Page 11 of ?n Arranged Betrothal with a Blind Duke
The sight of the joyful canine brought an unexpected warmth to her heart. She knelt down, anticipating giving him a scratch behind the ears.
“Patches!” She laughed as the enthusiastic hound launched himself at her, his tail wagging so furiously it seemed it might fly off. She found herself unable to resist his infectious energy, her hands instinctively reaching out to ruffle his soft fur.
His tongue lolled out in a happy pant as he settled down, his large, adoring eyes meeting Annabelle's. She felt a chuckle rise in her throat, her worries from earlier momentarily forgotten.
“Patches, you lovable rogue,” she murmured affectionately, scratching behind his ears. His enthusiastic response elicited another round of laughter from her, a sound as pure as the babbling brook nearby.
For a moment, all was right in the world. The specter of Oswald's plans and the unnerving intrigue of the duke felt a million miles away. Her heart felt lighter, a soothing calm spreading within her. Annabelle knew the reprieve was temporary, but for now, she reveled in the serenity, allowing herself to be swept away in the simple joy of her unexpected companion.
Just as Annabelle was about to surrender herself fully to the peace that the meadow offered, a voice echoed from a little distance, shattering the tranquil air.
“Patches,” the voice called.
Annabelle froze, a chill running down her spine as she recognized the voice. She slowly turned, her heart hammering in her chest, and there he stood under the silvered canopy of the moon. The Duke of Thornwood.
In the fading light, he looked both powerful and remarkably gentle. His attire, less formal than their first encounter, made him look more approachable. His expression was slightly flustered, a stark contrast to his usual composed demeanor, but a warm smile graced his lips as he looked at her.
A peculiar sensation, the same that she had felt during their first encounter, fluttered in her chest. It was akin to a deer caught in the gaze of a predator, yet there was an undercurrent of excitement, something she couldn't quite identify. Her pulse quickened, and her breath hitched in her throat as he started to approach.
The duke made his way towards her, Patches frolicking joyously around him. His eyes were fixed on Annabelle, a certain warmth in his gaze that she hadn't noticed before. A part of her wanted to run, to escape the intense scrutiny of his gaze, but her feet seemed rooted to the ground.
“Miss Ludlow,” he greeted, tipping his hat slightly in a gentlemanly gesture, “I apologise if my companion here has caused any disturbance.”
“Oh no, not at all,” Annabelle quickly replied, her cheeks warming. “Patches and I are good friends.” She looked down at the dog, who wagged his tail, seemingly agreeing with her.
The duke's warm smile widened, reaching his eyes and making them sparkle in the moonlight. Seeing him in this light, without the pressures of society's formalities and expectations, Annabelle couldn't help but feel an unfamiliar pull towards him. This wasn't the intimidating figure she had heard of. This was a man who smiled fondly at his dog and wore his emotions openly.
Her heart fluttered uncomfortably in her chest, the unfamiliar sensation growing stronger. This, she thought, was dangerous territory. Her mind began to race, trying to piece together the implications of this encounter.
But for now, under the oncoming twilight and the comforting presence of Patches, she couldn't help but feel her worries from earlier ebb away, replaced by a certain curiosity towards the duke. How was it that a blind duke make her feel so light and giddy, yet so terrified and flighty simultaneously?
Chapter Five
Adrian's heart pounded a brisk tempo against his chest as he sprinted across the verdant lawns of Ludlow Manor. His reliable and usually obedient companion, Patches, had taken a sudden, bounding charge towards Miss Annabelle Ludlow, making a beeline for her with his tongue lolling and tail wagging with reckless abandon.
Adrian couldn't help the sheepish grin that slowly spread across his face as he neared the scene. The normally composed and dignified Miss Ludlow was taken by surprise by the sudden onslaught of canine enthusiasm. A stray curl had come loose from her neatly arranged hair, framing her flushed and startled face. And in that moment, she looked less like the composed gentlewoman he was accustomed to, and more like a vivacious nymph, full of life and charm.
The embarrassment he felt was mixed with a strange sense of amusement. Patches, a dog whose senses were usually so attuned to Adrian's needs, always had a rather inconvenient fondness for Miss Ludlow. It was as if the creature had a mind of his own when it came to her.
“Patches,” Adrian's voice rang out in a firm but loving tone as he caught up to his pet and began to reign him in. “My sincerest apologies, Miss Ludlow,” he began, trying to suppress his grin as he regarded her with a deep bow. “Patches here, it seems, has an insurmountable fondness for you.”
His words carried a note of warmth, a genuine softness that made his usual stern countenance seem almost gentle. Miss Ludlow, to his surprise, merely laughed. It was a sound that was pure and hearty, bubbling up from her and echoing through the summer air. To Adrian, it was more melodious than any finely tuned instrument, or any sound he'd ever heard. It made his heart flutter with an emotion he couldn't quite put his finger on.
“That is quite alright, Your Grace,” Miss Ludlow
replied, her eyes twinkling with unshed mirth. “I do find Patches to be quite delightful. And he has excellent taste, I must say.”
Her words were playful, causing the tension in his chest to melt away. The atmosphere between them, usually fraught with societal expectations and restraint, was replaced with an ease that he never expected. Once again, his loyal pet surprised him by how quickly he became attached to the young woman. Adrian felt a strange, strong desire to see her face. If it was as lovely as her spirit must have been to draw in Patches, Adrian felt sure he was missing out on an exquisite sight.
Adrian found himself smiling at the young woman, wishing he could clearly see the scene unfolding before him.
“He certainly seems to feel the same way about you,” he said. “Though I cannot attest to your taste.”
Miss Ludlow laughed, a sound that struck Adrian as if he was hearing it for the first time. That was foolish, of course, as he had heard it the day before. But something about the melodiousness of it caused his heart to skip that early evening. His smile widened, and he unconsciously took a step toward her.
“I cannot attest to my taste, either,” she said with another giggle. “But I do adore Patches, even though this is just our second meeting.”
Adrian nodded slowly. It was unordinary enough for Patches to take to a total stranger. It was even more so that a stranger took to him. Apart from Henry, most people detested when the dog approached them. But Miss Ludlow seemed to truly enjoy his company.
