Page 51 of Three Nights with the Beastly Duke

“We shall move forward with a new type of friendship, then,” he declared at last, choosing to let go of his ugly past. He had clung to it for so long, but now that he had a future to look forward to, it all didn’t matter anymore.

“Do you truly mean that?” Grace asked, her eyes wide with hope.

Arthur felt some semblance of a smile stretch across his face, and he nodded. “Indeed,” he replied, meaning it. “Lavinia and I shall send you and your husband an invitation for dinner next week, just the four of us. And we will all start fresh together.”

Grace let out a sigh of relief and patted his arm. “We would love that,” she said, looking as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

“As would we,” Arthur returned, realizing that he meant it.

At that moment, the Viscount returned, juggling three glasses of champagne. “I thought we might toast to your successful gathering, Your Grace,” he said jovially, handing a glass to Arthur.

“And to new beginnings,” Grace added, raising her glass.

Smiling, Arthur raised his glass to Grace’s and her husband’s. “To new beginnings,” he echoed.

* * *

“Your Grace, this has been an absolutely wonderful ball thus far,” Lady Blackney praised. “I cannot thank you enough for the invitation.”

Lavinia took Grace’s hand and squeezed it warmly. She had been mad at the woman at first. And, in a way, perhaps always would be for the way Grace had hurt Arthur. But Lavinia wanted a new future for all of them, so she had put her feelings aside. Hoping to create a bridge between Arthur’s past and his present.

“I am so happy you came, and that you were able to speak with my husband,” Lavinia replied. “Tell me, is all well with you now?”

Grace beamed at Lavinia and nodded softly. “I believe it is on its way,” she replied. “I never thought that we would ever be on speaking terms again, but thanks to you, I feel as if we will all soon be good friends.”

“I hope for that as well,” Lavinia said, meaning it. “Tell me, have you seen him recently? I know you spoke with him about an hour ago, and that he was to meet his friend Archibald in the cigar room after, but I did not find him there. Dinner will be served soon, and we planned to say a few words to our guests beforehand.”

“I have not,” Grace replied, her eyebrows dipping down slightly in concern. “Shall my husband and I assist you in finding him?”

“No need,” Lavinia assured her. “Please, both of you, continue enjoying the party. I shall go check his study.”

Grace and Lavinia exchanged a few more pleasantries before Lavinia headed away from her guests and toward Arthur’s study. It had been locked, but she and Arthur each had their own keys. As she made her way toward it, several of her guests raised their glasses to her and praised her for such a wonderful party. She smiled back at them gaily, happy that everything was working out exactly as she had hoped.

As she reached the door of Arthur’s study, she heard footsteps come from the other side and felt a swell of relief. There you are,she thought, opening the door. As she stepped inside, she looked around, confused. She had expected to see her husband at his desk, but no one was there. However, a fire had been lit in the hearth, and there were two glasses of brandy sitting on the desk.

“Arthur?” she called out, taking a few more steps inside. “Darling, are you in here?”

Behind her, she heard the door close, and the lock slid into place. Thinking her husband was playing a trick on her, she began to laugh and turned around.

“Arthur, what are you—”

It was not Arthur who now stood in front of the locked door, but Timothy. The strange look he’d had on his face when she’d first greeted him had returned, and she once more felt a tremor of insecurity course through her.

“Lord Stonehames, what are you doing?” she asked, hoping her rising fear wasn’t obvious in her voice. “This is highly inappropriate. Get out of my way at once.”

“You know I hate it when you call me that,” Timothy replied calmly, ignoring her command. “You used to never call me that, save for when we were in public. Now, it is all you refer to me as. Do you know how deeply that hurts me?”

“Much has changed between us,” Lavinia stated, fighting to stay calm. “Now, please, remove yourself from the door and let me pass. My husband is looking for me.”

Timothy chuckled darkly as he shook his head and took a step toward her. “Yourhusband,” he stated, disgust filling his voice as he said the word, “is in his father’s armory, too wrapped up in all the positive attention you’ve brought him. I assure you he is not looking for you.”

“Lord—”

“Sitdown,Lavinia,” Timothy commanded, moving toward Arthur’s chair. “All I ask is that you have a drink with me and let me talk. If you hear me out, I assure you that you will get out of here.”

Lavinia looked at him tensely as he took a seat on her husband’s chair and leaned back comfortably. It was only then she noticed that the chair normally positioned at the opposite side of the desk had been moved to his side. He picked up a glass, smiling, and held it out to her.

“Sit, please,” he urged. “Allow me this.”

---