Page 101 of Duke It Out
His eyes are on me, and me alone. I feel like the onlyperson in the room. My heart stutters and I clutch the damp tea cloth I’m holding like a lifeline.
He walks towards me, clearing his throat, and then?—
“I came to apologise,” he says. His voice is slightly too loud for the room, and everyone is frozen on the spot.
A toddler drops a dinosaur and his mother stoops to pick it up in an automatic gesture, without taking her eyes off what’s happening. One of the old ladies nudges her friend.
“That’s the new duke, Ethel,” she says in a stage-whisper. “I told you it was worth coming over from Inverness for a visit. You don’t get that in Morrison’s café. He’s been inTatler, you know.”
I open my mouth and close it again.
Rory walks directly to the counter, his eyes never leaving my face. There’s something different about him – the rigid control is gone, replaced by something raw and unguarded.
“I need to speak with you,” he says, his voice low.
“I’m working.” I gesture to my flour covered apron.
He takes a deep breath. “I came to apologise. Not just for what happened that day – although that was unforgivable – but for every moment since we met when I failed to trust you.”
Someone in the café gasps audibly. I’m acutely aware that everyone is watching, but Rory’s eyes haven’t moved from my face.
The spaniels are pulling at their leads, trying to hoover up crumbs from under the tables, but he carries on undeterred. “You tried to help, and I pushed you away, Edie.” He pulls Tilly back to heel then clears his throat again and rakes a hand through the tangle of his hair. “I’ve spent my entire life guarding secrets that weren’t worth keeping and in doingso I pushed away the one person who saw the truth of me – not the title, not the castle, but me. I’m sorry.”
The dogs whine, sensing something’s up. Rory bends to one knee to steady them and when he looks up at me there’s a vulnerability in his eyes that I’ve never seen before.
“I believed the worst about you because it was easier than admitting how much you matter to me. I was afraid – of letting someone in, of being exposed.” His voice catches. “Of feeling anything that might make me like my father. But in protecting myself I became exactly what I feared – someone who hurts the people who care for him.”
Morag exhales loudly behind the counter and mutters, “About bloody time too” under her breath.
I blink at him. My stomach is doing an unhelpful sort of swooping, and every rational part of me is screamingdo not fall for this. It’s got to be some sort of trap. But he looks… wrecked. The stubble darkening his hollowed cheeks is a dark scruff, and there are shadows under his beautiful green eyes.
“I’ve never had to beg,” Rory adds, with a hint of his usual dry humour. “And it turns out I’m not very good at it.”
“I’d say you’re doing just fine,” calls Mrs Henderson from her table by the window, earning a ripple of laughter.
I fold my arms. “So, you decided to turn up with dogs and a public declaration? I assume you thought this was going to sweep me off my feet?”
He frowns. “No. I—” And then he glances around, as if he’s only just noticed how many people are watching. I’m pretty sure one of the old ladies is recording this with her phone.
“I didn’t come to make a scene,” he says.
I grip the edge of the counter and try to keep my expression neutral despite the riot of emotions inside me.
“So, what exactly are you asking for?”
“I just—I wanted to see you. And to ask—” He frowns again and pauses for a moment. “Will you come to the castle this weekend? On Saturday? There’s something I want to show you. Something I should have done months ago.”
The entire café seems to lean forward, awaiting my response.
I don’t answer immediately. I know I should say no. I should tell him it’s too late and that he doesn’t get to swan in here like this and just insert himself into the perfectly nice life I’m making for myself.
But my heart’s already given itself away. I look at him steadily for a long moment before I speak.
“I’ll think about it.”
His shoulders lower slightly, as if he’d been holding his breath since the moment he walked in.
He nods and then looks around the room. “Please excuse me. My apologies.”
