Page 26 of A Trap by the Rakish Duke
Aurelia was more than a pawn; she had become a complication in his life, one he could no longer afford to ignore.
Chapter Ten
“How do I look?” Aurelia asked, a coy smile dancing on her lips as she turned to face Eilidh.
The maid, whose hands were busy adjusting the Duchess’s gown, took a step back to admire her work. “Beautiful, Your Grace, as always,” she replied, beaming. “But it seems you are in high spirits tonight, Your Grace.”
Aurelia nodded, the smile never leaving her face, though she said nothing more. She could not deny the truth in the maid’s words. She was indeed in high spirits, the kind that resulted from a well laid out plan.
The tips she’d gleaned fromHow to Tame a Dukehad proven rather effective. In the book, the temptress advised to employ conniving charm and teasing confidence and to initiate physical touch, carefully building an air of seduction.
Aurelia had done just that during her archery stunt and it had led to a victory in the field far more significant than any arrow she had loosed.
She could still see the look in Philip’s eyes when he’d stepped back after she hit her target. The subtle shift in his expression had betrayed more than he had intended. Pride had bloomed within her at her success.
A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Eilidh hurried to open the door, revealing Mrs. Jarrow and three maids standing behind her, each carrying trays laden with food.
Aurelia’s heart sank. So, Philip thought she would dine alone tonight, tucked away like some forgotten ornament in the house. A slight tension formed at the corners of her mouth, but she quickly smoothed it away.
“Kindly return these trays, Mrs. Jarrow,” Aurelia ordered, her voice firm yet gentle. “I shall join my husband for dinner in the dining room.”
The housekeeper blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting such defiance. “Your Grace, but…”
“No,” Aurelia interrupted with quiet authority, rising from her chair. “I will dine with my husband, as a wife should. You need only return to me if you are coming to advise that the table is set for us both.”
There was a flash of irritation in Mrs. Jarrow’s eyes, but the woman was well-trained in masking such emotions. With a short, respectful bow, she turned to the maids.
“Take the trays back,” she instructed, before disappearing down the corridor.
Aurelia did not need to wait long. Mrs. Jarrow returned with the news that the table was set, and Aurelia wasted no time making her way to the dining room.
As she descended the stairs and entered the room she saw Philip seated at the head of the table. His gaze alighted upon her, and she caught the moment his eyes slid over her dress.
It was made of the finest silk, a soft blush hue that hugged her figure in all the right places. The neckline was modest but revealed just enough to tempt, a deliberate decision on her part.
Philip’s eyes darkened for a moment, betraying his thoughts even as his jaw clenched.
He knew. He knew exactly what she was doing, but that didn’t stop the spark of heat that ignited within him.
“How are you tonight, husband?” Aurelia asked with her eyebrows raised slightly.
“I am well, wife,” Philip answered curtly.
Aurelia had wanted to ask another mundane question, but she had not dressed like this for nothing. She was playing a game; one that she intended to win.
“I must say, it’s been rather quiet in the house today,” she continued conversationally, reaching for her wineglass. “Do you find it dull here? So little happens.”
Philip glanced at her briefly, then focused on his plate as if her words were of little consequence. “I have had my fill of excitement all over the world,” he said, his voice flat and devoid of the warmth she was trying to coax from him.
Aurelia pressed on, determined. “I see. But surely you must miss the company of your friends, the bustle of the city, the travels. I imagine you do grow restless here in the countryside.”
He shrugged slightly, still refusing to meet her eyes. “Restlessness is a luxury for which I do not have time.”
She felt a tinge of frustration. “What do you do with your time then, if not rest? Surely there must be something that holds your interest.”
Philip’s gaze finally met hers, cold and unreadable. “What I do with my time, Aurelia, is my concern.”
Aurelia paused, watching him closely before deciding to change tack. “I have heard stories, you know,” she said, her voice casualbut probing. “About your travels. They say you have ventured to places most of us can only dream of.”
