"Arthur?" Selina's voice was a soft plea, her blue eyes searching his for answers he wasn’t ready to give. "Are you alright?" She reached out a delicate hand to steady him. The simple touch set his skin aflame, stoking desires he had tried so hard to suppress - but those desires were now tempered by the weight of his past.
"Miss Voss," Marcus began, struggling to regain his composure. "I...I apologize for my haste."
“Miss Voss?”she replied incredulously, a delicate frown marring her brow, the formality creating a chasm between them. “Arthur, can we talk?”
“Not now," he muttered, his voice strained and laced with desperation. "I... I need some time alone."
"Of course," she replied, a veil of disappointment shadowing her eyes. She hesitated for a moment, as if wanting to say more, before finally stepping aside to let him pass. "I'll be here if you need me," she whispered.
With a curt nod, he pivoted on his heels and hurried away, leaving Selina standing alone in the dimly lit corridor. He could feel her gaze on his back as he retreated. The weight of his true past and her unspoken questions bore down on him like an anchor.
CHAPTER12
“My lady? My lady!”
“Heavens! Yes, Gracie?” Selina was jolted back to the present when she heard her maid call from behind. The setting sun filtered through the sash windows of Valebridge Castle, casting intricate patterns on the polished floors as Selina Voss wandered through the halls. She had spent the better part of the day searching for Arthur, the elusive Duke of Valebridge. Ever since their encounter earlier in the afternoon, where Arthur had shown a colder version of him she hadn’t seen before, Selina was conflicted. It was now adamantly clear that he had been avoiding her presence. And she was determined to find him and find out exactly why.
However, her search was momentarily put on hold when Gracie hastened to her side. “I beg your pardon, Miss, but His Grace forbids even the household staff to travel past the threshold of the East Wing.”
Selina tilted her head and arched a brow. “Pray, why ever so?”
“We are not quite sure. He spends most of his nights there and doesn’t let the staff complete any chores there either.”
How odd.
“I appreciate your concern, Gracie. But I am not just anyone to him, I’m sure he will understand.”
Gracie’s lips parted as if she was about to protest, but instead, she fell silent. Selina pressed on.
As she rounded a corner, she nearly collided with Mr. Beveridge, Arthur's butler. Startled, she took a step back, smoothing her hands over her moss-green muslin gown. "Mr. Beveridge," she said coolly, noticing her maid in the periphery of her vision, panicking. "I have been looking for his Grace. Do you have any idea where I might find him?"
"My lady," the butler replied, his expression unreadable. "His Grace has retired to the library for the day."
"Thank you," she responded quickly. She hastily made to maneuver past him, anticipating his next words, but stopped when the butler spoke up. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for what he was about to say.
"My lady, I am under strict instructions to ensure that His Grace is not to be disturbed whilst he is in the library. He has been spending his evenings there for years, and it has become his private sanctuary."
Again. Excuses. Why would he propose to marry me, but then spend every moment avoiding me?
Selina's jaw tightened. She was tired of excuses and evasions. With a brief nod, she brushed past the butler, her skirts rustling as she strode purposefully toward the library. Perhaps she did not know much of this new ‘Arthur’, still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that more was behind his avoidance than met the eye.
As she neared the library door, the butler’s cautionary words echoed within the recesses of her mind, yet she cast them aside, steeling herself for the inevitable confrontation. Taking a moment to compose herself and steady her racing heart, she raised her hand to knock on the heavy oak door. Her knuckles barely brushed the surface when she hesitated. She strained her ears for any indication that Arthur was inside but heard nothing. With a rueful sigh, her hand fell limply to her side.
"Why are you hiding from me?" she whispered, as though it might summon him from the shadows
Just as she was about to turn away, a sudden crash echoed from within the library, followed by a muffled curse in Arthur's unmistakable voice. Her heart leaped into her throat, concern blotting out any lingering hesitation. Abandoning decorum, she pushed open the door and hurried inside.
Upon entering, she was immediately enveloped by Arthur’s distinct cologne and the overpowering scent of alcohol, suffocating and cloying like an invisible fog. On the floor, amidst the carnage, sat Arthur, his black hair disheveled and his eyes glassy with intoxication. His shirt was loosely buttoned, revealing specks of hair on his chest, and his sleeves were rolled up against stone-carved forearms.
"Arthur!" Selina exclaimed, rushing to his side. Her concern quickly morphed into something akin to anger as she took in the scene before her, especially the countless bottles of brandy and whiskey littering the room. "What do you think you’re doing?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and disbelief.
Arthur disregarded her question and attempted to rise, his legs unsteady and swaying dangerously. Selina reached out instinctively, her small hand encircling his bicep in a vain attempt to steady him.
"Please, sit down," she urged, guiding him to the chaise. His body was hot beneath her touch, the heat and sweat searing through his linen shirt. When he finally sank onto the cushions, she released him, taking a step back.
A wave of guilt washed over Selina, her heart aching as she took in the sight of him sprawled on the chaise amidst scattered bottles and random pieces of clothing. The air was thick with the scent of spirits and regret, and it clung to her like a shroud. She couldn't help but think that perhaps his state was a direct result of her presence at Valebridge Castle, trapping him into marriage.
"Arthur," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she approached him once more. His eyes were unfocused, and it was clear he didn't recognize her. Instead, he mumbled something unintelligible under his breath, piquing Selina’s curiosity.
