They stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills. Neither of them wanted to back down. It seemed like she had finally met her match when it came to her relentlessness. Her heart pounded hard in her chest, out of anger perhaps.
But as Ambrose continued to stare at her, something shifted. Her breath caught, and she realized with a shock that her heart wasn't just racing because she was angry.
He was having a strange kind of effect on her.
Ambrose's eyes flickered, his expression softening for just a moment, as if he, too, had felt the change in the air between them. But then, just as quickly, the moment passed, and his mask of arrogance slipped back into place.
"We'll see who wins this, Lady Daphne," Ambrose said coldly, “But you could not have chosen a worse contender. I donotlike to lose.”
Daphne's pulse quickened, but she forced herself to remain calm. "We'll see, indeed, Your Grace," she replied, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside her. "We'll just have to wait and see."
With that, she turned away from him.Richard, where are you?She would wait for him to resume their walk, ignoring the way Ambrose continued to stare in her direction.
CHAPTER 4
"Oh, who does he think he is?"
Daphne paced back and forth in her sitting room, her hands clenched at her sides, unable to settle the frustration that boiled in her chest. She couldn't believe the audacity of the Duke.
Ambrose, with his smug smirk, had made it perfectly clear he thought her beneath his brother, and it infuriated her to no end.
Isadora and Violet, her closest friends, sat nearby, watching her with a mix of concern and curiosity. They had both listened intently as Daphne vented her anger about the promenade and Ambrose's arrogant behavior. It was rare to see Daphne so worked up over anyone—especially a man.
Violet, ever the calm one, spoke first. "Daphne, we've heard a lot about the Duke. He's... difficult, yes, but there's a reason for it."
Daphne stopped pacing and turned to her friend, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? And what reason could possibly excuse his arrogance?"
"We have only heard rumors, of course. But there is always some truth to them..."
Daphne found herself growing more and more curious. "Rumors?"
"Do not worry, he is not involved in any sort of crime," Violet said.
"I almost wish that he was. That way, I would have something to hold against him..." Daphne found herself thinking out loud.
"I do not know, Daphne," Isadora spoke up. She had been silent so far, exchanged a glance with Violet before leaning forward. "His life has not been the easiest."
"Oh, woe is me. Poor Duke," Daphne said.
"No, no. There's more to Ambrose than you know. After his father's sudden death, he had to take over the dukedom at only fourteen. Richard was just nine years old."
Daphne blinked, her anger faltering for a moment. "He was only fourteen?"
Isadora nodded. "Yes. His father's death was sudden and unexpected. Ambrose didn't have a choice. He had to grow up very quickly, and he basically became Richard's father, not just his brother."
Violet added softly, "I imagine that is why he feels so protective about him."
Daphne thought back to her own sisters, who were so protective of her.
For a moment, Daphne's anger wavered. She hadn't known that part of Ambrose's story. It was hard to imagine a boy of fourteen being thrust into the responsibilities of a duke, especially with a young brother to care for.
She almost felt a pang of sympathy—almost.
After all, she had experienced a similar tragedy when her own parents had been taken away from her at such a young age.
"That may explain his behavior," Daphne said slowly, "but it doesn't excuse it. Just because he's had a difficult past doesn't mean he can control Richard's life, or mine for that matter."
Isadora sighed. "You're right. But you have to understand, His Grace has always been in control of everything. He is a Duke after all."
