Page 62 of Taken By the Duke of Stone

It must be a cruel prank or something. The thought made him want to hit something and he suddenly regretted not taking out his frustration on the Viscount. Had the blighter really thought he would just hand over his sister to him on a silver platter?

And as for the girl herself, he would put his focus into finding her the right man and in time she would forget all about this nonsense.

Plan in mind, he made his way up the stairs and to his own bed, but sleep didn't find him until the small hours of the morning.

CHAPTER 19

Miss Proctor had planned to spend the entire day in bed moping and driving herself crazy with endless thought of how stupid she had been to let herself fall in love with the Duke.

Her hopes of him suddenly realizing that he was also hopelessly in love with her were dwindling by the day and all that remained now was the barest sliver of it.

"What are you still doing in bed?" The door flew open and she raised her head to stare at her aunt and the woman let out an unladylike squeak, "Did you sleep at all? Oh dear."

Lavinia frowned, "what is the matter?"

"You look a fright, darling and it's almost calling time."

She dropped her head back on the pillow, "Nobody is calling on me today, Aunt. Even if they do, tell them I am unwell."

The woman pursed her lips and stared at her niece who was looking rather defeated. It was obvious that something was wrong with the girl. Lady Hartfield didn't even have to had been present last night when Lavinia had raced away from their host's house like she had been on fire.

"That will not do, child," she chided, "if I had to guess, I would say that whatever happened last night between you and the Duke had been unpleasant."

On the contrary, Lavinia thought, it had been the most pleasant, earth shattering experience of her life. It was just too bad that he had gone and ruined it with his sudden change of attitude. Was she to spend the rest of her life enduring his hot and cold attitude? Wondering if he wanted her or not? Oh she would most likely end up in bedlam if she had to live like that.

The sigh she let out was weary and it made her aunt's eyebrows crawl up further. She cleared her throat and continued, "but whatever it is, I believe the both of you can talk it out and fix things. That will not happen if you hide away up here and turn him away. And anyway, it will only create nasty gossip if some silly bird saw him being refused at the door."

With a groan she finally sat up in bed, "I shall be down in a moment."

"Put a cool cloth over your face, darling. It will do wonders for you," with that piece of advice, the door finally shut behind Lady Hartfield and she took a deep breath.

And then she wondered if he would come, and how the discussion about last night would go. It would be rather embarrassing to look him in the eye now, after he had seen so much of her. However did the married couples manage to talk to each other in public after what they must have been up to the night before?

Her cheeks were flaming when the lady's maid rapped on the door and then walked in, "ma'am, I have been sent to get you ready for the day."

"Very well, thank you."

She felt better after washing and getting dressed in one of the new day dresses the dowager Duchess had practically forced on her. And she was glad her aunt had insisted on her getting out of bed because when she walked past Noah on the stairs, she saw the way his eyes narrowed on her, trying to find the tiniest hint that she was less than fine.

Lavinia offered him a close mouthed smile and continued on her way.

Lady Hartfield shot her a proud look as she appeared in the drawing room and she gave an answering smile before arranging herself into the settee.

"Would you like to embroider with me to pass the time?" the older woman asked.

Nothing had ever sounded less appealing to her and she showed it by shaking her head thoroughly. Her aunt only let out an exasperated huff and went back to her embroidery.

Lavinia wrung her hands and waited with bated breath for her aunt to bring up what happened last night, but the woman didn't spare her another glance.

She wasn't sure if she felt relieved or more distraught by her silence.

"His Grace, the Duke of Wyld is here," the butler announced and Lavinia glanced up in surprise.

"How wonderful," Lady Hartfield exclaimed, "I knew he would be here. Aren't you glad you got out of bed?"

She wasn't so sure. Smoothing down the front of her dress, she sat upright. "Let him in."

Barely any time later, the Duke walked into the room. He paused briefly at the door and their eyes met. That thing that existed between them flared to life as brightly and intensely as ever despite what had happened the previous night.

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