Page 25 of The Wolf and the Wildflower
Her father hastened after the duke, but Jules kept a comfortable pace, thinking about his indifference. His family tried too hard, and though she saw their love and concern, there was a strain to their interactions, a careful pretense of cheeriness, as if they wanted to show that all was well.
But show whom?
The duke would perhaps only see hypocrisy in their behavior and not his family’s uncertainty.
Jules rounded the hallway to see the duke exiting a side door through the drawing room into the gardens. He ripped at the cravat around his throat, a frustrated snarl echoing from him. The carefully cultivated boredom had slipped, and in its place stood a man clearly ill at ease.
Her father gripped her hand. “Wait, Jules!”
“Father—”
He pushed the glasses up on his nose. “I have been discreetly observing His Grace for days and making notes on his temperance. Until now he has not betrayed himself to any emotion, not even by the flicker of an eye lash. I was rather impressed, for I had never encountered anyone so icily controlled. Look at him now, Jules.Look!”
The duke stood, his feet braced apart as if he tried to hold up some unfathomable weight, his head lifted to the sky, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. His shoulders were tense, his expression savage and stark.
What do you think of?
“He is not controlled now,” her father excitedly murmured. “I cannot tell if His Grace is angry or merely frustrated. Even in displaying other emotions, there is a measure of control that is rather admirable.”
Jules stared at the hint of torment cut into the duke’s features, an ache twisting inside her chest. “The duke’s control and indifference are a mere facade. He perhaps feels most keenly but denies himself those feelings. Perhaps to spare his family from worry…or there are reasons that are known only to him.”
“I am rather astonished. I never would have guessed it to be so. We must follow and watch him, instead of making our presence known.”
Something inside Jules viscerally recoiled from the idea and she frowned. “It does not feel right to intrude on his privacy in such a manner.” Somehow this felt more intrusive than entering his chamber without an invitation. “Let us make our presence known or retreat, Papa.”
Her father stared at her in clear surprise. “It is not unethical to do so, Jules.”
“Father—”
He waved a hand in dismissal of her concerns. “There are no boundaries being crossed. A part of our job is to make observations and form helpful conclusions about his behavior. The duke will not even be aware of us.”
“I understand, Father,” she said, taking a steady breath. “But it feelswrong. I…I do not think His Grace would be pleased if we were to see him in a manner that he did not permit.”
He frowned. “That is the problem, Son, he will not allow us to see his real self. How are we to assess him then? The veil must be pierced so we can get a detailed picture of what happened to the duke these past years.”
“Papa—”
“Come now,” her father said, walking forward in a clandestine manner. “I will suffer no more of these ridiculous objections from you. Do not let me believe I was wrong to ask you to accompany me on this trip.”
The duke surged forward and disappeared from view. Her father rushed after him as quietly as possible, beckoning her to follow. Swallowing down her protest and trying to trust her father’s instincts and experience, Jules went toward him. They rounded the pathway, and it was to her papa’s credit that he only gasped to see the duke standing in their path, clearly awaiting them, his expression inscrutable.
“Your Grace,” her father said with admirable composure. “It is a pleasant night for a stroll.”
“No one is owed the experiences of my past,” the duke said with chilling civility. “Most certainly not you.”
His clipped, direct confrontation seemed to startle her father.
“The duchess expects—” he began with a grimace.
“Not even my mother is owed it,” the duke smoothly interjected. “I will not avail myself to your expertise. I do not trust you, Dr. Southby. I do not work with those I do not trust.”
Jules stiffened, a heavy sensation settling low in her belly. The duke was going to turn them away, and she knew the duchess would blame her father for this.Bloody hell! Though she did not fully understand the duchess’s character, it would never be good for her father’s practice and reputation if she deemed him incapable of helping. Certainly, a good report would not be provided to the queen.
Her father stepped forward, lifting a hand in apologetic entreaty. “Your Grace, I made an error in judgment and I hope—”
“You are dismissed,” he said with icy civility. “You may depart Longbourn Park at your leisure.”
“Your Grace,” Jules said, surging forward to stand beside her father. “Please forgive my father. He meant no harm or disrespect.”
