Chapter 3 #2
He eyed her thoughtfully. “You won’t spread this around if I tell you? I have no desire for her to return to a ruined reputation.”
“Of course not. I would never do anything to hurt my friend.”
“Very well. Then I shall tell you. Laura is missing.”
“Missing?”
“I do not believe that she is hurt or that she has been kidnapped. I am certain that she left of her own accord. But whatever her reasons, I must find her and bring her back. She left a rather strange note but gave no explanation nor any indication of her whereabouts.”
Thalia let out a ragged breath, dragging her fingers through her hair. The movement dislodged a few more curls, which hung around her face.
“So that is why she isn’t here,” she mumbled. “Laura would n-never miss one of my performances.”
“Has she given any indication of a desire to run away? Any pressing business that she felt she must accomplish?” the Duke asked eagerly, stepping forward. There was a glint in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. Hope.
She hesitated, and he spoke again, more quietly this time.
“I’m no tyrant, Lady Thalia. Laura and I are not as close as we were, but I have no intention of making her miserable.
Whatever she feels she must accomplish, I shan’t prevent her.
But the plain fact is that the world is not safe for young women.
Or any women in truth. I must protect her.
And to do so… well, I had better find her, hadn’t I? ”
Thalia was silent for a moment, considering. Of course, she wanted to help Laura. She must help Laura. Whatever plot her friend had concocted, she hadn’t shared it. Thalia had no idea where Laura might be. No idea at all.
That worried her. Was Laura slinking around the dark backstreet alleys? Was she wandering alone in the noxious fog rolling off the Thames? Anybody could chance upon her.
What if she had left London?
This thought was the most frightening of all.
No, she won’t have done that. Why would she leave?
No answers were forthcoming.
Clearing her throat, Thalia met the Duke’s gaze squarely. He was watching her with an intent look that sent a shiver down her spine.
It’s just nerves because of his reputation. It’s got nothing to do with his face at all. In fact, I don’t even think that he’s handsome.
At that blatant lie, she finally made herself speak.
“Well, h-how can I help you?”
The Duke pursed his lips. “My only clue to her whereabouts is a few pages written in German. Besides that, I find that I… that I am not as well-acquainted with my sister as I thought I was.”
Did she detect a hint of uncertainty in his voice? If she did, it quickly vanished.
“Well then, you can send me the pages you have found. I’ll translate them and send you a letter.”
“Too risky,” he said quickly. “I have already taken a risk by coming here. Whatever this matter is, it has the potential to ruin my sister’s reputation. I won’t risk the letters getting lost until I know their contents. They will not leave my house, so you will have to translate them there.”
Thalia blinked. “Surely you don’t mean…”
“I mean exactly what you think I do, Lady Thalia. You will have to come to me, I’m afraid. And if you agree, I will make every problem you have disappear.”
Her eyebrows flickered. “Well, my biggest problem is currently an irritating duke keeping me captive on my own balcony.”
Is that really your biggest problem?
The Duke’s lips curled into that smug smile once more. He stepped towards her, moving into her space, and she felt her breath catch in her throat.
“I can make any problem disappear,” he murmured. “Do not underestimate my power or my ingenuity. I can do a great deal to help you.”
She shook her head, taking a step back. “Your Grace, you must realize that j-just having this conversation could ruin me. And once I’m ruined in the eyes of Society, even you cannot help me.”
“Oh, I don’t know. There’s always something.”
She scowled at him and drew in a deep, grounding breath. That was how she’d learned to manage her stutter all of those years ago. At the time, it had felt as though she would never master it. Jonathan had certainly given up hope.
But no, her hard work had paid off, so long as she concentrated and kept herself as calm as possible. And now, this wretched man was here, making strange demands of her, making her feel strange.
Yes, he was definitely making her feel ill at ease. There was something about his intense, unblinking stare, the way it seemed as though he was about to break into a wide, toothy smile at any moment—a knowing smile.
Enough, she scolded herself. Enough of these imaginings.
He cleared his throat, dragging her attention back to him.
“Please,” he said, voice catching. “My sister is in danger. This is the only way I have to help her.”
Thalia briefly closed her eyes.
For Laura. Only for Laura. This is to help my friend.
And perhaps to help me, too.
She opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. “Very well, I w-will help you. But that f-f-favor you mentioned? I would like it repaid now.”
His eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “That’s a little unorthodox.”
“If you want my h-help, you’ll agree.”
“Very well. What do you want?”
She breathed out, steeling herself. There was really no way to soften what she had to say. Better to just get it over with.
“I want to be yours for the next month.”