“I forgot. I must leave now.” Michael stated quickly, bowing slightly. “Forgive my abrupt departure.”
Before Nora could understand what was happening, Mr Rogers turned around and left the room quickly. Nora gaped at his sudden departure, confused by what had just happened.
She turned to the duke, knowing that his presence and words had something to do with Mr Rogers fleeing suddenly, but she did not want to give him the chance to rile her up even more.With a deep, steadying breath, she called out for the steward stationed outside the door.
Once he had come in, she instructed, “You may send in the next visitor.”
The steward nodded and stepped back, allowing the next suitor to walk into the drawing room.
“Good morning, Miss Nora. You look as radiant as the morning sun,” Lord Carter, Baron of Bodell, bowed with a smile, before he held out a bouquet of flowers to her.
“Good morning, Lord Carter. How lovely of you to visit and bring such a beautiful gift,” Nora greeted with a curtsey, collecting the flowers from him.
He spared a glance in the direction of the duke, but seemed otherwise unperturbed by Godric’s presence.
The conversation flowed smoothly between them, and Nora felt herself relax, assuming that perhaps the duke knew he could not ruin every attempt of hers to find a good match.
But it seemed as though she was yet to understand that the duke had a mission he was determined to fulfil.
Because barely fifteen minutes after Nora and the baron had settled down, the duke interrupted Nora’s tale of her summers with her sister’s family.
“Lord Carter, tell me something – do you still keep your collection?”
The baron turned to the duke sharply. “Who on earth told you about that?”
He seemed to realize moments later that he had made a grave mistake with his response, and he cleared his throat, attempting to feign innocence.
“I mean – I do not know what you mean.” Lord Carter stated.
The duke nodded. “Neither does she. I do not mind turning this fateful meeting into an educational gathering.”
Lord Carter shot a glare at the duke, visibly disturbed when the duke simply stared back blankly. Clearing his throat, the baron rose to his feet, mumbling flustered apologies before he left the drawing room. He was in such a hurry, he did not even close the door all the way, and the steward poked his head through to ask.
“Shall I send the next one in, Miss?”
Nora gritted her teeth, willing herself not to even look in the duke’s direction as she said, “Yes, please.”
The next visitor was the son of an earl, and he lasted about six minutes before the duke drove him away. The suitor that came after him had been sent right back as he walked through the door. The duke did not even seem to be trying!
He was putting no visible effort into driving the suitors away, yet their panic and embarrassment were always clear each time they left, as though their very lives had been threatened. She did not understand why the duke was doing this, why he was intent on sticking to some idea that none of them were worthy enough to keep her company.
All she had wanted was a few hours to converse with a few men, to receive some hope that she might one day find another man willing to commit to her. A man she can rely on and love. And it was all falling apart again.
After the sixth suitor had fled, Nora snapped angrily. Her voice caused the steward who had pushed the ajar door open to ask if he could send in the suitor to pause, before he pulled it completely shut, excusing himself from what he knew would soon be an explosion of rage.
“What is wrong with you?”
The duke put down his teacup and faced her at a leisurely pace.
“I do not know what you mean –”
“What are you doing? Why have you been chasing away my suitors?”
Godric looked vaguely confused by her accusation. “Did I outright demand that any of them leave? I do not believe any such action took place.”
“Do you think me a fool?” Nora questioned, irritated and frustrated. “You kept interrupting and saying strange things to them. Your interference has cost me so many potential matches!”
“Hardly,” Godric scoffed. “I doubt those were ideal matches you would want.”
