Page 77 of Her Duke By Accident
Alicia sighed. “Well, you aren’t wrong, Juliet. He did kiss me.”
Saying it aloud brought a sense of awareness to Alicia about her future. She met her own gaze in the mirror, watching as her chest rose and fell quickly. Whether Alicia came to terms with it or not, everything within Garvey might change.
The duke was more than just the duke, he was Matthew, the broken man who opened himself up and laid his truth on her lap. Alicia pressed a shaky hand to her bosom, feeling the race of her heart underneath.
“How spectacular, Your Grace,” Juliet said in a light voice, finishing the long braid.
“Yes,” Alicia breathed. “How spectacular.”
“Are you ready for your dress, Your Grace?”
Alicia stood, gripping the back of the chair to steady herself. “Yes, Juliet.”
As the maid pulled the nightgown off Alicia’s shoulders, she smiled sweetly to herself. “I’m sure your mother will be very excited to hear about your life here at Garvey so far,” she said.
Alicia smiled. “I will have to write a letter soon.”
“Have you not told her yet of your plans for a ball?”
“I waited for the duke’s approval,” she explained, laughing to herself. “I suppose he will be all right with it now.”
Juliet giggled. “I would hope so!”
The maid brought the dress over Alicia’s head, careful not to undo the braid that cascaded down her back. The gown was light and airy, falling off Alicia’s shoulders with a delicate ease. The green and white fabrics shone brightly against her honey-tinted skin. And when she glanced at herself in the mirror, a gasp left her lips.
“What is it, Your Grace?” Juliet asked, hurriedly coming to her side. “Do you not like the dress?”
Alicia’s eyes widened as she stared. “I…It’s perfect.”
“Then why do you look so frightened?”
“I–I?—”
“All is well, Your Grace,” Juliet tried to reassure, “take a seat before you lose yourself.” The maid guided her to the bed, sitting her down on the edge.
Alicia breathed deeply, trying to calm the tremors that suddenly rocked her down to the core. “I am all right, Juliet.”
“You look terribly scared, Your Grace.”
“I am not scared.”
“Then what is it so I may put you at ease?”
Alicia met the girl’s worried eyes. “Do not burden yourself, I am all right.”
“Your emotions are not a burden,” Juliet whispered. “What bothers you?”
“I—” she hesitated, feeling shame rise up her throat like bile. “What if the duke does not find pleasure in me anymore?”
“Why wouldn’t he?”
“He has had a tendency to,” she tilted her head, breathing a sigh, “to leave when things become heavy.”
“You must not ruin your joy before it has come to fruition.”
Alicia frowned at her. “I do not know how not to be afraid of what may happen.”
“That’s the thing about being alive, Your Grace. We never know what lies around the corner, but that doesn’t mean we must be afraid of it. How do you know that the duke isn’t waiting for you now?”
