Page 14 of Her Runaway Duke
“My lord – I assume you are a lord?” she said, her voice soft and light, making him almost feel guilty about how harshly he was speaking to her – almost.
“Something like that.”
“I do not mean to pry. I am simply uncertain what to call you.”
That made some sense.
“Call me Levi,” he said, hoping she would go now.
“Very well, Levi,” she said to his back. “I am told that you had wished me to leave today, but unfortunately the weather conditions make that impossible.”
“I see that.”
“However, I believe it might be fortuitous, for I would hardly like to leave without the opportunity to properly thank you for what you did for me.”
“No need.”
He could sense her hesitation at his abruptness, but he had to respect her for continuing on, regardless.
“I told you that I was going to Crawley, but the truth is, I do not even know the person I am to meet there. She is a friend of my friend’s, and I am not even certain that I can afford passage to reach her now that I took the complete wrong direction. I was thinking, perhaps I could stay here and work for you. First, to pay back my debt and then perhaps I could earn some money from you.”
Her words had come in a rush, as though she was uncertain of what she was saying and now they hung in the air, waiting for his response.
He took a breath.
“Lady Siena, is it?”
“Yes,” she said, surprise in her voice. “How did you know that?”
“My servants tell me things,” he said.
“You might as well call me Siena, if I am to refer to you familiarly as well.”
“Very well,Siena,” he said, the twist in his words necessary for he wanted her to lose any feeling of comfort she had about staying here. “There is no debt to be paid. There is no work for you to do. All I want is for you to go when you are able. I do not want you on my estate. I do not wantanyonehere. Do you understand?”
He heard her sharp intake of breath, and for a moment felt a slight bit of guilt, but this was necessary.
“I—” she began sharply, but then in a lower voice continued, “I do not understand why you wish to be alone.”
“It is not for you to understand,” he said bitterly. “Just go. In fact, I will give you the money to go, if that is what it takes. My footman and driver will see you wherever you choose to journey to, if needed.”
She was silent for a few moments before finally responding.
“Very well,” she said so quietly that he almost didn’t hear her. “I will go as soon as I am able, I promise, but I am told that the roads will be impassable for a few days at least. I do apologize for being a burden, but until I leave, perhaps we could be friendly?”
For a woman who seemed so timid, she certainly would not take no for an answer. Levi sighed, realizing he had run out of options. There was only one sure way to deter her.
He kicked his legs back down from the windowsill before pushing himself up to stand.
And then, he slowly turned around.
Siena wason the verge of tears. What had she done so wrong that this man was so desperate to be rid of her? He had made it clear that he thought her a fool, to which she agreed with him, but now that the situation was finished, why could he not at least attempt to be friendly with her since they were stuck here together?
She was twisting her hands together, trying to determine just how to apologize, when he finally stood from his chair. He turned around slowly, the right side of his face coming into view first. Lit only by the blue light entering through the window behind him, she was once again struck by how handsome he was, despite the sharpness of his features. Then he turned all the way to face her, and she had to bite down on her bottom lip to prevent her gasp from escaping.
For as handsome as the right side of his face was, the left side was nearly destroyed. Scars lined his cheek, a patch covered his eye, and the corner of his lip was twisted. The raised skin continued down his neck to beneath his jacket, and she imagined that the scars continued down his body – and perhaps internally as well.
She had been trying to understand him. Now it was finally making sense.
