Page 5 of Her Duke By Accident
“I suppose I’m not surprised to see only your mama with you this evening,” he continued, noticing the pinched-faced mother talking to other mamas as their daughters mingled within the room. “Lord Clare would find a lot of gentlemen here waiting for the money they’re owed, wouldn’t he?”
The lady pulled out a green fan that matched her silks. She held it over half her face for a moment, as if to conceal her true emotions. “It is thoughtful of you to remember,” she politely said. “I’m sure you and my father would get along swimmingly. You are incredibly fond of books, are you not? My father’s collection is brimming with treasures.”
Matthew gave her a forced smile, not realizing he had managed to back himself into a corner with her twisted words. “I know what it is you seek from me, my lady,” he began, “but I believe I made it clear during our first meeting last Season. I am not the one to save your family name from ruin.”
Lorelai’s face started to grow a shade of red. “We are all here in search of a marriage, Your Grace. Why would you be here if you weren’t set on a fruitful engagement?” Any shame he pushedon her before slowly disappeared. Lady Lorelai regained her confidence within moments, lowering the fan and batting wide eyes at him. “You scowl at the idea, but are you not curious?”
“Are there no other bachelors for you to antagonize, Lady Lorelai?” he asked, his jaw setting in a way he hoped scared her off. There wasn’t a trick she could produce that he would fall for. Not on this day.
She didn’t let herself get hit by his comment. “Do you find me antagonizing, Your Grace?” Lorelai extended her fan, walking around Matthew as though she planned on herding him in her direction. “So antagonizing you can’t walk away?”
“The nature of our society does not let me leave you in such circumstances,” he said. “Do not twist my words, my lady.”
“No words were twisted. I believe you and I are of the same coin, Your Grace,” she paused as her fan touched his chest, brushing the midnight colored coat buttons, as she dragged it towards his abdomen. “The same stained, rusting old coin.”
Her fan continued to move as mothers and daughters filtered in and out of the dining room. The close quarters moved in upon Matthew as she inched her way to a place considered scandalous, till her own mother would appear and screech in disgust.
Lady Lorelai paused, looking up at him. “That is why you cannot walk away.”
He smirked. “Lady Lorelai?—”
Her eyes widened with hope, and she leaned forward, eagerly ready to hear what he had to say.
“That is where you are completely mistaken, my lady.”
Her gaze fell in disappointment.
Matthew bowed. “If you’ll excuse me.”
And as he turned to walk away, leaving the disheartened Lady Lorelai watch him deny her, Matthew breathed a sigh of relief, merging back within the bustling ball.
Alicia felt like she had a fever, a heavy heat resting upon her forehead that trailed into the rest of her body. She knew very well it was not that, but rather something from the mind that harmed the physical health. But it kept her still, unable to move from the same spot she had been in since she entered.
And, in that moment, when she tried to gather the strength to leave the solitary library and reenter the ball, the doors creaked open.
Alicia froze.
A gentleman, at least a head taller than her, stormed into the library as though he had an important purpose. He shut the door behind him, smoothing out his coat as he breathed a heavy sigh.
Before she could gather the courage to make her presence known, the man’s head shot up as though he could hear her scattered thoughts.
“I beg your pardon, my lady,” he quickly said, bowing towards her. The man’s furrowed brow and permanent frown gave off the impression of anger or irritation at her presence.
Alicia responded with a curtsey, slightly swaying. “No need for pardons,” she said with a wispy voice. “I was about to take my leave.”
The man looked behind her. “Is your mama around the corner?”
Perplexed, Alicia frowned. “No,” she refuted. "The library was empty, and I sought its solitude.”
“I see,” he said with narrowed eyes. “A lady should not be alone like this.”
Despite the heaviness resting on her chest that threatened to push her over at any moment, Alicia was taken aback by the strange gentleman. “I do not need a lesson on propriety, sir.”
He scowled and gestured towards the library’s exit. “Might you come this way, my lady,” he said through forcibly fake politeness, “where the ball continues without you.”
Alicia was beginning to lose her footing. The room around her spun slightly, and the gentleman’s voice sounded more distant than she expected. She gave a slight nod, taking a few small steps before stumbling.
Almost as if out of instinct, the man extended a hand, catching her arm in support.
