Between the Devil and Desire by Lorraine Heath

the problem when arguing with the righteous: they didn’t listen to the merits of the argument. “Be that as it may, I have no intention of harming your son.”
    She glanced over to the corner where yesterday a table had been covered with an assortment of clocks as though the duke had been trying to collect time. Now a variety of bottles and decanters were beautifully arranged and within easy reach of his desk.
    â€œYou’ve already brought spirits into the house,” she said, and he heard the censure in her voice.
    â€œBut I won’t force you to drink them.”
    â€œI never would.”
    â€œNo doubt.”
    â€œWhat did you do with my husband’s clocks?” she asked tartly.
    For some reason, he preferred it when she was brisk with him. Maybe it was the spunk that he liked or the relief that it indicated she favored him not at all. It could prove unfortunate if an easy camaraderie developed between them. While she was no doubt aware they were not equals on one level, he was acutely aware they were not equals on many.
    â€œThey are my clocks. They are listed on page sevenof my ledger. I told the servants to distribute them all over the house, however they wished.”
    â€œA collection cannot be a collection if it’s spread hither and yon.”
    â€œI don’t give a damn about the bloody clocks. I care about my damned whiskey! Besides, their infernal ticking was driving me mad.” Maybe they’d done the same thing to the duke, only they’d succeeded where he was concerned.
    Jack inhaled a deep breath to rein in his temper, but it failed to work because it only served to bring her fragrance forward so he could smell it more deeply. He didn’t want her enticing him. He wanted her married.
    â€œLet’s get to business, shall we?” He strode over to his desk and sat in his chair.
    She hesitated before squaring her shoulders and marching over to take a chair opposite him. If he were a lesser man, her glare would have been intimidating. She certainly was determined to hold her own against him. He had to give her credit for that—that and the fact she cared so much for her son.
    â€œLet me be honest—” he began.
    â€œAre you implying you’ve not been up to this point? In my world, Mr. Dodger, a person is assumed to be speaking honestly, so his words need no clarification.”
    â€œDuchess, you do try my patience,” he ground out.
    â€œThen send me and my son to the country.”
    He wasn’t half tempted. “Not on your life.”
    â€œIt would make things easier all the way around.”
    â€œI find ‘easy’ boring. Therefore, back to the matter at hand. At my club, I have more than two dozen people in my employ. I manage them and my business withouta great deal of bother. As a matter of fact, my business is run quite effectively and efficiently. Unfortunately, I know nothing at all about managing a household.”
    He watched as a subtle shifting in her expression took place, and he realized he may have given too much away and in so doing, granted her power he was not willing to relinquish.
    â€œWhereas I,” she stated with a calm reserve that caused everything within him to tighten, “know everything about managing a household.”
    â€œI thought you might. Therefore, I’ll leave the management of the household to your discretion.”
    She smiled and it was the most mesmerizing thing he’d ever seen. It transformed her into someone who was young and carefree. It made him want to skim his thumb over her mouth. It made him want to get up, circle the desk, and take her in his arms.
    â€œNot. On. Your. Life.”
    The want and desire crashed around him. Had she somehow managed to read his thoughts? “I beg your pardon?”
    She rose with all the confidence of a woman who had just inherited an empire. “I will not manage the household.”
    She turned on her heel and