Page 13 of Bound to the Heartless Duke
But her brother said and did nothing. He just gulped.
Is he so intimidated by the Duke of Blackmore?
Somehow, a part of her was enjoying this.
“Anyway,” the Duke continued, “which room have you prepared for me, Lord Medlin?”
Lily noted the blank look on her brother’s face with satisfaction. She opened her mouth to respond on his behalf, but the Duke cut her off.
“Ah, I guess your sister hasn’t told you anything about that yet. Not surprising, considering your… histrionics. Anyway, we agreed that I will live with you for a month, and in the meantime, we can figure out a solution together.Withoutgambling, of course,” he emphasized.
Everything he had said so far was directed at Nathan. It was almost like she wasn’t in the room at all.
Nathan nodded, still as white as a sheet.
Lily was bewildered. Was he not going to ask what that had to do with her finding a husband and paying off his debts? Why was he nodding like an obedient servant, instead of pushing back?
Even she had something to say when the Duke had mentioned his condition.
Again, she opened her mouth to speak, and it took her forever to find the right words.
“Your Grace,” she said, drawing the Duke’s attention. “I shall take you to your room. Please, follow me.”
She took his small bag from him and led him out of the room and up the staircase. She took him to the room that had oncebelonged to her parents and dropped his bag on the divan at the end of the bed.
She couldn’t help blushing in embarrassment. Even if she tried to hide it, the shabby furniture in the room gave away their financial troubles.
Would the Duke now think them unworthy of their titles, given the state of their home?
She lifted her eyes to his, expecting his disapproval, but he only nodded to himself.
“This will do,” he muttered, looking around the room. “I like the furnishings in here. It’s old, but it’s good.”
That put her mind at ease somehow, but the initial shame was still there.
She thought to say something, but she could not think of anything, as she was busy studying him.
Once again, he stood out in the room. He was like a nobleman amid peasants. His posture was sure and steady, like that of a man who knew his station and revelled in it yet didn’t feel the need to assert it. His powerful aura appealed to her senses, and she felt the near imperceptible need to lean into him if only to draw some of his strength into herself.
How had she never noticed how truly handsome he was?
She found herself biting her lip as she watched him, her eyes unable to keep from studying the hard planes of his back and the breadth of his shoulders.
“By the way…” He suddenly turned to her, and she looked away, startled.
Her heart rate quickened with each slow step he took toward her.
“How much progress have you made in your search for a wealthy husband so far?” he asked, his eyes boring into her such that it became hard to think about anything else.
Her heart skipped a beat at the question.
But it had only been two days! Surely, he did not expect her to have already secured a match. Moreover, finding a husband—and a wealthy one at that—was going to be more complicated, seeing as she was officially a spinster. Even if she were younger, she could be courting gentlemen with different ulterior motives, considering the situation they were in.
Did the Duke not know this?
Perhaps she should let him know.
“But it’s only been two days, Your Grace,” she pointed out. “And it’s a lot more complicated than I thought it would be. I haven’teven heard back from the matchmaker. I sent the letter only yesterday.”
