Page 85 of The Duke's Ultimatum

“Good morning, Charlotte. Unfortunately, I did not.” His voice was soft. He didn’t look at Charlotte when he responded. In fact, he wasn’t looking at anyone. The once intimidating and commanding Duke kept his eyes focused on his tasks of setting his breakfast plate and taking sips of his tea.

Eleanor, Sarah, Charlotte, and even Beatrice, looked at each other, no one knowing where to take the conversation from there.

Charlotte cleared her throat and shifted in her chair. “Is everything all right, Your Grace? Something amiss with your room?”

Graynor shook his head, continuing to concentrate on buttering his bread.

“No, Charlotte, everything is fine. It’s a business matter that made a turn I wasn’t expecting that kept me up late into the night.”

Eleanor’s heart leaped into her throat. Was he talking about their night together? Or did a business issue truly come to his attention afterward?

Eleanor chewed on her bottom lip. Perhaps this was her chance to find out. She needed to know if their night together affected him. But she had to be careful with her questions, so her family didn’t catch on to her true mission for her line of questioning.

Eleanor took a deep breath. “I can’t imagine how that must feel, Your Grace—when you expect one thing and something else happens.” She turned her body towards him. “I gather from your sleepless night, you are not happy with the change?”

She held her breath.

Graynor stared at his plate. His hands, which were resting on the table, were now flexing beside his plate. He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed.

He lifted his head and looked directly at Eleanor.

His dark blue eyes swam with lust and heat so much so that heat began to blossom within Eleanor’s core.

Unknowingly she licked her lips. She didn’t realize she did it until she saw Graynor’s eyes drop to watch her tongue swipe her bottom lip.

“Actually, Eleanor…” His voice was coarse and husky. “… it was a pleasant surprise, one I would have entertained sooner if I knew the rewards.”

Eleanor’s eyes widened. She didn’t know how, but she just knew this business deal he was talking about was her. Confusion and exhilaration darted through her. Was he saying he would have taken her sooner? Would he take her again?

Images of secret meetings, stolen kisses, roaming hands invaded her thoughts and left her breathless. She heard Sarah’s fork hit her plate, and the haze of lust lifted from Eleanor.Right. I’m at the breakfast table with my sisters… and my mother!

Eleanor swallowed and forced a small smile, trying to appear nonchalant while her insides were exploding with confusing feelings and runaway thoughts.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” she managed.

“So why didn’t you get any sleep if it was such a good deal?” Sarah butted in, her mouth full of bread.

“Sarah!” Charlotte chided. “Do not talk with your mouth full. It’s unladylike.”

Eleanor sat back in her chair, thankful for the reprieve Sarah created with her interjection.

Graynor sat back and rubbed his face with his hands. “Because Sarah, the deal fell through. It wasn’t mine to have.”

“Oh. So, you didn’t sleep because you missed out on a good thing?” Sarah followed up.

Graynor’s blue eyes locked in on Eleanor’s. “Yes.”

A tear formed in Eleanor’s eye, and she quickly batted it away. This was not how it was supposed to go. Last night was supposed to cut the tie between them. She needed to get out of this room.

Listening to him talk about losing out on a good thing was breaking her. Was he saying she was the good thing? Never once did he imply something more could happen between them. So why was he saying this now?

Her confusion turned to anger. He had no right to come in here and say those things and confuse her.

Eleanor abruptly pushed away from the table.

“Mama? I’m going to freshen up before we leave. Would you mind if we leave a little early for the modiste? I’m really excited and want to go as soon as possible.”

Charlotte looked surprised. “I can arrange that.” Charlotte reached out to take Eleanor’s hand. “I’m so glad that you’re excited. I told you it would all work out in the end.”

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