The dog, however, seemed to have other ideas, pawing at Cecilia playfully. She laughed, feeling a rush of warmth that had nothing to do with the sun. “Honestly, I do not mind at all,” she spoke sheepishly, glancing up at him, their eyes locking for a brief moment. “Perhaps you should just let him enjoy himself for a while. He’s just being a dog.”
“It is far from your place to tell me what to do with my animal companion,” the duke growled, his voice low and edged with irritation. His blue eyes narrowed as he glared at her, the tension in the air thickening.
Even from where he stood, the shadow of his tall frame loomed over her, and for a moment, Cecilia felt a chill run down her spine, almost as if Cerberus himself had stepped back in deference to his master.
She blinked in disbelief, her heart racing. “I’m not sure I understand why you’re upset at me this time, Your Grace,” she replied, her voice steady despite the flutter of nerves.
Alistair’s expression was fierce, terribly intimidating, and she found it amusing that he could appear scarier than his large, fearsome dog. The irony of the situation was not lost on her, though she fought to suppress a smile.
“Cerberus came to me, not the other way around,” she added, gesturing to the dog, who remained by her side, tail wagging in blissful ignorance of the brewing storm.
Alistair’s annoyance deepened, and a flash of confusion crossed his face. “Have you doused yourself in gravy or something? Is that why he’s fawning on you like that?” His tone was incredulous, as if he couldn’t fathom the idea that any creature might simply be drawn to her.
Cecilia felt a spark of indignation flare within her. “Could it not occur to you that perhaps he just simply likes me, Your Grace?” she retorted, crossing her arms defiantly. She was aware she was treading dangerous ground, arguing with a duke, but the instinct to defend herself surged forward.
Alistair stepped closer, the heat radiating from him nearly palpable. Cecilia caught a glimpse of the strong line of his jaw, clenched in frustration. “My animal does not fraternize with just anyone. Especially…”
He looked her up and down and Cecilia swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. The way he stood, shoulders squared and posture commanding; he was itching for an argument, it seemed.
“All animals can be friendly, Your Grace. Adding to that, Cerberus is a dog, not a soldier to be commanded,” Cecilia responded, her voice wavering slightly despite her best efforts.
Alistair’s eyes bore into hers, as though searching for something, and for a moment, she hesitated, the panic rising in her chest, unsure if she should back down or stand her ground.
“Sitting on the floor like that is hardly fitting for a lady, is it not?” The duke remarked suddenly, a hint of disdain lacing his voice as he change the to.
Cecilia shot him a glare, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. “I beg your pardon? I wound up this way because your dog practically threw me down here, Your Grace!”
She pushed herself off the floor, brushing off her skirts with a huff, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity. The sight of Cerberus, blissfully oblivious, trotting back to his owner at last only aggravated her further.
“My dog has impeccable taste, I assure you, it would not be surprising to discover you beckoned him over, not at all,” Alistair snorted, a triumphant smirk playing on his lips.
He knelt to pat the dog, his fingers tangling in the thick fur, and for a moment, Cecilia felt a pang of envy at the ease with which he commanded both the animal and the space around him.
“You’re following me again, aren’t you? That is what this is?” Alistair lifted a brow as he rose to his feet, glancing at her nonchalantly, his casual stance only fueling her irritation.
Cecilia took a deep breath, grounding herself. “I’m not following you, Your Grace. I’m out here for my research,” she countered immediately.
“Research? And what would that be? An excuse to stalk me in my own estate?” Alistair shot back, his blue eyes sparkling with arrogance. It had been a few days since their last banter and it felt electric, and despite herself, Cecilia felt a flutters and tingles at the unfolding event.
“Stalk you? Believe me I have better things to do than chase after a duke,” she retorted, her tone sharper than intended.
“Better things? Like sitting on the floor?” Alistair quipped, raising an eyebrow.
Cecilia clenched her jaw, knowing she shouldn’t rise to his bait, yet unable to resist. “It’s much better than staying cooped up in a stuffy study, unable to interact with a sibling’s soon-to-be family,” she snapped, her heart racing.
She drew in a breath, worried she might’ve gone too far. However, the duke’s expression shifted from a surprised, to a pleasantly smug smile.
“Paying attention to my schedule a tad too much, now, are we?”
Cecilia’s breath caught, and she hesitated, caught off guard by the intensity of his gaze. “I—” she began, the words tangling in her throat. It was maddening how he could unsettle her with just a look.
“See? You’re speechless,” He went on, a triumphant smile breaking across his face. “Now, unless you can quickly think upa lie to defend your actions, I’d assume your ‘research’ does not exist either.”
“I don’t have to tell you anything,” Cecilia wished the reddening of her cheeks would vanish.
“So there is no research, and you stepped into the gardens to pursue me, once again?” Cecilia was tempted to slap his smirk off his face.
“Fine! I’m researching the relationship between local flora and fauna.” Her voice was once again, sharper than intended.
