Page 21 of Bound to the Heartless Duke
“Yes, Your Grace.”
She stepped aside, waiting for him to go ahead so she could follow right behind.
“Please.” He motioned for her to walk next to him, though she still fell one step behind.
As they walked back to the house, Magnus couldn’t help but feel responsible for her. She was working so hard, and that got to him. He wanted to help her, and he would, even if it meant accompanying her to a few events he didn’t want to attend.
She rushed forward to open the door when they neared the house and instantly he was hit by the sweet scent of her perfume. The scent had begun to linger in his mind and even now, he had to hold back from stopping to look at her. He couldn’t deny his attraction towards her at that moment, but he knew it wasbest to push it down. It wasn’t right for him to entertain such thoughts about her when he was only trying to help her..
He gulped and walked into the house, going straight up to his study.
He reminded himself that his attraction toward her didn’t matter and that what was important was helping Lily find a husband, so he could leave Medlin Manor.
With a whole new team of servants in the house, Lily found it hard to keep herself occupied. Everything she once enjoyed doing with Summer had now been taken over by them. She had tried different new things, but other than embroidering and reading, nothing seemed to entertain her.
She had gone to almost every room in the manor, except the Duke’s, and had found nothing to busy herself with. His maids seemed to have everything under control. They cleaned thoroughly and always served their meals on time. His footmen mowed and trimmed the lawns, and the butler, the same one she had argued with at Blackmore Manor, played his role well in supervising the new members of staff with such seamless efficiency she couldn’t help but envy.
As for Nathan, he seemed to have forgotten what the presence of the Duke’s servants in their home meant. In fact, he had immediately liked the idea.
Unfortunately for him, the servants were not there to attend to him. Lily guessed it was a directive from the Duke himself, but she didn’t tell her brother. She might have, if only he had been around.
He had ordered one of the maids to bring him some snacks and tea, but his snacks and tea never arrived. After waiting for what seemed like forever to him, he had stormed into the kitchen, demanding an explanation for the delay, and Hastings had come in to interfere. Lily was brewing some tea when he came in, but she chose not to get involved.
“Apologies, Mr Lord,” Hastings said, his voice calm as if he wasn’t dealing with an angry man. “But we are here only in service of the Duke of Blackmore.”
Nathan turned red with rage. “Well, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the Duke of Blackmore is living in my house at the moment, and if you’re going to serve him, then you should also serve the master of the house,” he snapped.
Lily turned away, hiding a smile.
“My Lord, I believe this is a conversation you should have with the Duke,” Hastings said.
Lily looked over her shoulder to see the blood drain from her brother’s face.
She knew that Nathan would never dare take such a matter to the Duke, not when he feared him. He cast his gaze around the kitchen, looking for Summer, the only person he could terrorize. He frowned when he couldn’t find her.
Still, not wanting to appear weak in front of the servants, he jutted his chin and said, “Well, if none of you is going to attend to me, then stay out of my sight!”
With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the kitchen.
Lily chuckled to herself as Hastings told everyone to get back to work. She took her tea back to the drawing room, where she picked up a book to read.
Apparently, Nathan was the only person the Duke’s maids were instructed not to attend. Lily soon noticed that they cleaned up after her, even when she told them not to bother. They brought her tea when they saw her reading or embroidering in the drawing room. She didn’t quite get used to it, but she had to live with it.
She was in the drawing room, doing some embroidery as usual, when Hastings came in bearing a silver tray.
“A letter for you, My Lady,” he said, holding out the tray.
Lily dropped everything she was doing and stood up.
“Thank you, Hastings,” she said, taking the letter.
Hastings bowed his head and swiftly retreated from the room.
Lily sat back on the sofa and opened the letter, hoping for good news. Excitement bubbled up in her chest when she read the sender’s address.
It’s from the matchmaker!
She unfolded the letter and started to read.
