Page 90 of Noble Scoundrel

His voice was low and graveled when he finally spoke. “I’ve done a lot in my life that would make you shudder in horror.”

“You’ve done what you needed to do.” She lowered her chin and smiled. “And I don’t frighten that easily.”

He chuckled. “I’m starting to believe that.”

She lifted her brows. “What more must I do to prove it?”

“You don’t have to prove anything to me,” he answered in a gruff tone as his expression hardened.

She wouldn’t allow herself to glance away. “I want to.”

“Why?”

Her heart was suddenly beating terribly fast. So fast, her breath became shallow. She’d just claimed to be fearless. Was she going to falter when it was most important? “I’d like to know what it feels like to be valued...by a man like you.”

He didn’t reply right away, and in the silence that followed her confession, his manner changed. Hardened. It wasn’t exactly anger she saw flashing in his eyes, but it held a similar intensity. Then he tilted his head to a cocky angle as a smirk twisted his lips.

“Valued?” he asked in a slightly mocking tone. “Don’t you mean fucked?”

Chapter Twenty-eight

Katherine’s heart dropped. She would never have thought he’d throw her words from last night back at her—words she’d spoken in passion and vulnerability and need. As she stared at him—hurt and shock tightening her chest—she noted the tension in his body and the way he fisted his hands as though preparing to fight. “Is that what you think?” she asked quietly.

“What else is there?”

Stunned by his suddenly surly manner and dismissive tone, she couldn’t form an answer.

Then the carriage rolled to a stop and a footman appeared almost immediately to open the door.

Katherine hesitated. Staring at Hale, she opened her mouth to speak, though she had no idea what she intended to say. But then she didn’t get a chance to say anything as he spoke first.

“Go to your party, duchess. Your fine friends are waiting.”

He was right.

She wasn’t sure what had caused him to become crude and mocking, but she knew him well enough now to see it for the deflection it was. Though she had every intention of finishing this conversation, the things she truly wished to say to him required more time—deserved more time—and a far more intimate setting.

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