Excerpt of When A Duke Says I Do by Jane Goodger

He looked at her almost unwillingly, that handsome face hard, his expression implacable. "I don’t think you should continue coming here at night," he said. "I have work to do and you are nothing but a distraction to me. Besides that, it is highly improper. Surely you understand that as an unmarried woman you should not be here, alone, with a man."

"Oh. I suppose not. I just...I never..." Elsie felt unshed tears stinging her eyes. He’d just given her the harshest set down she’d had in years.

"You never what? Considered me a man? Because I am a servant? Or because I cannot speak in front of people."

Elsie shook her head. "No. I just thought you were nice." And I’m so very, very lonely. She twisted her hands in her nightdress, suddenly realizing how terribly improper it was to be alone with any man in only her nightclothes.

He let out a sigh, his anger deflating, and he sat at the edge of the piano bench staring at the keys again. "I was raised in an affluent family, but my affliction caused my father to abandon me to an asylum when I was ten years old. I was there only a short time when one of the doctors there helped me to escape and introduced me to monsieur. That is my story. That is all you need to know."

"I’m sorry. You don’t need to tell me anything. It’s really none of my business." She sat there feeling simply awful, and finally asked, "Do you want me to leave."

Another sigh. "No." But it sounded most begrudging.

"I don’t think of you as a servant. I think you are wonderful," she said, daring quick look at him. "But you are right, it is highly improper and for that reason, I won’t tell if you don’t."

"Another secret, then?" His mouth quirked as if he were trying not to smile.

She nodded. "Can I tell you something? A confession? I don’t want to go to that house party because I shall miss our visits and I will think of you working in here all alone."

His expression grew pensive. "You shouldn’t think of me at all. Nor should I, you."

"But do you?" Elsie held her breath, knowing she had crossed a line that should never have been crossed. She knew she thought about Alexander far too much, she knew she shouldn’t visit him each night. She knew she shouldn’t touch him or even talk to him, but these nighttime visits were all she looked forward to.

Alexander lowered his head as if in defeat. "I do. Far more than is proper."

"Are you so very proper, then?" she asked with a teasing lilt.

"I must be," he said forcefully. "You must be."

"Why," Elsie breathed, even though she knew why. She’d never in her life felt so strange, so alive when with a man. She had never before kissed a man, never wanted to, truth be told. But she found herself staring at his mouth and wondering what it would feel like to press her lips against his. Just that thought made her stomach twist, made her want something she didn’t understand.

"Miss Elsie, you should go." His hands gripped his thighs so hard, she could see the indents of his hands in his trousers.

"Do you know Badinerie by Bach?" Elsie looked at him cautiously and thought she detected the smallest of smiles. "It’s a duet."

"Yes, I know. I’ve never had the opportunity to play a duet," he said.

"Here is your chance."

His expression was one of disbelief. "Have you any idea the sort of danger you are courting, Miss Elsie?"

She looked him straight in the eye. "Duets are not dangerous. Now, get up so I can find the music. It’s in the bench."

He got up with an air of impatience, and waited until she found the correct sheet music.

"Here it is," she said unnecessarily. "Now sit and play with me. Please."

He sat as far from her as possible and Elsie beamed a smile at him, which apparently had no effect on his mood for he simply stared at her darkly. Nodding her head, she began to play, and he played his part without hesitation. It was a short piece, and lively, and when they were done, Elsie clapped.

"Well done," she said. "Now, how dangerous was..." She looked at him and felt a sudden rush of heat, of desire, that she’d never felt before in her life "...that." Elsie swallowed, her eyes drifting down to his mouth, her breath coming out in shallow spurts. Kiss me. Please, kiss me.

Never before had a man looked at her, as if he were angry and dangerous and untamed.

"I think. You. Should. Leave," he said softly.