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When they were driving through the woods leading to London in the carriage, she looked so small and innocent huddling in the corner opposite him, he ached to sit next to her and take her into his arms. Damn him, he shouldn’t do it. He’d already given her security, safety, and riches. He couldn’t—shouldn’t—give his victim’s sister his empathy or his heart. It would be like tricking her.

And yet…

“What’s wrong? Are you cold?” he asked, already unhooking his coat.

“A little…” she said as she watched him undress with big eyes, which were darkening as her gaze swept over his arms.

He watched her wrap his coat around herself and wished it were his arms. She leaned her face closer to the fabric. Did she take a sniff of it? Satisfaction spilled through his veins to see his coat cover her and protect her. The Rath crest of a red lion in flames on the coat was like a sign to the entire world that she was his.

“I’m mostly, er…nervous,” she said.

“Nervous?” he asked. “You?”

“Yes, me! I’ve never been to a Mayfair soirée… I’ve never been to any soirée! What do I say? How do I behave? What am I allowed to ask…? What if I say something that would embarrass you?”

“Embarrass me?”

He understood her nervousness as a provincial girl being presented to high society for the first time. What surprised him was that even now she was worried about making him look bad.

He’d underestimated her. And the effect she’d have on him.

“Yes, you,” she said. “You’ve been raised in this world. Everyone looks up to you. The grand, rich, powerful duke. I, on the other hand, know what it’s like when everyone looks down on you. I don’t want that to happen to you, too, by association with me.”

Something in his heart melted. The need to take her into his arms pulled at his chest.

“Sweet girl,” he said as he slid onto the seat of the carriage next to her. “I couldn’t care less what others think of me. However, if anybody dares to look down on you, they will know the power of my wrath.”

His chest cracked as the radiant, ice-melting smile lit up her face, the one he already knew so well even in the short time he’d known her.

“I suppose your temper has its positive sides,” she said with a sigh of relief. “Confidence. I wish I had more of it.”

His confidence? If only she knew…

He wished he could experience the world like she did, as a simple, wonderful place. He wished he had her inquisitive nature and curiosity about others, her wish to connect and her enthusiasm.

All he wished from others was that they would leave him alone.

“Do not think about confidence,” he murmured.

Good God, listen to him, trying to comfort her. Since when had he become such a nurturing type?

And yet he continued, unable to leave her in distress, wishing to lift her spirits.

“You do not need confidence to get through today. I’ll have confidence for you. If I had a drop of your natural charm and genuineness, I wouldn’t need to scare people.”

Her smile lit up the dark carriage like the sun.

“You do not scare me,” she murmured, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at him.

Oh…Lucifer.

One hour later, they reached Mayfair, and his aunt met them with an air of excitement.

“My darling,” she exclaimed as she looked Patience over and grabbed his wife’s hands in both of hers. “You are transformed!”

Patience beamed, and Dorian’s heart swelled as true joy lit up his dear aunt’s face. She was the only person who had shown him and Chastity compassion and human kindness after their mama was sent away, and he only wished he’d married sooner if it made her so happy. Then he felt a stab of guilt at the thought that this would be for only one year and with none of the grandbabies his aunt longed for.

“Never in my life could I have dreamed of such pretty gowns,” Patience said. “The ones you gave me were magnificent!”