Page 40 of Bound to the Heartless Duke
“Well, it’s rather magnificent, this estate,” the voice remarked, sounding rather… awed. “I daresay the ceilings alone could inspire poetry. Or vertigo!”
She took a deep breath before stepping into the room. The first person she noticed was Magnus, and her lips parted slightly in surprise. He was standing near the fireplace, leaning one shoulder against the mantelpiece, looking amused.
Of course, he is.
And then she noticed her brother, who immediately turned towards her. She closed her eyes, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her.
“There she is!”
Nathan didn’t disappoint.
Next to him sat an unfamiliar man, who rose from the settee upon seeing her. He bowed dramatically, sweeping out an arm like he was on stage.
“Lady Lily,” he greeted. “What a pleasure!”
Lily blinked.
What the…?
He wore striped trousers and a chartreuse waistcoat, topped with a fire-red cravat that seemed to pulse. His hair was slicked back and shiny, and his mustache curled up at either end, pointing toward the ceiling.
She bobbed a polite curtsy. “Mr. Bailey.”
“I am beside myself,” he declared. “Truly, your brother told me you were lovely, but he did not prepare me for… well, this level of elegance.”
“Thank you,” she said slowly.
She glanced at Magnus, who looked maddeningly entertained.
“I was just telling Mr. Bailey,” he drawled, “how fortunate he is. After all, Nathan’s approval is worth its weight in…” He paused. “Well, it’s worth something.”
Nathan shot him a glare.
However, Mr. Bailey chuckled, clueless.
“Indeed!” He beamed, extending a hand toward Magnus. “And Your Grace, I must say that it is an honor to make your acquaintance as well. I’ve never met a duke before. At least not one who owns… What was it? Ah, yes,the whole damn house.”
It took Lily a second to realize he was attempting to mimic Magnus’s tone. And damn, was it terrible.
Magnus’s eyebrow rose. “Fascinating,” he murmured, before picking up a teacup and swirling its contents lazily. “It’s not every day one hears their words so… enthusiastically butchered.” His smirk widened.
Mr. Bailey blinked. “Pardon?”
“Nothing,” Lily quickly cut in and stepped forward. “Mr. Bailey, would you like a tour of the grounds? I imagine you’d find the gardens far less… noisy.”
“Oh, that would be splendid!” Mr. Bailey exclaimed, startling her. “I’d be delighted.”
She nodded politely, sending the duke a appointed look.
She accepted Mr Bailey’s help to rise out of her seat and nodded her thanks to the man grinning brightly. He seemed pleasantly unaware of the tension in the room.
Before leading Mr. Bailey toward the door, she shot Nathan a glare. Just as she was about to step out, Magnus’s voice sounded behind her.
“Try not to lose him in the shrubbery, Lily.”
She didn’t turn back, though her fingers twitched in her gloves.
By the time she returned with Mr. Bailey, who had spent a full five minutes comparing the hedge maze to his aunt’s personality, her head ached terribly.
