Page 12 of A Duke's Sinful Bargain
It was a question Alexander had asked many a time before, and always, he had provided with the same answer. Only this time, it was different. The words refused to leave the confines of Alexander’s mind.
He could not agree to this because he felt it was not the right thing to do, because it would not be Lord Ravenscroft who would be paying off the debt, but rather his widow. Yet, Alexander could not be perceived as a duke who did not enforce his financial agreements.
“You probably ought to, Tom,” Alexander said with a sigh.
Tom raised an eyebrow. “Ought to, Your Grace?”
Alexander sighed again, even more heavily this time, pinching the bridge of his nose with the tips of his fingers. It did little to relieve his anxiety. What was supposed to happen was the following: Alexander was supposed to agree.
Then Tom would make notes in his ledger, and the study would echo with the rustle of papers and the scratch of a quill, marking the initiation of a process that would settle these longstanding debts and, as a result, reinforce the foundations of a noble reputation. Yet, none of this happened.
Just as Alexander was about to offer some weak excuse of an explanation, a knock interrupted them. Alexander angrily turned to the door.
“I’m busy!” he shouted at the unwanted intruder who was still hiding on the other side of the closed doors.
However, the knock was repeated and the apologetic face of a servant appeared, his eyes wide and hesitant.
“I said I was busy,” Alexander repeated, grinding his teeth.
“I… I beg your pardon, Your Grace,” the servant said apprehensively, “but there is a lady here urgently requesting your audience.”
“What lady?” Alexander was still frowning. He was not expecting anyone, and he did not take kindly to being interrupted in the middle of sorting out important business. Whoever this lady was, she had come at a most inopportune moment.
“Lady Anna Ravenscroft, Your Grace,” the servant hastily revealed, and Alexander’s jaw almost dropped upon hearing her name.
“Lady Ravenscroft?” Alexander echoed. Tom’s eyes also widened in shock.
The servant did not comprehend the fact that it was a rhetorical question, so he nodded in confirmation. “Yes, Your Grace. I tried explaining to her that this was highly unorthodox, as Your Grace is in a meeting, but she—”
“Enough,” Alexander said with a raised hand, signaling for the servant to stop talking. Alexander’s voice remained composed, although the shift in his countenance still revealed surprise. “Show her to the drawing room and inform her that I shall join her shortly.”
As the servant withdrew, Alexander directed his attention back to Tom. The unexpected nature of Anna’s visit added an air of intrigue to the already weighty discussion within the study.
“Is that the same Ravenscroft family?” Tom inquired, trying to make sense of the situation, although not even Alexander managed to do that.
“It is.” Alexander nodded.
“So, this lady is Lord Arthur’s…” Tom started, and Alexander finished his sentence.
“His widow.”
“I see.” Tom nodded, pressing his lips together tightly in an effort of deep thought. Alexander expected more comments, but Tom offered none, so Alexander saw it as a chance to end this meeting without a conclusion to their predicament.
“Tom, we shall continue this later,” Alexander informed him, getting up. “I shall see what Lord Ravenscroft’s widow wishes to speak to me about, and then I shall come up with a plan of action regarding her late husband’s debt.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Tom acknowledged the directive, although it was obvious that he was still confused. Collecting a debt had never been this complicated, and Alexander knew it as well as Tom. “I shall be here when you need me.”
“Thank you, Tom.” Alexander offered a weak smile, watching Tom rise from his chair and leave through the door, closing it behind him.
She was here. Anna was here, under the same roof as him. The very thought made him breathe with difficulty, as is he had been swallowing sand. He tried to calm himself down. There was no point in thinking about what she wanted or asking a million useless questions. All he needed to do was go downstairs and enter the drawing room, where she was waiting for him. She would reveal the purpose behind her visit on her own.
Yes, that all made sense. It really was that simple. Then why was his heart beating like a winning horse at Ascot’s?
Chapter 7
The grandeur of the Blackthorn residence’s hallway and foyer formed an elegant backdrop as Tom Higgins stepped out of the duke’s study. The muted tones of the wallpaper and the gleam of polished wood accentuated the air of aristocratic refinement, in the same place he had been employed for a very long time.
In fact, he had dedicated most of his adult life to serving this place and the man who reigned here. The thought brought him joy, and pride swelled in his chest. Not everyone had the honor of serving a man such as the Duke of Blackthorn.
