A Dance to Tempt the Duke - Chapter 12

Victor stared down at her, her audacity making him speechless. She was accusing him of being the one at fault? She thought he was the one who indulged in subterfuge?

He gave a mirthless laugh, determined to prove to her that her words meant nothing to him, that she meant nothing to him, and as for her claim that he had tried to make her love him, well, quite obviously he had failed at that. Dismally.

‘You’re right, last season I did kiss and caress you, but you can hardly fault me for that. You were available and I took what was on offer.’

She recoiled as if his words had been like a physical blow. He instantly regretted them, then forced himself to show no mercy. She did not deserve his mercy. She had played him last season and was obviously intending to play him again this season. But he was wiser now and would not fall for her tricks.

‘But instead of condemning me, you should be thanking me. I could have destroyed your reputation, but I restrained from doing so.’

And that restraint had taken a superhuman effort last season, just as it had tonight. ‘Although I don’t know why I did so as I presume some other man had that pleasure.’

One hand shot to cover her mouth while the other cradled her stomach, as if her shock was complete, but that, too, was obviously merely part of her guile, and this time he would not fall for it.

‘Or am I wrong in my assumption that only one man has taken what you so freely offer? Should I say other men?’

‘No,’ she gasped. ‘No, you’re wrong. There has never been another man. Only you.’

‘Are you going to try to deny it and lie to my face?’

She shook her head. ‘There’s nothing to deny and no, I have never lied to you.’

Unbelievable. It was time to lay his cards on the table and watch how she attempted to worm her way out of it.

‘I saw you with my own eyes, kissing Edward Montgomery.’

‘Oh no,’ she gasped out, and she at least had the decency to turn a deep shade of red as he waited for her to attempt to deny the undeniable.