Page 10 of A Sinful Virgin for the Duke

“Frederick!” The Dowager Duchess’ voice was sharp, her eyes narrowing at her grandson. “What on earth do you think you are doing, ending the dinner party so abruptly?”

Gemma jumped in her seat, her heart pounding as she realized how close she and the Duke had been.

Frederick.

So, that was his name.

Frederick gritted his teeth and stepped away from the stranger as the sudden interruption cut through the charged air between them.

He straightened his posture and turned to face the Dowager Duchess, who stood in the doorway, her sharp eyes darting from him to the woman he had cornered.

She raised a perfectly arched brow, her gaze lingering on the young woman in a way that made Frederick’s irritation flare even more.

“And who is this?” his grandmother asked, her voice laced with amusement and a hint of curiosity.

“This—” Frederick began in a tight voice with a vague wave towards Gemma “is an intruder.”

The Dowager’s eyes sparkled, though she remained composed. “An intruder?” she repeated, glancing back at the woman with renewed interest. “How intriguing. It is not often we get uninvited guests here at Blackridge.”

Frederick shot his grandmother a look, annoyed by her amusement in the face of such a serious matter.

“She has somehow found her way onto the estate,” he said, his tone as hard as stone. “And now she is going to be escorted from the premises.”

He turned sharply toward the stranger, his eyes narrowing. “You need to leave.Now.”

The defiant glimmer in the unknown woman’s eyes faltered, and for the first time, Frederick saw the panic setting in. Her posture stiffened and her earlier bravado vanished, replaced by something far more vulnerable.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out at first. Then, her voice broke through the silence, trembling and desperate.

“Please,” she said, her eyes wide and filled with fear. “I have nowhere to go.”

Frederick frowned, unmoved by her plea. “That is not my concern. You have trespassed in my home?—”

“I promise that I will not cause you any trouble,” she pleaded, her voice adopting a frantic edge. “I—I will leave in the morning. Just—just let me stay the night. Please.”

His irritation deepened. He was not accustomed to being interrupted, especially by someone who had the audacity to break into his home.

His gaze hardened and he opened his mouth to dismiss her again, but something in her expression stopped him cold.

He could see her genuine fear at the possibility of being turned out into the night, cold, alone and vulnerable. It gnawed at the edge of his resolve and caused him to hesitate.

“I cannot go out there tonight,” the woman continued, her voice breaking slightly as she gestured toward the windows, where the dark night pressed against the glass. “It is so very dark out. I am not asking you for much. Just a few hours…until the dawn breaks.”

Frederick’s jaw worked as his frustration mounted. He didn’t know what game this woman was playing, but her desperation seemed real. Still, he had no intention of letting her manipulate him, no matter how pitiful she looked.

“Frederick,” came his grandmother’s soft voice, breaking into his thoughts.

He turned to see her stepping forward, her eyes now more thoughtful than amused. She studied the intruder carefully, her lips pursed in consideration. There was a calculating glint in her eyes that told Frederick she was far from indifferent to the situation.

“The girl is clearly in distress,” the Dowager said, her tone gentle but firm. “It would be unkind to send her out into the night, especially without knowing the full story.”

Frederick’s gaze darkened. “I do not care a whit about her story. She does not belong here.”

The Dowager’s lips curled slightly and Frederick could see she was gearing up to challenge him in her own way. “I understand your frustration, but you are being rather harsh, do you not think? Look at her—she is clearly frightened. Surely we can offer her a bit of shelter, just until the morning.”

Frederick stared at his grandmother, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

“You are interfering as usual,” he hissed through gritted teeth.

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