Page 32 of Bad Duke

As if being here wasn’t uncomfortable enough, Elizabeth manages to succeed in her attempt to separate me from Alex when she insists that I meet with the infamous, Pandora. The woman is, of course, outrageously eccentric, with more colours in her hair than I could think to name. I listen to her talk herself up and name-drop for at least fifteen minutes, before I’m rescued by one of Hetty’s friends, and the wardrobe malfunction that only Pandora could possibly fix. I start to try and locate Alex and when I feel a hand curl around my hip I know in an instant that it doesn’t belong to him.

“So, you're the future Duchess of Hatherly?” The voice that comes from behind me is rich and smooth and when I turn around the man who’s staring back at me matches it perfectly. “Nicolas Talbot.” He takes my hand and kisses it the same way Alex did to Lady Malory, only his lips linger for a little too long.

“Olivia Adams.” I manage to subtly pull away.

“Yes, I’ve heard. Your name has become quite well known since Theodore's funeral. I can see why Alexander is so taken with you.” I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. I can feel his eyes scratching at my skin and instinctively, I look around for Alex.

“I can imagine you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of this.” He gestures at the space around us and laughs. “Elizabeth does like to put on a show. It’s her husband I feel sorry for. I mean, look at the poor man, does he ever get a break?” I follow his eyeline and see Henry Winfield holding his and his wife's drinks as Elizabeth tells one of her animated stories, and almost knocks them out of his hand. It makes me laugh and puts me a little more at ease with the gentleman I’m talking to.

“I’m sure he doesn’t mind, surely, if he did he wouldn’t suffer it.” I look back at the man. He seems different to everyone else here, if you look close enough you can see his clothes are a little threadbare, and his long, greasy hair looks in need of a cut.

“That, my dear, is where you are very wrong. Your naïvety is as refreshing as it is dangerous. Among this circle that you’ve found yourself in, there are only two things that matter, riches and reputation,” he informs me. “ A divorce is a scandal that no man here wants to be associated with and that's how your fiancé has become a very rich man.” He’s looking at Alex now, who is standing closer to the house and talking with two men who he seems more familiar with.

“What do you mean by that?” I laugh nervously, especially when I notice that Alex is watching us now. His forehead creased as if he doesn’t like what he’s seeing.

“It’s not my place to say, let’s just say his trade is one that will never go out of fashion.”

“I should go.” I smile at the gentleman politely when I realise he’s talking about The Residence. As I make my way towards Alex, I already recognise that look he gets when there's something brewing and I don’t want him to unleash that here. For that reason, I smile as I approach him. Though Nicolas has reminded me that I have questions about the club.

“You okay?” Alex stops talking to the men he’s with and turns all of his attention to me.

“I’m fine, I just need the bathroom.” I smile, suddenly feeling hot and claustrophobic as I head into the house and ask one of the waiting staff to point me in the direction of the ladies' room. Following her directions down the hall, I stop when I hear my name come from a room on my left.

The door is slightly open, allowing me to peep through the crack and see Hetty, and her friends, with Pandora passing around a champagne bottle and giggling together.

“I mean she’s cute, but she’s no duchess,” Hetty tells them.

“I heard she’s a dance instructor at some shitty amateur school.” Another of them adds and sets them all into another fit of laughter.

“It’ll never last. Alex will need so much more. The engagement will be off in a few weeks, and then you girls can fight for him between yourselves,” Pandora assures them.

“Olivia.” I hear my name get called and when I see Alex at the bottom of the corridor I quickly move away from the door. He must have noticed the tears that are rolling down my cheeks because he starts to charge towards me and I quickly race for the door at the end of the hall and lock myself in the bathroom.

“Olivia.” He slams his fist against the wood as I stare at my reflection in the mirror that's in front of me, and wipe away my tears. Those girls may be bitches, but they’re accurate ones. I’m no duchess and I don’t understand why Alex is so determined to make me his.

“Olivia, open up this fucking door or I’m coming through it!” He warns and as I wipe away more of the tears that just keep coming, I flick the lock before he does some damage.

“Olivia, what’s wrong?” He quickly lets himself in and then, after locking us both inside, he grabs my face in his hands.

“Nothing’s wrong. I’m fine.” I try to shake my head but he’s holding me too firm.

“Don’t fucking lie to me, I saw how uncomfortable you looked as you walked across that lawn, and now your crying. What did that guy say to you?”

“Nothing, he’s not the reason I’m crying.” I refuse to have another man beaten half to death because of me. “It’s just… It’s stupid. Let's forget about it and get back to the party.” I pull together a smile but he doesn’t buy it.

“We are staying right here until you tell me what's wrong.” He stays firm.

“It’s just jealous, stupid girls, I don’t know why I let them get to me,” I admit, suddenly feeling ridiculous.

“What did they say?” His forehead creases.

“Alex…”

“What did they say?” he repeats, his voice getting louder and his face turning angrier by the second.

“The truth, that I’m just a dance teacher who doesn't belong here. I don’t belong in your big stately home and I certainly don’t belong in your bed.” I let him have it because as much as Alex thinks he’s got it all figured out, he hasn’t. His jaw ticks with rage and the tension he’s holding my face with starts to hurt.

“Turnaround.” He scrunches my hair in his hand and forces me to turn and face the mirror again.

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