“Oh, don’t be like this, Mandeville,” the woman practically purred. “I can beveryobedient.”
Obedience. The term caused the simmering embers in his chest to blaze into a roaring fire. He’d spent most of his childhood under the thumb of his father and grandfather, both of whom demanded obedience. Had spent his entire adult life ensuring he’d never be trapped like that again. And now this green chit dared set up one of the worst traps for him.
Her bravery was almost laughable.
Almost. If it weren’t so damn infuriating.
“Do not make me warn you again,” Julien growled, a warning itself. “You won’t like the next one.”
She did not so much as hesitate to flutter her lashes, looking like a damn crazed pigeon. “Must you be so stern with me? You say I’m wrong, but I am not without perception, you know.”
She was not with it either. He took a step back, but unfortunately, like a newly attached shadow, she followed his retreat. He clenched and unclenched his fists, his patience running so damn thin, he was about to toss propriety into adamn barrel of gunpowder and light a match. Should he just allow her plan to play out? Irrevocably ruin the chit’s reputation for daring to play games with him? “What you’re planning will never happen. You have sorely misjudged me if you believe your little plan will work.”
Her sickeningly sweet smile made his stomach turn.
“Your reputation precedes you, Mandeville, but I know there’s more to the rumors than meets the ear.”
“There’s really not,” Julien ground out, the vein in his jaw throbbing in protest.
In response, she rose to the tips of her toes, her lips aiming for his. Rage tore through every part of his body, and old fury rose from the depth of the dark void he usually kept sealed by gates of iron. He snatched her wrist and glowered down at the woman, squeezing her wrist in warning, not enough to hurt, but just enough to get his point across.
And it did.
Fear flickered in her eyes.
This was precisely why he kept his distance. Why he never allowed people too close. People always wanted to overstep their boundaries. Always wished for more than he was willing to give. Save for a few exceptions. This chit wasn’t one of them.
“Y-your Grace?”
He twisted his mouth up into a wolfish grin. “Is this not what you wanted? After all, you have lied to me, placed your hands on me, and refused my request to stand down. All for what? An attempt to secure the title of duchess?” He leaned forward until they were eye to eye. “Are you even sure you can handle a man like me?”
A gasp from the doorway had his head snapped up.
Julien glanced over, his gaze falling on a beauty in pink.
Christ.
This night couldn’t get any worse.
Chapter 2
Whathad Elowyn stumbled onto?
She’d been making her merry way to the Earl of Stagbourne when the man suddenly sauntered off, and she’d made the impulsive decision to follow.
Why, oh, why had she decided to follow? And only to lose Stagbourne anyway! Excitement had gotten the better of her. Though honestly, losing him might have been a stroke of luck. She should never have ventured after him outside of the eyes of the ballroom.
And now this.
She recognized the couple instantly. The foul-tempered Duke of Mandeville and the venomous Lady Gabrielle. She’d been fortunate, as a wallflower, to avoid these two without much trouble. Elowyn lamented her luck again. Did couples who slipped away for a romp notcloseand lock the doors?
What rotten luck.
Lady Gabrielle’s glare contained daggers. “What areyoudoing here?”
Ah, the question of the evening.
“Do not stop on my account,” Elowyn blurted, her hand flying to clutch her throat as the words left her lips. Fabulous, Elowyn. Fabulous! Now the beast was glaring! His face practically transformed into a black cloud, and he let out a curse unfit for a lady’s ears, tossing aside Lady Gabrielle’s arm. “I mean to say . . . is . . . I didn’t see anything! Nothing whatsoever. I took a wrong turn. Just ignore me. I’m not here.I’m just a flower on the wall. Invisible. No threat in any way.” She retreated a step. “So, um, I’ll just take my leave.”