“You are not meant to have color except for a bit on your cheeks to perfect an innocent blush.”The maid proceeded to pinch her cheeks.
“Ow!”She jerked back from the servant.“I am well enough to appear as a sickly individual if it will save me from any more of your helpful ministrations.”Lifting her chin defiantly, the maid huffed as Astara left the room.
She was careful to hold on to the rail as she descended the stairs, careful to watch her footing because she felt as stiff as a ship’s plank.What she wouldn’t give to don her simple attire rather than this gilded cage of misery.She couldn’t take a deep breath without fear she might faint from the effort of drawing actual breath into her lungs.
However, when she reached the lower level of the townhouse and was informed that the duke was waiting for her in the parlor, a strange fluttering erupted in her lower stomach and she was breathless for another reason entirely.
She quickly attempted to push aside those unwanted feelings because the Duke of Hampton was not her equal.His rank was far superior from a mere commoner, and while they might enact a part this evening, it was nothing more than treading the boards on the stage.She was meant to perform, and if she did well, she might be granted her heart’s desire–learning who she was.
Astara noticed the duke before he saw her.He was standing by the mantel, staring into the ashen grate.The weather had been particularly mild, and the servants must not have seen a need to add a cheery atmosphere to the setting.It appeared as though it was needed now, as the duke wore a deep frown on his face and looked as though he had much on his mind.She expected to see him with a glass of spirits in his grasp, but he was devoid of any such accoutrement.
She wasn’t sure how she might make an entrance.Surely some grand lady of society would find a way to be flirtatious and expect showers of compliments.Astara wasn’t that sort of woman.“If you find me lying unconscious on a terrace somewhere, just know it is because I ran out of air.”
He turned toward her and it took a moment for his eyes to clear from the fog surrounding him but his lips twitched slightly.She noticed that he fought against smiling quite often.He likely believed that he was too sophisticated to show such simple emotions.She vowed that by the end of the night, that would become her new goal.Other than making an impression with the rest of the Lion’s Watch, of course.
“At least you look the part.”
She wasn’t sure if that was his way of saying she looked nice, but it was an acknowledgement at least.She glanced at the settee in longing and wondered how she might ever sit down comfortably at all this evening, thus she currently chose to remain standing.“The efforts of my new ladies’ maid were quite… thorough.”
“Then she has done what she was hired to do.”He lifted a brow and straightened from the fireplace.“Have you recalled what you are to say if anyone asks too many questions?”
She yearned to roll her eyes.“That I should defer them to you.”
“Indeed.”He allowed his gaze to travel the length of her.“You look the part, and I shall introduce you as my cousin from the country, which should account for any possible faux pas.”
She crossed her arms.“I am so thankful for your confidence in my abilities.”
“You forget that you were the one who jumped into my carriage after nearly being captured by the watch, so you will forgive me if I have a few doubts about how this evening might transpire.”
He moved closer to her and she caught a whiff of something spicy and enticing–a woodsy undertone that invoked a vision of something else dark and forbidden.Combined with his formal black and white attire and smoothed back dark hair, he was a magnificent sight to behold.
“Lady Astrid?”
It took a moment for her to realize that he was referring to her as he extended his arm.She must remember that for tonight, and for a limited amount of time, Lady Astrid Ancell had taken the place of Miss Astara Smith.She looped her arm through his.“You couldn’t have decided on a better name than that?”
“It was the most similar to yours.It was logical to attach something close so it does not seem so foreign.”
“What was wrong with my given name?”she grumbled.“I was named for the night sky–a star above.”
“Indeed,” he murmured.“I would agree it is perfectly acceptable, but we do not want to take the chance that it has been overheard before.It is quite unique and could be easy for someone to doubt the sincerity of our claim.”He stopped and looked at her.“For what it might be worth, I prefer Astara as well.”
* * *
Astara.He would never look at the heavens the same again.
Knox tried very hard not to wince at the absurd way that sounded, not to mention the intimate undertones of his verbal statement.It seemed he was having a very difficult time trying to ignore his charming companion.It had taken all of his willpower not to drag her into his arms and remove that cumbersome dress from her luscious body.He wondered if she might prefer that alternative as much as he.Unfortunately, duty had been something that had been drummed into his head from the moment he was born.He was due to inherit a future duchy that had arrived sooner than anticipated.Once he’d ascended to the title, the pressing weight of his position in society had nearly drowned him.It was as though he was fighting against a raging current where scandal had to be shunned at all costs and responsibilities were the only key to a successful estate.
He served in Parliament, took care in overseeing all his properties, listening to his tenants and ensuring that all repairs and improvements were completed in a timely manner.However, it wasn’t until Scarsdale had approached him with the prospect of actually doing something he considered meaningful work, nor a circumstance he had not been born to because of privilege, or an objective that his status was not able to sustain without merit.The Lion’s Watch had saved him from the same mundane topics of politics and his gullet from the never-ending supply of spirits at his club.
The women in his life had been expendable but there was something different about Miss Smith, a quality that was foreign to him.He wanted to protect her, to see her fulfill the innermost dreams of her heart because he knew she was true, dare he imagine even true of heart?She was not like the superficial ladies that meandered their way among society.She cared not for material things and it was as if a soft, gentle breeze had floated over his skin following her abrupt arrival into his carriage.He’d wanted to be angry, to be annoyed, but he found himself completely fascinated instead.Thus far, that sensation had yet to diminish.
As they reached the foyer and gained their wraps, he was glad that Madame Duvall had remained true to her word and delivered several gowns for Miss Smith to choose from.After the rest of the Bond Street order had arrived in short order, he was confident that she would secure several invitations to varioustonevents.That was, if this evening was as much of a success as he anticipated it would be.
He glanced at one of the footmen, who was standing by with a velvet box.He gestured for the servant to come forward.“I fear there is something missing from your attire, Lady Astrid.”
She patted her trim stomach.“If you think anything else is going to fit in this dress, you are sadly mistaken.”
He took the box and lifted the lid to show her what was inside.“I was referring to this.”Knox saw her eyes widen, her perfect, pink mouth falling slack.
