Page 26 of Bound to the Heartless Duke
How was it that this lady could make him lose his stance with only a question? What had she done to him? What was it about her that made him feel that way?
“Well…” he trailed off, still fumbling for the words. Then, he cleared his throat. “I think it’s safe to say that I am invested in you, My Lady, and this estate, and I believe it is in my best interest to know about… all of this.”
A light crease formed on her forehead. “All of what?”
“This…”
He waved his hand around, and almost laughed when he realized that he was feeling nervous under her gaze.
“I am really interested in helping you find a solution to your problems, Lady Lily,” he said, finally feeling like himself again.
Her eyes darkened. “I already told you, Your Grace, that I shall handle everything myself,” she said with finality. “You need not worry about it.”
But he wasn’t ready to let her go. Not just yet.
“It doesn’t matter,” he told her. “I am deeply invested in this estate, and I think that helping you find a suitable husband is very crucial to securing the future of this estate and—even though I don’t care much for it—the future of your brother. And, of course, your dignity as a lady.”
Lily released a shaky breath and stared up at him with resolve in her eyes. “I assure you, I shall handle it myself. It is my business, after all.”
He couldn’t tell if her voice was shaking from anger or the fact that they were only inches apart.
He took another step forward, closing the distance between them, even though he knew he shouldn’t. “Are you sure about that, My Lady?”
Now, she was trapped against the same wall she had held onto earlier for support.
Deep down, Magnus knew that he shouldn’t be doing that, but he had already told himself that there was no going back.
The air around them seemed to thicken, making it harder to breathe. And when he did breathe it in, it was filled with her scent. It went straight to his brain, driving him mad. He felt the urge to pull her into his arms and just hold her, but, of course, that would be very inappropriate.
Lily opened her mouth to say something, but froze when she saw how close he stood to her. Her eyes locked onto his. She held her breath as her heart sped up.
She wanted to leave, but she couldn’t.
It was the third time that Magnus had come this close to kissing her, and she felt she would go mad if he didn’t do it this time.
Magnus wanted to take a step back, but he couldn’t bring himself to move. She seemed transfixed, too, or else she could have excused herself like she did in his study at Blackmore Manor.
Edwin was right; living in Medlin Manor was a risky thing to do, especially when Lily was involved. Magnus had been so sure that he wouldn’t develop feelings for her within a month. But now, he knew he had been lying to himself. He was doing the one thing he had resolved not to do.
His eyes landed on a lock of hair that had escaped her coiffure to sit on her face.
It shouldn’t be there.
He took a huge risk by raising his hand to touch it. His hand brushed against her soft cheek as he tucked the lock behind her ear. The brief contact his fingers made with her ear almost made him shiver.
His instincts told him to leave right now, but for some reason unknown to even him, he chose to ignore them. His hand hovered by her ear, loving the feel of her soft blonde hair against his fingers.
They stood still, the air crackling. He thought to say something, and when he did, his voice came out low and husky.
“Are you sure you can handle it all on your own, Lady Lily?” he asked.
Her breath tickled his skin, making goosebumps break out over his neck.
“I know you can,” he added in a whisper. “But you shouldn’t have to do it on your own.”
Lily kept her eyes on his, as though she was being held in place by an invisible force. She tried to form words in her head, but it seemed she had completely lost the ability to think and speak.
Magnus felt her lips moving, but even she couldn’t hear the words she was trying to say.
