Page 52 of Her Runaway Duke
But first, she must convince them of her safety.
“It is growing late,” Lady Willoughby said once Siena had finished her story and they had all sat in some shock. “Your Grace, I am so sorry to have intruded like this, but would it befar too forward of me to ask that we might be able to stay for the night, at least? We will have to decide on the next step forward for Siena, but first, I believe we could all use a good night’s sleep.”
“Of course,” Levi said gruffly, although his tone made it clear that he was only agreeing because he had no other option. “I will speak to Mrs. Porter.”
It appeared the housekeeper had already taken matters into her own hands, however, for she arrived at the door just as Levi was speaking to tell them all that the rooms were already prepared for their guests.
“Will Lord Fitzroy be staying?” she asked, and Siena had nearly forgotten Levi’s friend as he sat beside him, his fingers steepled together as he watched and listened with interest.
“He’ll be going,” Levi said, just as Lord Fitzroy answered for himself. “Oh, I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” he said.
As Mrs. Porter hurried away, Levi growled, asking if he had the ability to make any decisions in this house that he owned.
Fitz only laughed, and Siena’s heart warmed that Levi had a friend like him, who seemed to treat him no differently than he ever had before.
They agreed to reconvene at dinner, and Eliza grabbed Siena’s hand as Mrs. Porter led them up the stairs and showed Eliza, her mother, and Lord Fitzroy to chambers on the opposite wing of Siena’s bedroom. Siena followed her friend up the stairs, starting when she nearly ran into someone leaving the room.
“McGregor!” she said, pressing a hand against her breast. “You startled me. Us.”
McGregor looked from Siena to Eliza and back again, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“The duke does not appreciate visitors.”
Siena’s eyes widened. “I know, McGregor,” she said softly, appreciating his loyalty but knowing that Eliza wasn’t pleasedfrom the sharp intake of breath. “But Lady Eliza is my friend, and she will keep all of the secrets necessary. What are you doing in this chamber?”
“Delivering the bags.”
“Oh, I thought the footmen would see to that,” she said, confused.
“Just helping where I can. Good day, my lady.”
Siena nodded, dismissing him, both ladies turning to watch him go.
“That was odd,” Eliza said with a frown. “Is this what all of the servants are like?”
“No,” Siena shook her head. “Most of them are quite lovely. McGregor was in the war with Levi, and I believe he has had a tough life. Levi has given him a chance to start over.”
“The Duke of Death seems much more generous than most would think.”
“He is,” Siena said, trying not to bristle at the awful name that so many called him. “That’s a moniker I believe should be forgotten.”
“Of course. I apologize,” Eliza said contritely as they entered the room. “I am glad we finally have a moment alone,” Eliza said, sinking down on the bed. She paused for a moment to look around. “This room is very blue.”
“Yes,” Siena said with a slight laugh. “Every bedroom is a different color. Mine is as pink as yours is blue.”
The décor of this room was all a rather faded blue, but at one point it likely had been a bright, vibrant royal hue. Now, the curtains appeared nearly striped from the difference the sun had made in parts of them, while the carpet in the middle of the room was worn, although the bed covering appeared to be newer than the rest of the room.
The windows looked out over the opposite side of the estate, providing a view of the sunset as it was dipping low over the horizon, causing a pink and orange brilliance to fill the sky.
“I understand that you said you feel safe, Siena, but you must tell me, has the duke been… respectful?”
Siena tried to hold back her reaction to her friend’s question, but she couldn’t help the giggle that rose up from deep within her. It began low in her stomach, and she covered her mouth with her hand to try to keep it inside, but it wasn’t long until the laugh had bubbled out and Eliza’s eyes widened in shock.
“I am not entirely sure what this means, but I have a feeling that I should be concerned,” Eliza said, tilting her head, one of her dark curls bobbing off of her forehead. “ShouldI be worried, Siena? Oh goodness, what has happened? As much as I love seeing laughter within you again, you must stop that and tell me everything.”
Siena’s laughter finally abated, and she took pity on Eliza and came to sit next to her on the bed.
“When the duke first rescued me, I was frightened and untrusting of him, of course,” she said. “But he opened his home to me, as much as he had no wish for visitors.” She wasn’t about to tell Eliza the entirety of Levi’s story. He had told her that in confidence and she wouldn’t break his trust. “Over time, however, I came to see another side of him. A side that is protective. That is compassionate. That loves with no bounds.”
