She tried to slip past him, but he stepped into her path, much to her chagrin, but she remained calm, enjoying how upset he seemed.
“I gave you specific orders. I told you that you were not to go anywhere without me henceforth, and you decide that the best way to adhere to my instructions is to disappear for a whole day?”
“I did not realize your intentions were to be put into effect so soon. I thought I would have more time to prepare myself to be shadowed closely by the guard I had been opposed to from the start. So I went to celebrate the end of my peace and freedom. I do not understand why that would have upset you so.” She stated casually, batting her eyelashes at him.
“I will only ask this once more,” he gritted, “Where were you?”
Nora lifted her chin. “I visited my sister. Is that a crime now?”
“You were supposed to inform me of any plans to leave the city,” Godric said, taking a step toward her. “We had an agreement.”
“We had no such thing,” Nora countered. “You issued an order, and I chose not to follow it. There is a difference.”
She tried to brush past him again, intending to escape into the safety of her house, but Godric's hand shot out and caught her wrist. The contact sent electricity shooting up her arm, and she hated her body's immediate response to his touch.
“Nora.” His voice had dropped to that low, dangerous register that made her shiver. “Do not play games with me.”
“I am doing no such thing,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the rapid beating of her heart. “I simply went to visit my sister. I am allowed to have a life that does not revolve around you, Your Grace.”
She was too aware of his closeness to her, of the warmth of his hand on her wrist, of the way his blue eyes seemed to see straight through her carefully constructed defenses.
“That is not –” Godric stopped, seeming to struggle with his words. His grip on her wrist tightened fractionally. “You cannot simply disappear without telling anyone where you are going.”
“I told Annabelle,” Nora pointed out. “And the coachman. And – ”
“I meant you cannot disappear without telling me,” Godric interrupted, and there was something raw in his expression now, something that looked almost like fear. “Do you have any idea what I thought when I came here yesterday evening and was told you had left for the night? When no one could tell me exactly where you had gone?”
The confession caught Nora off guard. “You... you were worried?”
“Of course I was worried,” Godric snapped. “After learning about your midnight adventures, did you expect me to simply assume you were safe?”
Something warm unfurled in Nora's chest, a dangerous, hopeful thing that she immediately tried to squash down. He was worried. He had been concerned for her safety. That had to mean something, did it not?
“I am perfectly fine,” she said, gentler now. “I was with Isobel the entire time.”
Godric's jaw clenched. “That is not the point.”
“Then what is the point?”
Before he could answer, Nora remembered that she had plans for the day. “Oh! I nearly forgot. I have other plans for today, so we must table this discussion for another time.”
She tried to leave, but he maintained the firm grip he had on her wrist, keeping her in place despite her attempts to put some space between them.
“I am starting to despise you,” Nora seethed.
Unfazed, the duke asked, “What are these plans? You have only just arrived, where are you going now?”
Nora sighed, deep and long suffering, “I am supposed to meet Penelope and Jane for shopping this afternoon. We are going to purchase some things for the season’s events.”
“I will escort you,” Godric said immediately, finally releasing his grip on her.
It was not a question. Nora opened her mouth to argue, then caught the stubborn set of his jaw and thought better of it. He would not be swayed, and honestly, part of her – a very foolish part – was glad he would be there.
“Very well,” she conceded. “But you must promise to remain a respectful distance away. I do not want you hovering over us the entire time. You will make my friends uncomfortable.”
“I will remain as close as I deem necessary to ensure your safety.”
“Your Grace –”
