Page 7 of Bound to the Heartless Duke
He vaguely heard Hastings say, “Your Grace,” as he was too busy studying the lady in front of him. She stood her ground, her chest heaving.
Magnus was not so obsessed with observing formalities all the time, but as she held his gaze, he felt something stir within him. He felt like he was being disrespected.
Why wasn’t she greeting him properly like Hastings did?
But then realization dawned on him.
Oh, right. It’s her.
He knew her. If he wasn’t mistaken, he was standing before Lady Lily, the sister of the Earl of Medlin, friend to his beloved little sister Cecilia, and undoubtedly the most troublesome woman he had ever met in his life.
He hadn’t seen her in so many years, but she hadn’t changed much. Her eyes were still blue and bright, and her hair had turned a deeper shade of blonde, dredging up memories of her much younger self. The freckles that once spotted her cheeks had faded but he spotted the little dots across the bridge of her nose that would have gone unnoticed if he hadnt been searching for them.
She was as beautiful as he remembered and the fact he noticed that set a pit of unease in his stomach.
Her presence in his home made him even more uneasy. She had only visited in the past to see his sister but now that Cecilia was wed and away on her honeymoon, the girl had no reason to visisthis estate and unchaperoned as well.What does she want?He couldn’t help but wonder.Is she trying to cause a scandal?
It wasn’t as though she was unaware of the fact that it was improper to visit him unaccompanied. He frowned as disapproval filled him.
He lifted his chin and tucked his left arm behind his tailcoat.
“I hear that you were asking for me, My Lady,” he said in an authoritative tone.
“I told her that you were out, Your Grace, but she wouldn’t listen,” Hastings interjected.
Magnus shot him a sharp, quelling look and turned back to Lady Lily, waiting for her response.
“I would like to discuss something with you, Your Grace. If you may,” she said softly, lowering her gaze. “It is of high importance, as a lot is at stake.”
Magnus barely held back a frown and gave Hastings a questioning look.
What could this be about?
Eventually, he nodded. “Very well, then. We can speak in my study.”
Without another word, he walked into the house, not even pausing to see if Lady Lily was following behind.
He stopped to order a servant to bring tea for two and crossed the hall to his study. Lady Lily appeared at the door just as he sat in the chair behind his desk. He motioned for her to sit in the chair across from him, and she did without a word.
“Please excuse my butler’s behavior, My Lady,” he began. “I told him not to admit anyone without an appointment. How may I help you?”
Lady Lily opened her mouth to respond, right as a maid walked in with a tray bearing a teapot and two teacups. She gently placed the tray on the table, poured the tea, and placed a teacup before each of them.
Magnus studied Lady Lily’s countenance all the while; her teeth had yet to stop worrying her bottom lip and the rigid way she held her self betrayed exacatly what she was feeling. He could tell she was nervous and didn’t know whether to be proud or disturbed by that fact..
The maid finally left and closed the door behind her.
As soon as they were alone again, Lady Lily took a deep breath, as though to brace herself.
“I have come to talk about my brother’s foolishness, Your Grace,” she said.
Now, that’s new.
“Your brother’s foolishness, My Lady?” Magnus asked, genuinely confused. “I’m afraid I’m a little lost here.”
“Yes. I am Lily Starks, and my brother is Nathan Starks, the Earl of Medlin. I understand that he had a… unique encounter with Your Grace last night, at a place he shouldn’t have been, that had led to him losing an important property.”
If he were being honest, Magnus had no intention of seizing the house, since he had no use for it, but he did love teaching reckless gamblers lessons they would never forget. Hopefully, Lord Medlin had learned his lesson and wouldn’t show up at the gaming hell again.
