A clock chimed somewhere. Maybe right behind Duke or several rooms away—who knew?
It didn’t break the hold Violet had over him. Certainly didn’t prevent him from thinking about kissing her again. Several days had passed but he had not been able to forget the taste and feel of her.
She blinked rapidly and took a slight step back. He released his hold on her and clasped his hands behind his back. If he did not, he’d struggle not to pull her close again. He’d thought their kiss months ago had changed things, but he was wrong. Moments like these changed things—moments that weren’t rash or undecided. Slow, leisurely moments of simply wanting to hold her.
One singular incident had not changed their relationship, he understood that now. Hell, even their heated kiss had not been the catalyst. Duke glanced at her mouth. Many things made him want her with more ardor than he’d ever wanted anyone.
She’d been his last thought before he’d passed out from the beating and his first when he’d awakened. The thought of losing her when she’d travelled to his father’s home was like a knife to the heart. Duke didn’t know how to feel about Violet anymore. All he knew was it wasn’t the same and his instincts were screaming at him to do something about it, and they never usually guided him wrong.
“I was thinking of returning home,” he said quickly.
“No.” Violet paused and smoothed her hands down her skirts. “That is, you should not. You are still not well enough.”
“If I can climb ladders, I am fairly certain I can live in my own home with a wealth of servants to look after me.”
“But Mama was so looking forward to having you here for Christmas. You cannot let her down.”
Lady Porchester did indeed seem enthusiastic about having him as a guest here, but he imagined if she had any idea of the images that spilled through his mind every time he saw her daughter, she wouldn’t want him in the next county let alone a few bedrooms away from Violet. It was becoming dangerous to stay—in many ways—and he needed distance. The last time his thoughts had been this muddled had been after losing half of his family to a shipwreck.
“With this business with my father, I shouldn’t even be here.” He gestured to the half-draped greenery. “I should not be hanging Christmas decorations. I should be doing something useful.” He pressed a breath through his teeth. “I should be trying to find him.”
“That’s what I have been doing if you recall.” She gingerly put a hand to his arm. “My sisters and I...well, we can investigate. We have a little experience now.”
Duke eyed her. “Because of Clem aiding Roman?” He shook his head. “That’s hardly experience, Vi.”
“And my cousins have successfully investigated many a case.”
“Still not certain how that helps.”
She folded her arms. Although it should have made her look determined it only drew Duke’s attention down her figure and forced him to tighten the grip of one hand upon the other.
“I told you my cousins solved that counterfeiting case...”
“Well, this is kidnapping,” he pointed out.
“Yes, but they have been running the Duchess’s Investigative Society for decades,” she said. “It was formed by their mother to aid women who would otherwise not get help.”
He let his brow furrow. What was happening here? One minute he was about to kiss her and the next they were talking of investigative societies? Was this what rich young women did for amusement when men were not around?
“I’m not a woman.”
Her cheeks pinkened and he caught her glancing him over. “I’m aware of that.”
“I just thought it prudent to point out. It seems you might have forgotten.”
“Cease being flippant. This is serious business.”
“Because my father has been taken by potentially dangerous criminals?” He released the death grip he had on his own hand, his fingers tingling as he mimicked her stance and folded his arms. “I’m aware this is serious. Vi.”
“Then let me help. I can write to my cousins, get some advice. They already aided us once.”
“Not a chance.”
“Duke—”
He took her arms in his hands and held her firmly, ignoring how wide her eyes went. “I feared I had lost you once already.”
“Goodness, Duke, I only went out in the carriage. It was—”