Page 16 of If the Duke Demands

So she folded her arms across her chest, the end of the wooden sword pointing at him, and asked, “What brings you to the orphanage?”

“Actually,” he murmured, “I came looking for you.”

Her eyes widened. “Pardon?”

He was—she gulped—looking for her? His words curled heatedly through her as unbidden memories rushed over her from last night of that same low voice purring in her ear, telling her how lovely she looked, how much he wanted to dance with her…

And what a goose she was! Because he certainly didn’t mean that he’d comelookingfor her, just as he hadn’t meant all those things he’d said last night when he thought she was someone else. So why would he be—

“We need to talk.” He grimaced as he pushed the end of the sword away from him and lowered his voice. “About last night.”

Panic instantly tied her stomach into knots. Had someone found out what she’d done? Whatthey’dalmost done? She crushed the felt hat in her hands as she forced herself to keep breathing and not faint.

He reached beneath his redingote and withdrew her red slipper from where he’d tucked it into his waistband at his back, then dangled it in front of her by its long ribbon. “You left your slippers behind last night, Cinderella, and I don’t want you trying to sneak back into my room to retrieve them.” His eyes gleamed teasingly at her. “You might accidentally end up in the wrong room again and frighten Quinton to death.”

Fresh humiliation flooded through her. Glancing around the little garden to make certain that they were hidden from sight behind the rows of billowing sheets, she made a quick grab for her slipper. Her fingers just missed as he lifted it up easily out of her reach.

Drat the man for being so tall! And broad. And muscular.

“Give it to me, please,” she said in that same no-nonsense tone she used with the orphans and held out her hand.

But he kept it out of reach, just beyond her grasping fingers. “Not until we talk.”

Knowing she wouldn’t receive her shoe until he decided to give it to her, she gave up and placed her hands on her hips in frustrated aggravation at him for toying with her like this. And the blasted man was most likely enjoying it, too. “I told you. Last night was a mistake.” She looked down at the ground to cover her embarrassment, although she couldn’t have said which embarrassed her more—that he’d bared her to his mouth and hands, or that she’d liked it. “I would hope that you understand how—”

“Mother and I have decided to sponsor a season for you. In London.”

Her eyes flew up to search his face. A season…oh, it couldn’t be! “Truly?” she breathed, her heart pounding with too much hopeful excitement to let her speak any louder.

With a slow smile, he nodded.

A London season! She’d dreamt of this since she was a little girl, only to give up on the fantasy at her last birthday, when she came into her majority and realized it would never happen, that she was too old. But now, for him to offer—oh, it was simply grand! She couldn’t imagine anything more special, more magical…a debut sponsored by a duchess and a marchioness, escorted by a duke, complete with beautiful dresses and fancy bonnets, quadrilles and waltzes, all kinds of soirees, dinners, breakfasts, carriage rides—

“Oh, thank you!” She laughed with happiness and threw her arms around his neck as she hugged him. She simply couldn’t believe it!

She stepped back to collect herself. Oh, she couldn’t stop smiling! Or stop the ecstatic pounding of her heart. “Thank you so much for this opportunity,” she somehow forced out past the knot of gratitude in her throat. “It’s more generous than I can express, and I know how fortunate I am to have this last chance for a season.”

“Last chance?” His gaze narrowed disbelievingly as it swept over her, as if noticing her for the first time. “How old are you?”

Her chest squeezed with irritation. Didn’t he remember the birthday party Auntie and Uncle hosted for her last November, which he and the rest of the Carlisles attended? He was terribly busy overseeing the dukedom, but still…She sighed out, “One and twenty.”

A dark flicker passed through his eyes, and he looked at her again, long and hard, from the top of her head to the tips of her half-boots. She shifted uncomfortably beneath his gaze, although she suspected that he was seeing her, finally, for the woman she’d become instead of the girl he’d always known. And to think that all it took for him to realize that was finding her in his bed.

The irony was biting that she’d hoped for just that. Except from theotherCarlisle brother.

But when his lips tugged into a faint grin as his gloved hand reached up to tuck a stray curl behind her ear, her heart sank. She knew she was wrong, that he’d never see her as anything other than the girl next door. Even after Lady Rose’s unfortunate unmasking last night beneath those very clever hands of his.

Although why it should matter at all to her how Sebastian Carlisle saw her she had no idea. Except that it now did. Last night had changed a great deal between them.

“You deserve this season,” he told her, surprising her. Then he astonished her when he added quietly, “And you’ve earned it, with the work you’ve done for the orphanage and for the kindness you’ve shown my family. It’s the least we can do for you.”

She stared at him, speechless. She had no idea what to say tothat.

“It will do Mother good as well.” His voice softened with concern. “Make certain she enjoys herself, will you? She hasn’t had an easy time since Father passed.”

At the worry in his eyes, her shoulders sagged. Drat him that she couldn’t even stay angry at him. Sebastian was sometimes arrogant and always frustratingly proper, but the man truly cared for his mother.

“I’ll do my best,” she assured him. And meant it.