He eyed the tip of one finger and waved it in front of Violet’s face. “Your bird injured me, Vi. You owe me greatly.”
She tutted and eyed the finger in question. “It’s hardly even a cut but I will bind it if you wish.”
Yes. No. She’d already moved closer. He wasn’t certain if he wanted her gentle touch upon him.
She twisted away, saving him an answer. “Sir Bitesaolot has bit every member of this family. Now you are most certainly one of us.”
Well, that wouldn’t do. Brothers didn’t wish to kiss their sisters. He held back the desire to sigh for the hundredth time that day. Duke didn’t think of himself as a sighing sort of a man. He glided through life with nary a huffed breath, moving from bed to bed, ballroom to ballroom, and court case to court case. It was a busy sort of a life, and he reveled in it. There was no time for sighing.
With any luck, a few weeks at his father’s estate would put an end to any of this muddling desire wreaking havoc on his mind. He took a step back and nodded toward the birdcage. “You still have cleaning to do.”
Violet laced her hands together in front of him and tilted her head. “I don’t suppose you fancy aiding me in that.”
“Certainly not. This is goldwork.” He gestured to his waistcoat. “And I need all my fingers intact.”
“Some friend you are,” she muttered.
“As a lawyer, I can tell you there has been no case to prove that friendship means cleaning out bird cages.” He took her hand and brushed a brief kiss across her knuckles. If it were a woman he was intent on seducing, he would look her in the eyes he did so and lingered on her soft skin. Duke straightened immediately. “I shall see you in the New Year.”
“That’s if I have not been pecked to death.”
He moved around her and stared down Sir Bitesalot. The bird chirruped as though he had done nothing wrong. “No more biting do you hear? I shall be forced to sue you for bodily harm.”
“I have a feeling Sir Bitesalot isn’t daunted by a bit of litigation.”
He chuckled and headed to the door. “Do have a marvelous Christmas, Vi, and give my love to everyone.”
“It won’t be the same without you.”
His heart gave that odd pulse again. He allowed himself an additional sigh. Just one and he would do no more for the day. Truth be told, he was going to miss the woman greatly. Not even Roman, his closest friend since childhood, had the same impact on him as Violet.
Forcing a bright smile, he gave a nod of his head. “Don’t walk me out. You have work to do.” He opened the door and shut it on her before she could protest. He had no wish to make this more difficult, most especially when Violet was quite content to say farewell, even if she had admitted she would miss him just a tad.
His carriage awaited him on the crescent graveled area outside the Porchester House and he jumped in after issuing orders to go to his office. He could do with picking up some correspondence before heading to Gloucestershire. The festive season would be a quiet one and with whatever strange ailment was going on inside him now, he wasn’t willing to sit around idle. He’d still have plenty of time to spend with his father in between work.
The Musgrave estate sat a mere two miles from the outskirts of Bath so they made quick time. Even with the festive season five weeks away and many people returning to London or their country estates to entertain, the town remained busy, with carts, carriages, and horses clogging the narrow roads. Shopfronts were hung with greenery, red and gold ribbons, and silver paper.
It only took moments for an angry shout to be directed his driver’s way, when they stopped, and Duke exited the carriage. He waved a hand at the driver. “Meet me at home. I won’t be long.”
The driver tipped his hat and spurred the horses on, receiving more shouts this time for being so bold as to move forward on a road. Duke shook his head. Perhaps some people were not feeling festive yet, despite the elegance of Bath at this time of year. He couldn’t claim Christmas held much sway over his heart either. Anything too gregarious felt alien when half of his family were missing hence the tradition he and his father had started of a simple, peaceful festive season together.
He unlocked the door of the office building and moved past his secretary’s tidy desk. Duke didn’t know how the man did it and had no desire to learn either. A shadow flittered under the door and Duke frowned. His secretary better not be attempting to tidy Duke’s desk before he left to stay with his sister for Christmas. It might look unorganized, but Duke knew precisely where everything was.
“Damn it,” he said as he opened the door, “haven’t you left yet?” He froze, his frown deepening.
Sitting behind his desk, a heavy-set man toyed with Duke’s letter opener. He hadn’t spotted any broken windows or doors so couldn’t fathom how the man had gained entry.
“What the devil are—”
The man nodded to something behind Duke and his grin widened, revealing a gold tooth. It was only when the first hit to his ribs came did he realize it was notsomethingbutsomeonehe’d been nodding to. Pain seared Duke’s side and he pivoted, meeting a fist to his gut that blew the wind from him. He didn’t even get a chance to retaliate. Another blow came, making sparks shatter behind his eyes and his cheek feel like it was about to explode. He blinked a few times in an attempt to clear his vision and lifted both hands to defend against the next blow. It didn’t come.
“Mr. Doyle wants to know why you are ignoring his letter,” the man behind him said.
Duke didn’t manage an answer before the next strike came, knocking him to the floor.
Chapter Four
The butler’s grave expression as he paused at the door to the bedrooms sent a chill through Violet. She swallowed hard and Mama tightened her grip on Violet’s hand.