Page 41 of Her Runaway Duke
“I have never seen it before myself, but perhaps the duke can provide you with an explanation,” Mary said, as she busied herself helping Siena prepare for dinner.
Siena walked over, stroking her hands over the beautiful silk.
“What is it for? It is far too extravagant for a simple dinner, is it not?”
Mary smiled coyly. “The Cook told me that His Grace asked her to prepare a special dinner tonight.”
“For how many people?” Siena asked, wondering if he had invited guests – perhaps this friend Fitz she had heard of.
“Just the two of you,” Mary answered, giving her eyebrows a quick wiggle that had Siena laughing even as her heart fluttered slightly.
A dinner shouldn’t seem particularly important after what had happened between them yesterday, and yet… if he was putting an effort into doing something for her, perhaps that meant that he actually cared.
She couldn’t help her giggle of excitement and clapped her hand over her mouth after she allowed it to escape, but Mary held no judgement. In fact, it seemed that the maid shared her enthusiasm as she flitted about the room even faster while she carefully helped Siena with her hair and a bit of rouge on her cheeks. Siena wished she had a few jewels to match the beautiful gown, but its finery would have to do.
Soon enough she was prepared, standing in front of the mirror, facing Mary.
“Well?” she said, taking the fabric of the dress between her thumb and forefinger as she lifted it out to the sides. “What do you think?”
“You are stunning,” Mary said with a sigh of contentment. “Absolutely beautiful. I can see why the duke is falling for you.”
“Falling for me?” Siena said, her mouth gaping open. “I am not sure I would call it that.”
“The man has barely left his bedchamber or his study since he arrived here over a year ago, and I have only ever heard him speak to Thornbury or McGregor. Even then, he practically grunted his words. But today, even after the stable nearly burned down, I saw himsmile. Lady Siena, I have not seen that man smile once in all my time working here. That is because of you.”
“Perhaps he just needed some company,” Siena said somewhat bashfully. She had hoped to help the duke find a reversal of his spirit, a lightness that had previously been absent, but she could hardly imagine that he would see her as more thanthat, that there might even be potential for him to fall inlovewith her.
Love. She had never imagined that it might be in her future – most especially with a man like the Duke of Dunmore.
After Mary’s approval, she took a breath and opened the door to face whatever surprise awaited her with her stomach in knots – but happy, excited knots.
Siena walked toward the stairs with some trepidation, finding that her fingers were shaking on the banister. She stood at the top, wondering just where she was supposed to meet the duke, what he might have waiting for her, why he was doing this – and then she saw him.
He was standing at the bottom of the staircase, more dapper than she had ever seen him before. He wore trousers and a jacket of rich, dark velvet, his waistcoat adorned with intricate gold embroidery and shiny buttons that matched her gown.
Even his cravat had obviously been carefully selected, starched, and tied, his eye patch made of new black silk, and her heart swelled that he had gone to such effort for her.
“Lady Siena,” he said, his voice nearly cracking as he held out a hand toward her. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
CHAPTER 15
Levi had nearly forgotten how to speak when Siena had appeared at the top of the stairs.
She was a vision in gold, illuminating the darkness of the house – darkness brought upon by the lack of lit wall sconces or fire in the hearths, darkness that he had brought with him when he had made this his home.
But now that she was here, everything had changed.
His voice had nearly failed him when he had finally greeted her, so affected he was by her, but she didn’t seem to care so then, neither did he. He wore gloves but, strangely, for the first time since the accident, he had an intense desire to remove them, if only to feel the touch of her skin beneath his.
“You are very handsome tonight,” she said as she slipped her small hand into his, and he curled his fingers around hers, knowing she was only being polite but accepting the compliment all the same.
“And you,” he said, pausing as he ran his eyes up and down her figure, “are stunning.”
The blush of her cheeks deepened.
“Where did you find this gown?”
“When I moved here, I had my servants look through all of the items that had been stored away. I gave away many of them, but something made me hold onto this,” he said. “I’m glad I did.”
