Tall, Duke, and Dangerous (Hazards of Dukes #2) - Megan Frampton Page 0,91

to her wishes.

“And after a while it felt odd to say anything at all. I was a duke’s heir, I could do whatever I wanted. As long as my father didn’t notice.”

“What—what happened if he noticed?” she asked, dreading the answer.

“You have to know. You must have seen the bruises.”

Her throat got thick. Of course she’d seen the bruises, but back then she hadn’t realized what they meant.

“He was a monster.”

He took a deep breath. “He was—and so am—”

“Perhaps they are in that building there,” a voice said loudly. Octavia. “If only we could find the duke and Lady Ana Maria, I am certain they just came out here to take the air.”

Octavia warning them.

Ana Maria scrambled to stand, shaking her skirts out and trying to smooth her hair, even though she had no idea if it had gotten disheveled in the course of their—activities.

“We’re here,” Nash called, sounding casual even while he was frantically tossing his shirt back over his head, tucking it into his trousers. He eyed the cravat lying on the bench, met her gaze, and shook his head.

She grabbed it as she turned to face the door, clasping it behind her back.

The door swung open, and Octavia entered, her expression one of warning even though her words sounded entirely relaxed.

“Of course they are here, I told you that Lady Ana Maria felt a bit faint, and since the duke here is practically a relation, it only makes sense that he would escort her for some air.”

“Ana Maria!” Sebastian’s tone was unusually stern.

Not only was Sebastian there, but Thaddeus stood beside him, both of them radiating disapproval.

“You two,” she said, glancing from one to the other.

“Octavia, you should return to the party,” Sebastian said.

Octavia glanced toward Ana Maria, who nodded.

“Fine,” she said. She advanced toward Sebastian, poking her finger in his chest. “But don’t you dare hurt my friend.”

“She’s my sister!” Sebastian retorted.

“Humph,” Octavia replied. She gave Ana Maria a quick kiss on the cheek, then scampered back toward the ballroom.

“If you want to avoid a scandal,” Thaddeus said in a grim tone, “you will come with us, Ana Maria.” At least he sounded the way he usually did, since he always seemed to be issuing commands, even when asking someone something as innocuous as to pass the sugar. “Or you can tell us that you want to get married, given what you two have obviously been up to.”

Did she want to avoid a scandal? Did she want to marry him?

She’d just had the most incredible experience of her life—not just that, but also his confiding in her. Sharing some of the secrets that seemed as though they might throttle his soul.

If he could just speak to his emotions. Just say he wanted her completely, not as an interlude or a training lesson.

Just speak, Ignatius.

“You two,” she began, glancing between Sebastian and Thaddeus, “have spent a lot of time trying to decide what is best for me. And telling me what to do.”

Sebastian’s mouth opened as though to object, but she shook her head. “No. Not now. It is my turn.”

She straightened her shoulders and looked straight at Nash, whose face was unreadable.

Though his fists were not—they hung by his side, and she could see how tightly he was gripping them. So tightly that there were white marks around his knuckles.

Obviously he was agitated, but she had no clue what about—possibly being forced into a marriage he’d said repeatedly he did not want? Being chastised by his best friends? Regretting opening up to her as much as he had?

She wished she could read him better.

Or perhaps not, since maybe he didn’t want her, after all.

“Nash is my friend.” She saw a muscle tic in his jaw. “He should not be forced to save my reputation because somebody decides to gossip about us.” She flung her hands up in frustration. “Until six months ago, I didn’t have a reputation to worry about! Except for if I smudged the silver.”

She shook her head in frustration. “What is important to me is that the person I marry—whomever that person is—is able to say why he wishes to marry me. Not that he should, or that others think he should. Or that it just seems to make sense.” She planted her hands on her hips and spoke directly to Nash. “I want to know why.” I want you to tell me you want me in your world.

She kept her gaze locked on his face. She still couldn’t read it.

“Well?” Sebastian said,