Page 9 of Her Duke By Accident
Suddenly, parting the crowd, came a young gentleman around his age. With curly brown hair and emerald green eyes, the man passed through the group and stood staring at Matthew and the girl.
“Alicia!” he seethed.
Matthew almost guessed they were twins by how similar their features were.
“Brother, I?—”
Shoving a finger towards the exit, the man interrupted her with a stern shout. “Now, Alicia. And say nothing more.”
Alicia stormed past Matthew with her head hung low. The crowd parted before her and never met her gaze. They flinched away as though her impropriety would be contagious. She paused, waiting for her brother to escort her out in the hall.
The man shot a fiery look toward the duke. “Didn’t take the Duke of Garvey for a bookworm.”
Matthew nodded, finally recognizing who they were. “The library was a respite from the party, Egerton,” he snapped, no longer bothering to look toward Alicia. “No need to take it as something other than such.”
And with a curt nod, Matthew marched through the parted crowd, swiping past the thorn in his side known as Lady Alicia.
CHAPTER 4
Matthew knocked on the door of the Egerton household in Mayfair.
A colorfully dressed footman opened the door. “Good morning,” he politely said. “How may I assist you?”
“I am the Duke of Garvey,” Matthew announced. “I wish to speak with the lord of the house.”
“Of course, Your Grace. Lord Egerton and Lady Alicia take tea in the drawing room. Please,” the footman side-stepped, gesturing for Matthew to enter, “come inside.”
Matthew entered the manor, removing his hat and gloves for the footman to take. It was a quaint house, large enough for their small family. A large portrait was at its entrance hall, one that must had been recently done of the Caneys. Alicia’s emerald eyes stuck onto him, and he frowned.
“Right this way, Your Grace,” the footman said, leading down a hallway.
Matthew cleared his throat and followed, holding his arms behind his back. They passed a room where a figure walked by, but Matthew was moving too quickly to take any note of them. The footman had just reached the end of the hall when the figure stepped into the light, calling out to them.
“Your Grace,” an older woman said.
Matthew paused, turning to see her. “Lady Egerton, I presume,” he said, politely walking to her and bowing.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit this morning?”
“I have some business to discuss with your son,” he replied.
“Only my son?”
Matthew narrowed his eyes at her. “Yes, my lady,” he curtly said, cutting the conversation short. He bowed again. “If you’ll excuse me.”
Turning back to the footman who patiently waited at the end of the hall, Matthew marched back over, ignoring the steady gaze of an impertinent mother’s eyes on the back of his head.
The drawing room was around the corner, and was a very vast room. Morning light streamed in as the footman entered first.
The footman bellowed: “My lord, might I present the Duke of Garvey.” He turned towards the duke, gesturing for him to enter the room.
“Thank you for coming on such short notice, Your Grace,” Owen said. His arms were twisted behind his back as a look of apprehension passed over his face, with a nervous brow furrow. “I’m sure this was not how any of us wanted to spend a beautiful spring morning.” He gestured towards a seat, a tray of tea and cakes neatly displayed. “Might I offer you anything, Your Grace?”
Matthew raised his hand. “No need,” he said. “No reason to make this longer than it needs to be.”
Behind her brother, Alicia, dressed in a pale white gown, stared dejectedly out the window. Matthew struggled to hide his disdain. How couldshelook so tormented when her actions brought them there in the first place?
“This is for the best,” Owen said.
