Page 3 of Her Duke Next Door
Irritation flared through her.
Once again, before she could think of something calculating to reply, he smiled at her and said, “Goodbye, madam. And as my apology earlier was clearly not enough,once again, I apologize for your distress. And your dress.”
He gave her a slow once-over, making Mary feel exposed despite the layers she wore. She glared at the handsome but frustrating stranger as he swung confidently back onto his horse.
“Well, as you said, I hope we do not meet again. Do try to stay out of the way of horse’s hooves for the remainder of your day.”
Mary let out an annoyed noise as he rode off without a backward glance or another word. She gaped at his retreating figure on horseback, entirely bewildered and angry.
There was something about the man that kept her eyes on him until he disappeared into the distant fields, toward the rolling hills of the countryside.
“Who was that, Mama?” Eloise asked as Bernie finally deemed it safe for them to return.
Mary’s eyes were still on the horizon. “Nobody, darling. Let us return home.”
ChapterTwo
“You are late, Your Grace.”
Dominique Wallace’s stomach plummeted, the way it always had when he looked at Livingston Castle. He had never quite ridden himself of that anxious drop in his stomach upon seeing the home where he had grown up with his parents and then lived through a former wreck of a marriage.
“Geraldine,” he greeted with false cheer. “I have already had several women fix me with disappointed scowls, I shall not have you do the same.” He had spent the last several weeks traveling, leisurely enjoying himself by the south coast, disappearing from his life in the countryside and Livingston Castle but now he was back.
There was a large stone fountain in the center of the front courtyard and the walls surrounding the castle guarded him from most trespassers. Trees hung over the tops of the wall, casting him in the shade as he made his way up the steps to the looming building.
He had buried himself in women’s beds and fought a few husbands or two but not even an hour back in his normal life he was reminded why he despised it.
He blew past Geraldine, already removing his coat as he walked.
“Forgive me, Your Grace, but I believeI, out of these several women, have the most reason to scowl at you.” Geraldine followed him, walking one pace behind.
“I know but?—”
“Your daughter watches for you out of the top window. She has done so for weeks, ever since you sent her that letter, promising to be herebeforeher birthday.”
He stopped short, turned to his housekeeper, and cocked his head. Around him, the walls of the castle held the weight of his family’s wealth and prestige in busts of old Dukes, ornaments, and extravagant paintings. His own image stared him down. Dominique looked away.
Livingston Castle had been in the Wallace family for generations. Each Duke had built on it somehow or added to the collection of valuables inside, as he had been expected to do. But, despite his travels, Dominique had yet to do what his forefathers had. He had no interest in leaving a mark on the cursed place.
“I understand how she feels, I just–.”
“Do you?”
“Yes,” he answered through gritted teeth. He had done the same with his mother, waiting for her to return from her nightly visits to the city whenever a new singer was touring through London. As a boy, he had simply thought she loved music. He understood far more about his mother now she was dead than he ever had alive. “Now, if you will please let me be, I wish to be alone and calm myself. I had an accident on the road and it has proven to wear me down.”
Once, his staff may have widened their eyes in alarm. However, Geraldine looked only as though she stopped herself from rolling her eyes. They always thought he was making excuses. He wanted to dismiss every last one of them. He wanted to be alone for good.
“Katie has been expecting you, Your Grace, you must?—”
“Isaid, I wish to be alone for a moment.”
The housekeeper’s eyes narrowed at him. “Your ten-year-old daughter who loves her absent father is not responsible for any of your problems, Your Grace.” The emotive blow landed, and he winced. How could he ever explain the real reason why he had to leave? How could he ever make Katie understand it was not because he did not want to be a good father to her? “You should not neglect her in the ways you do.”
Shame finally nestled in his chest, spreading heavily through him. He sighed and dragged a hand through his wind-tousled hair. “I know, I know. It is not her fault. She deserves far better than to be stuck here with me but I do not know how to approach her, Geraldine.”
“Well, letting so much time pass between your attempts to approach her certainly does not help.”
He went to retort something back but a sniffle caught his attention. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the blonde ringlets of his daughter, so very like her mother’s, and he lifted his gaze to tear-stained cheeks. She went rigid to be caught eavesdropping but Dominique took a step in her direction, aiming for a soft, gentle smile.
