. “I must admit you don’t look well.” Lady Iris tilted her head to the side. “Did you drink too much?”

“No, to both questions,” he replied in an amiable tone. “But I did have some dreams of the more...sensual kind.” He took a bite of his eggs and chewed slowly. Daniel kept his gaze on her. “There’s a woman that I can’t quite forget no matter how hard I try.”

“How unfortunate for the woman.” She picked up the knife on her side and spread butter over her toast in a ferocious manner.

“That poor toast,” he replied. “What did it do to you?”

Lady Iris opened her mouth, then closed it. She stared down at her toast and frowned. “I like it this way.” She took a bite and chewed it. After she swallowed it, she grinned at him. All teeth, and a meanness in her gaze that would make a lesser man wince. Daniel was too determined to run now that he had decided upon her.

He laughed. “I think I like you,” he told her. Then he turned to the other two ladies. “Do you two have any quirks like her?”

Lady Winchester shrugged. “I must admit before today I have never witnessed Iris deface toast in such a manner.”

“It must be a new habit.” The duchess’s lips twitched as she fought a smile. “Of course it could have been brought on by frustrations of another kind.”

“I do not know what you mean.” Iris turned to glare at the duchess. “I’m the epitome of calm and serenity.”

He adored her. “Of course you are,” he said in a neutral tone. “You’re definitely the epitome of something.”

Lady Iris curled her fingers around the hilt of her knife. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Daniel finished his eggs instead of answering her. She was seething and it might be best not to poke her anger any more. He drank his tea and the more he sat there, his mood improved. The duchess and the countess both left. They had smiles on their faces and he couldn’t help wondering if they could read the underlying tension between him and Iris.

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