“It does not sound like nothing,” the Duke’s voice drifted from the darkness behind the butler. Next, Rose heard his footsteps approach, and then the door swung open to reveal the Duke of Thornwell.
He was taller than Rose remembered. Cloaked in darkness, all she could see of him was his green eyes. They studied her, and she had the feeling that he could see through her. He stared in silence, her heart started to race, and she had to work as hard as she ever had not to shy away.
“I – I am sorry to disturb you, Your Grace,” Rose began, keeping her voice deep. “And ordinarily I would not dare to do so. But it is imperative that I speak with you.”
“It sounds serious.”
“It is.”
“And as I have told this gentleman, if he wishes to speak with you, this is not the means to do so,” the butler interrupted. “Shall I have him removed, Your Grace?”
The Duke continued to look down at Rose. His expression was impassive, time seemed to stand still on his command, and all Rose could hear was the thumping of her heart and the rattling of her breath.
She tried to stand tall, to point her chin, to act like a man. But she knew then, as she knew anything, that he saw right through her.
“Jeffery, show her to my office.”
“Your Grace!”
“Now,” he said with command. He shared a final look with Rose, a smirk tugged at his lips, and he turned and strode back inside.
Rose gaped as she watched the Duke vanish. She did not mean to do so. She would have liked to have looked righteous and in control of herself. But the feeling that overtook her was similar to that from the first time she had seen him. There was just something so unescapable about the Duke. He carried with him a sense of authority and confidence that she could not ignore. That she did not want to be ignored by.
He is not dangerous, but he does not need to be. A man like that can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants to, and he knows it.
“This way,” the butler said with a grunt as he stepped back.
Rose straightened herself and tried not to smile as she stepped inside. Despite the success of the moment, she was beginning to second-guess the brilliance of her plan.
Nerves jangled through her as she followed the butler through the large manor. Few lamps were lit, shrouding the journey in darkness as their footsteps echoed across the wide halls. Rose jumped at any random sounds, her body shivering. Despite her best efforts to present confidence, she knew she was giving a poor performance.
“Here we are,” The butler came to a stop at a closed door. He then knocked a single time.
“Come in,” the Duke called.
The Duke stood in front of his desk, his arms folded, his expression stern and defensive. His visage glowed as if the fire in the hearth was drawing its light from him and not the other way around.
The otherworldliness of the effect caused Rose’s knees to shake as she came to a stop just inside the door. She raised her chin again, attempting not to appear intimidated. But that only made it so that her eyes were on his face, traveling over his sharp features. Her stomach churned as she realized again how handsome he was, and she lowered her gaze.
No! Focus, Rose. This is about Marianne and Marianne only. Do not allow yourself to become distracted.
“You may leave us,” the Duke said as soon as she was inside.
“Your Grace –”
“Now, Jefferey.” He did not raise his voice, but it was cutting. “And close the door behind you.”
The butler looked at her once again with a scathing glare. He bowed before shuffling from the room and closing the door behind him.
Alone now, she tried to stand tall and face up to the Duke, but he was so much bigger than her, so much more powerful and in full command of himself, that she was a flower wilting in the shadow. And those eyes fixed her on in a way she was becomingtoo used to; a way that made her feel utterly exposed and powerless.
This was not going to be easy.
“Miss Rosalind Drayton,” the Duke said at once. “This is rather unexpected. Not to mention unconventional.”
Rose’s eyes widened. “You know who I am?”
“Jeffery might be happy to play ignorant, but I don’t see much of a point. Especially considering all the effort you went through to get here.” He looked her over, and she could not tell if he was amused by her pantomime or if he was judging her. “Too much, considering why you are here.”
