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brother?” Bella asked him curiously. “I did not know you have a brother.”
    The duke’s expression was shuttered. “Had a brother. He died when we were children.” His tone was cold and flat, clearly inviting no further questions.
    “Oh, I am so sorry.” Feeling terribly awkward after her faux pas , she looked around the room, hoping to find something else to discuss.
    Before she could do so, he spoke. “I will need to attend to my business matters in the mornings. You may wish to spend that time here. I will join you for luncheon and after that we can go for a walk or ride. The countryside is very pretty this time of the year.”
    Bella didn’t know what to make of this. He wished to spend time with her outside the bedchamber?  
    “Of course, you may ride in the mornings if you wish. Just say the word to Mrs Robbins and she will arrange it for you.”
    “Thank you, but I believe I will be quite comfortable here.” It was hard not to contain her glee as she looked around the room. She was almost dizzy with the thought of having so many books to read. It would certainly be no hardship for her to live here. Her thoughts came to a juddering halt. Live here? She had been here a mere day and she was already entertaining thoughts of living here?  
    “Arabella.”
    “Yes?” She looked inquiringly up at him. There was a strange expression on his face which she did not understand.
    “Do you wish to return home?”
    His question was so unexpected that she could only stare at him. “Home?”
    “Yes. If you do, my carriage is at your disposal. You may leave immediately and I will consider the debt settled in full.”
    “I don’t understand. You want me to leave?” The thought stung. She knew next to nothing when it came to the intimacy of the bedchamber but she had thought he had experienced pleasure during their encounters.
    “No, I do not want you to leave.” He hesitated for a long moment. “I very much wish you to stay.” He uttered the words slowly, almost as if they had been dragged out of him against his will.
    Warmth blossomed within her. She walked up to him, and on impulse, placed her right hand on his chest. Under her palm, she could feel his heart pounding hard and fast. Unexpectedly fast. She looked up at him but his face remained impassive. Was he nervous? Could her answer really be of such importance to him?
    “I will stay,” she said, feeling his chest expand with a breath. Of relief? Courage, Bella. “On one condition.”
    Castor gave her a wary look. “What would that be?”
    “You have to stop giving me orders.”
    His dark brows drew together. “No orders. That is your condition?” He looked displeased, and a frisson of uncertainty formed.
    She drew in a breath to steady herself. “Yes. You may …” Her voice faltered when he arched a brow at this word. He had probably never heard that word spoken to him. “You may make a request but I will decide whether I wish to comply.”
    He regarded her for a moment. “I have a counter offer.”
    She couldn’t help smiling. “Of course you do.”
    “Why, ‘of course’?”
    “I did not expect you to have accumulated your wealth by being agreeable.”
    His lips twitched. “Yes, I am a most disagreeable person. My staff will tell you so.”
    “I highly doubt they will do anything of the sort,” she replied wryly.
    Castor chuckled, the sound vibrating against her hand. Heavens, he was magnificent when he laughed; his eyes crinkling at the corners and filled with humour, that beautiful mouth forming a smiling curve that she wanted to kiss. She quickly spoke before she could give in to the impulse. “What is your counter offer?”
    “I want you to submit to me when we are in the privacy of your bedchamber.”
    Bella felt a tremor run through her at the dark desire in his voice. “S-submit?” She didn’t know why but the word made arousal spark in the pit of her stomach. It wasn’t an outrageous condition, women submitted to their