Page 14 of The Duke of a Thousand Desires

“For pity’ssake, give me a moment to catch my breath.”

That moment never arrived. The duke did, and when he entered the chamber Ravenna needed only one glimpse at his austere countenance to realize that she might remain breathless for a long time.

She had of course reckoned with Simon in various surroundings over the years, but not in a blue-silk boudoir. Did he seem a little too comfortable?

His gaze locked with hers. She might never have been able to break his stare had someone not coughed, and she realized he hadn’t entered the room alone. A line of maids curtsied their way to the dressing closet. One of these attendants was her own companion Isolde, her blue eyes assessing Ravenna in worry. Two other gentlemen hovered behind the duke, intense and darkly elegant.

She and Simon looked away from each other in the same awkward moment. His face betrayed only a flicker of strain. He seemed to think nothing of their mutual devolution. She felt flushed, taken with a need to fan herself. She hadn’t fully allowed herself to acknowledge his potent appeal until tonight’s encounter. How could she have remained indifferent to the magnetism of that strongly carved face?

It was possible that interrupting an attempt on his life had temporarily unhinged her. Could she have bumped her head on the tree?

She deserved answers. Perhaps Rhys would provide some clarity, although he looked anything but composed as he tromped past Simon like a war horse. In fact, no one uttered a word until Jane said, “Where is Heath?”

Simon stirred. “Investigating in the gardens.”

“And Ravenna’s fiancé?” Jane asked as if suddenly remembering he even existed.

Rhys replied with an evil smile that Ravenna knew too well. “Simon and I helped him into his carriage.”

“Head first,” Simon said after a pause.

He glanced at Ravenna and again she was suffused with warmth. When would he explain the conditions of their pact? What wicked bargain had she made? What had he done to David?

How long was she to be kept in suspense?

“Everyone sit down,” Grayson said. There was an interval of consternation as the gentlemen perched uncomfortably on the fragile spindle-legged chairs scattered around the room. “Rochecliffe has assured me there is an excuse for his behavior. I, in turn, have guaranteed that anything he confides in us will not be repeated outside the family. He swore that he did not mean to dishonor Ravenna.”

Simon nodded gravely. “I was invited into the garden to meet an anonymous guest on what I thought was a personal matter. It seems I walked into an ambush. Presumably the person who sent me the missive intended to kill me. Ravenna screamed because she spotted him as he aimed at me from the walnut tree.”

“And struck my Achilles?” Grayson said. “I would have shot back at him if I’d been in your place.”

“Which I might have done had I been armed,” Simon replied. “However, I’m not in the habit of carrying weapons to a ball. Call me naïve. I was certainly unprepared. The person who fired at me dropped from his hiding place at Ravenna’s feet.”

“That much is true,” she said with a begrudging nod.

Simon granted her another heavy-lidded glance. “I judged her life to be imperiled. I reacted by throwing myself at her as a defense. It might have been a graceless act, but in my estimation there was no choice.”

Grayson turned to Ravenna. “And you have nothing to add?”

Jane rose and positioned herself beside Ravenna’s chair. “She doesn’t have to say anything at all. I would like to finish speaking to her in private before any further questioning.”

Grayson’s brow furrowed at her demand. “And you are her legal counsel?”

“Why not?” she countered. “You’re acting as her judge and jury.”

“That is my role,” he said.

“Not in my sitting room. Our other rooms, yes.”

Simon coughed. “Don’t let me be the cause of a quarrel.”

“You should have foreseen there would be trouble before you answered your mysterious summons,” Jane said, lifting her chin in displeasure. “Shame on you for thinking to conduct an assignation at my ball without forewarning anyone.”

“He is a single gentlemen,” Grayson said. “What would you expect him to do? Refuse a simple invitation sent by any of a dozen ladies in attendance who might have held innocent motives? Many a romance has been sparked at our parties.”

“And how many attempted murders?” Jane retorted.

Grayson sighed. “Did you have any reason to anticipate an enemy lying in wait?” he asked Simon.