Page 8 of The Odyssean Duke

“I think that a lady has far less reason to be here than I,” said His Grace. “Allow me to escort you home.”

Evelina laughed. “I came here unaccompanied. Do you believe I am incapable of returning on my own?”

“I believe a lady should not be here at all,” His Grace said. “But you know that. Otherwise, you would not have dressed as a man.”

“Even so, I do not think I should let a man as you escort me home,” she said. “You seem disreputable.”

“Do I?”

“Rakish.”

His Grace grinned. “Is that why you asked if I was giving you aninvitation?”

“Yes.”

He hummed and cast her a look of theatrical contemplation. “What does that make you, then? You were watching the amorous congress of that?—”

“If you are not going to help me, I shall be on my way,” Evelina interrupted, flustered. “You are wasting my valuable time.”

“And what help do you need?”

Evelina’s heart was in her throat. She curled her hands into fists, thoughts of the woman in scarlet haunting her. “I—I need—I need you to offer me an invitation!” Evelina exclaimed gracelessly.

“Oh, do you?” the duke asked slyly. “But you seem so innocent. Do you even know what a congress entails?”

Evelina’s face grew hot. She only knew a vague sketch of what a congress involved, but she refused to admit that to this strange man. “Of course, I do,” she said. “You should be more concerned about whether you can keep pace with me, Your Grace.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

She was grateful for the cover of night. Otherwise, he would have noticed the mortifying flush which she knew had swept over her face. “It is,” Evelina said. “Given how many questions you are asking, I have to wonder if you even know what you are speaking about.”

“Spoken like someone who has no idea what she is doing.”

Her heart thundered against her ribs, her pulse racing as she looked at him. “Find out,” she said.

His Grace’s expression changed. He no longer looked as though he might seduce her. Instead, he stared at Evelina as if she had taken leave of her senses. “I think we should have this conversation elsewhere.”

CHAPTER 4

“Am I allowed to know your name?” Stephan asked.

He had escorted the lady to a slightly more reputable tavern, but even the slightly improved venue did little to conceal just how much the lady did not belong in such an ungenteel place. The massive coat and loose-fitting shirt were clearly meant to obscure her feminine figure but instead made her look somehow more delicate. She was unquestionably lovely with dark green eyes and auburn hair, which was kept mostly concealed beneath a ragged-looking hat.

“Evelina,” she said. “I suppose there is no harm in telling you. I am already disgraced in your eyes.”

He snorted. “You are unusual, but I would not call youdisgraced.”

“No?”

Stephan recalled her brazen remark about how she wanted him tooffer an invitation.“Not yet,” he said.

The young lady would certainly be disgraced if she intended to do anything close to what she had insinuated.

“And you are?” she asked.

“Stephan.”

Evelina narrowed her eyes. “We have not met.”