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would care about you. You would give me a house, but it would be a place for me to hide within. My heart would be broken, my reputation ruined. I would lose everything.”
    She’d spoken the truth. She hadn’t meant to. Yet Greybrooke appeared undeterred. He appeared to respond to disapproval.
    “But imagine lifting the lid on a velvet box and finding a necklace of diamonds within,” he murmured. “Dozens of them, sparkling like stars. Imagine me lifting them from their cushion and laying their cool weight against your skin.” Briefly his fingertips brushed over the expanse of her chest below her neck and above the modest neckline of her gown, skimming there, before he moved them away.
    Even through her sensible wool gown, his touch burned.
    “I would drape you in diamonds and rubies, emeralds and sapphires, and those trinkets would be yours. Did you intend to be a governess for the rest of your life? I offer you freedom.”
    “You offer me a gilded prison.” She must stop arguing. She must say yes. But she . . . couldn’t. There had to be another way to save her family.
    “I know why I want you, Miss Winsome. It’s because you are strong. In character, I think we are equals.”
    Equals? “You’re a rakish duke with all sorts of land and power. I’m a governess. You can live a libertine’s life. I have to ensure I never do anything improper. We are not at all equal.”
    “You think you are superior to me because I’m naughty and you are good.”
    “No—”
    “Let me change your life, Miss Winsome.” Another step and his broad chest filled her vision. On his ice-blue waistcoat, dragons were embroidered in fine thread—dragons in battle.
    She retreated, but the backs of her legs bumped a small bedframe, and she had nowhere left to go. “I do not want to change my life, Your Grace.” But this sparring with him was thrilling.
    “So the promise of enough wealth to keep you for a lifetime is not enough? I have to admit, I admire that about you, even though it frustrates my plans. I have never met a woman who would not be convinced with enough jewels.”
    “Those are things that would be lovely to have. But there are other things I would want. A husband, children, love. Even just one night with you and I could never have those.” Selfish—she was terribly, horribly selfish, for she didn’t want to throw away her hopes for those wonderful things. If she became a mistress, she would lose those things forever. Yet if she didn’t sacrifice herself, her three half sisters would have no chance of ever marrying, of ever having families.
    “No one has to know.” He sounded sinful as the devil.
    “I would know. I could not lie to a husband. I couldn’t .”
    The duke sat on Michael’s bed, which gave a creak of protest at his weight. With lightning speed, he grasped her hand and tugged, and she lost her balance. Clawing at the air with her free hand, she couldn’t stop her fall, but the duke caught her and planted her derriere on his lap. “You are irresistible,” he said.
    His thighs were rock hard beneath her rump. She struggled to stand, but he held her wrists and kept her clamped upon his legs. Gently he let out a breath, and it played a merry dance along the sensitive skin of her neck.
    “You are incomprehensible,” she hissed. “I am refusing you, yet you seem to find that attractive. But the answer will always be no. And you must let me go —” Her voice rose with panic. What did he intend to do to her? It was one thing to play a game with him, another to be ruined. “If I’m caught here, with you, I’m ruined. If the children s-see—” Her voice wobbled. She didn’t want them to see. They thought her good, but if they saw her on Greybrooke’s lap and were told to think badly of her, they would.
    To her surprise, he released her. Lifted her and set her on her feet.
    “I do not want to get you in trouble or hurt my niece and nephews,” he said softly. “You can trust me to be