Page 17 of Her Duke Next Door
There was a beat of silence and he waited for her voice to come, muffled, through the door. Instead, the door swung open and he cried out as he fell backward, through the doorway. Looking down at him was his daughter.
He righted himself quickly, standing up and brushing himself off. She cocked her head at him.
“Anything, Papa?” she asked, inquisitively. There were no tears on her face where he expected them, and her voice no longer held that crying thickness. Her eyes were not even red.
“Anything,” he promised.
She smiled brightly at him, the perfect picture of happiness. “Then I would like us to visit my friend, Eloise.”
Dominique’s stomach dropped. He maintained his smile, even as Katie dashed past him, newly excited at the change in her afternoon. He truly had promised anything but he had not expected it to be that.
“Well, Lady Yore,” he muttered under his breath. “You hoped we would be strangers but this scheming daughter of mine appears she does not wish that to be the way of things.”
ChapterSix
That morning, Eloise had been in a foul mood. Mary was growing more exasperated with her daughter in a way she disliked being, but Eloise would not listen to her. She wanted them to go and visit Katie but Mary just could not bring herself to meet with the Duke again.
He had plagued her thoughts too intensely these past few days to handle seeing him in person.
“It is wrong of you to keep her from playing with her friend, my lady,” Bernie protested gently. “I can take her if something ails you.”
Due to the loss of Patrick, Mary had never denied Eloise anything. Toys, dresses, love, attention. She had been utterly devoted to her daughter and, knowing her difference in behavior was noticed by Bernie, gave her some relief. Nobody was really blaming her, she knew.
“No,” Mary sighed. “I am being foolish, Bernie.” She paused. “It is just… The man who knocked me over when we picked flowers… He is Katie’s father.”
“Thatman was the Duke of Livingston?” Bernie gasped. And although she was Eloise’s governess, it felt like the older days of Mary’s life when she met with friends to gossip. She nodded.
Then Bernie’s smile grew sly and conspiratorial. “I have to say, he is rather handsome, isn’t he, my lady?”
She hoped her blushing cheeks did not give her away that shedidagree. Mary flustered. “Handsome he may be but I do not see how that matters,” she muttered, wishing to not give her own desires away. She was irritated by the effect he had on her and the fact that there was a version of the Duke in her dreams that kissed her breathless some nights.
“A man’s flaws can be overlooked if he is handsome enough,” Bernie teased, giving Mary a knowing look.
But that only irritated her further. “Not his! He flaunts his looks everywhere. Have you ever seen a man so arrogant?” She tutted, shaking her head. She shook her head, aware of how defensive she sounded but she would rather be defensive than have her lustful desire slip out. “He is awful! I wish I did not have to ever see him again.”
Liar, she accused herself. She had thought of his hands roaming her body many times in the past week and wished to know what indulgent things he might say.
“I can see why you might want to avoid him but do think of Eloise, my lady,” Bernie said gently, smiling at her.
Mary nodded. “You are right. My wish to avoid him should not come above her need to see her friend. I cannot isolate her in this house with me.”
She knew fully well she only avoided him because she did not trust herself to remain as unfazed as she had in his study. Not now, not since she had not cared to keep her thoughts in careful check. If anything, she had watched the horizon daily, waiting for a glimpse of a male rider once again escaping the castle but it seemed the illustrious Duke remained for now.
“I shall make sure Eloise is ready and out of her funny little mood,” Bernie said, taking her leave. Mary’s lady’s maid stepped forward from where she stood near the window.
“Shall I finish decorating your hair, my lady?” she asked.
Mary nodded, looking at the ribbons and hair accessories she possessed, wondering which would compliment her most in the eyes of the Duke. She hated thinking this way! She was not a bumbling debutante. That was a thing she was often reminding herself of, it seemed.
“I think maybe we could try the drapes of emeralds?” she asked, pointing at the dainty hair decoration on a thin silver chain, with emeralds embedded in it. It was usually something she wore around an updo for a ball but she would not admit she truly did want to dress up pretty to see the Duke. Her quarreling with him made her feel younger again.
Soon, she was ready to go, and Eloise stood in her doorway. “Bernie says we are visiting Katie after all, Mama.”
“We are.” Mary smiled at her daughter, standing up to take her hand. “I am sorry I bickered with you about it this morning.”
“It is no matter, Mama!” Eloise chirped brightly. “I am just happy we can go.”
As soon as they turned to walk down the hallway, a knock sounded on the door.
