Page 9 of A Duke's Sinful Bargain
“Never.” Anna smiled, gesturing for her to come in.
Eliza did as she was told, gracing the room with a quiet and unassuming presence. Her attire, neatly pressed with a modest, yet elegant touch, reflected her dedication to her role. Her hazel eyes, observant and understanding, always revealed an innate ability to discern the moods and needs of her mistress, and that evening was no exception to that rule.
“You could not sleep, my lady?” Eliza asked tenderly, walking over to the mahogany desk, where Anna had still not opened the ledgers that rested in front of her.
“No,” she admitted with a heavy sigh. “Too many things have transpired this evening. My mind is restless, and as a result, so is my body.”
“Something happened at the ball?” Eliza inquired politely.
From an objective perspective, Eliza would be considered to be crossing a certain boundary with such inquiries. But Eliza had always been more of a friend to Anna than a lady’s maid.
She had known her for years, and when Anna had gotten married, it had gone without saying that Eliza would be moving with her to her new home. It was easy to confide in this young woman, who knew when to remain quiet, when to nod, and when to either ask questions or offer answers.
“There was a duke,” Anna said simply, her thoughts a tempest of curiosity and uncertainty. “A man with an air of mystery about him that intrigues me.”
Eliza lifted a brow. That was enough for Anna to imagine the comments that might follow, had Eliza been truly just a friend. But Eliza was careful to be vigilant of her own position.
“I cannot remember the last time a man has intrigued me so,” Anna admitted, though she was certain that Eliza could already tell as much.
Eliza responded with a soft-spoken reassurance. “It is not uncommon for a duke to draw attention, my lady. You know as well as I do that the nobility often swirls with rumors and gossip.”
Anna nodded, her fingers tracing the edges of a forgotten letter. “But Eliza, there’s more to it. There is something about him, something that won’t let me be.” She looked around, sighing heavily. “I married Arthur because I had to, for stability, not passion. Yet tonight…” Her voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken sensations hanging in the air.
Eliza chose her words carefully, her voice a gentle balm. “Fate has a way of arranging things that need to happen. Perhaps this duke has unraveled a part of you that lay dormant, just waiting for the right moment to emerge.”
“Perhaps…” Anna mused pensively. “But his name…”
“What about his name, my lady?” Eliza wondered.
“I’m sure that I know it from somewhere.” Anna exhaled loudly. “I just can’t for the life of me remember where from.”
“Perhaps he is a well known bachelor,” Eliza suggested.
“It’s not that.” Anna shook her head. “Something about his name strikes a chord with me. I feel as if his name holds a key to something I am yet to uncover.”
Eliza smiled. “It seems to me you have taken a sudden liking to this duke, and perhaps it is your own mind creating connections where there are none… yet.”
Anna locked eyes with Eliza, and the two ladies smiled at each other playfully. The air in the study seemed to thicken with a sense of shared vulnerability, blurring the lines between mistress and maid. In this intimate exchange, Anna and Eliza became confidantes, their connection transcending the formalities of their respective roles.
“So, you think I am making something out of nothing?” Anna wondered, her gaze fixed on a distant point as her memories stirred from stupor.
“Perhaps.” Eliza shrugged. “Then again, perhaps not. Intuition has a way of revealing truths we may not be ready to confront… yet.”
Anna chuckled. “You really like adding that.”
“Seems appropriate.” Eliza giggled, shrugging again. “Perhaps this duke, with his enigmatic allure, might be a catalyst for something.”
“Maybe it is really nothing,” Anna said, but everything inside of her rebelled against this forced conclusion. It couldn’t be nothing. She was stirred beyond description and that had to mean something.
“Do not dismiss everything so easily,” Eliza advised her. “Morning will bring new insight.”
“But that’s just it, Eliza. I cannot sleep.” Anna frowned, looking down at the mahogany table and the ledgers piled in front of her, waiting for her attention. “I will try going through some of Arthur’s notes and ledgers.”
“Are you sure that you do not want to leave that for tomorrow?”
“No.” Anna shook her head. “But you may retire if you wish. It is quite late.”
Eliza smiled. “The most interesting things happen at night. I might miss something.”
