Page 75 of Down Bad with the Iron Duke

“And you’re not angry with me?”

His chin jerked in. What? “Angry with you? Why in bloody damnation would I be angry with you?”

Her eyes sharpened, and she finally seemed to come back from whatever shock had just taken hold of her. “I had thought…because of the nature of what I do… Your anger put me out of sorts. But clearly, I was mistaken.”

He gripped her chin and pressed a hard kiss to her lips. He pulled back and stared at her hard. “Absolutely not. You believe, after what I have witnessed in my life, that I wouldn’t be on your side? Men want to condemn women for making this choice, when they’re the ones who forced it upon them in the first place. We both know what would come of her and her babe if you couldn’t help her. Without employment. Living on the streets. If they weren’t snatched up for nefarious purposes, they’d end up dead.”

Fire burned over his skin, a conflagration scorching him from the inside out. “I have witnessed men abuse women and children over and over without repercussion,” he said tightly. He leaned forward. “Men who are supposed to be lawful. The ones responsible for protecting society.” The very men who were tasked with upholding the law were as far from virtuous as one could be. “It is just one more way for men to control and abuse women.”

She stared up at him, warm brown eyes wide. Something in her gaze had him shifting on his feet. It looked too much like admiration. And that was something he most definitely did not deserve.

“You’re quite amazing,” she finally whispered. “Did you know that?”

Heat rose up his nape. “Urm…”

“Lord help me. Don’t blush. You’re making it worse.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Apologies?”

She shook her head. “I should apologize. I thought the worst of you just now. And you’ve done nothing to earn that doubt.”

He brushed the backs of his knuckles down her cheek. “I may not have. But every man before me has. I understand that better than most.”

“Life can be utter shite sometimes.”

He chuckled humorously. “Yes, Miss Dawson. Life can be utter shite.” And bloody hell, was that putting it lightly.

“Theo.” She gripped his wrist and held his palm to her cheek. “Please keep calling me Theo.”

He glanced away, heat coming back to slap his face. He’d completely forgotten himself earlier. He’d been so lost in her, so overwhelmed, so confused about what was happening. He couldn’t stop himself from saying her name. There was no holding it back.

“I should have asked permission first.”

“I think that’s a slight I can forgive.” She arched a brow. “If…you say it again.”

He cupped her face with both hands and slowly drew his nose along hers before pressing a featherlight kiss over her lips. “Theo.”

She hummed. “That’ll do, Duke. That’ll do.”

He smiled against her mouth, earning one right back from her.

He reluctantly pulled away. “I should probably be going. It’s quite late.”

She nodded seriously. “The mysterious duke needs to show his face. Where, oh where, does he disappear off to at night, I wonder?”

He followed her into the main living space. “To shag his steward. Obviously.”

She tipped her head back, her loud laugh filling her cottage. A grin pulled at his lips, and an odd calm fell over him. A rightness he didn’t quite understand.

“I’ll speak with the housekeeper about bringing on another maid.”

Her features softened. “You cannot hire every woman in need. Even a castle such as Ironcrest can’t hold them all.”

She was right, of course. But… “I can at least help this one.”

And the smile she sent his way made him wish he could save them all. Made him feel like he was worth something; he was more than the broken boy who’d grown up into a broken man.

They paused at the door. “Meet me in my office later?” she asked softly. “I need to meet the surveyor at the quarry site, then I can update you.”