Page 21 of Ravished By the Beastly Duke

The pronouncement was met with cheers from her sisters and the few guests her father had invited. Anxiety bubbled up her chest. Would the Duke really kiss her again?

His expression was stoic as she turned to face him, and she wondered what he could have been thinking to have him look so impassioned. She hoped he wasn’t already regretting his decision to marry her.

He had watched her as her father had led her down the aisle with a look she did not fathom, and all the while she had thought him the most handsome man she had ever seen. She had been afraid that she would stumble and embarrass them all, but she managed to ascend the few steps leading up to the altar, and when her hand was placed in his, she flinched at the heat that traveled up her arm.

He leaned forward, surprising her with a chaste kiss on her cheek, causing her to flush. He did not look at her after that until her family had finished their teary goodbyes and he helped her into the carriage.

The ride started, and he turned to look out the window, maintaining the accursed silence.

The carriage swayed occasionally on the rocky country road and Eveline had to hold on to the edge of the seat to brace herself. She was, however, grateful for the occasional rattling sound of the carriage wheel that punctuated the silence.

Was this to be her life from now on?

She looked out the window on her left side, already missing her childhood home, where her sisters would no doubt be indulging in the sweet cakes Cook had made for the occasion. She felt asudden pang of hunger as she remembered that she had been too nervous to eat.

Soon, she felt hands shaking her awake, and she saw that the carriage had stopped. They had arrived at her husband’s estate. She had not even known when she fell asleep.

He alighted from the carriage first and helped her out with only a perfunctory glance at her, after which he led her to the front of the house, where the servants were already waiting to greet her.

“Welcome home, Your Grace.” An elderly man stepped forward with a bow.

“Jeremiah, may I present my Duchess,” the Duke announced, before eyeing the rest of the staff. “Eveline, this is Jeremiah, my butler and head of staff. I believe you will all give her the respect due to her position and see that she is well-settled.”

The servants bowed and curtsied.

An elderly woman stepped forward with a younger girl in tow, before curtsying to Eveline.

“I am Mrs. Herbert, and this is my daughter, Gracie,” she began. “She will be your lady’s maid from now on. I have been managing the household, and I will help you adjust to your duties here.”

“You will show the Duchess to her chambers,” the Duke ordered, and then he stepped into the house.

Eveline was surprised by the abruptness of his departure but said nothing, not wanting to cause a scene for the staff to gossip about.

“It is a pleasure to meet you all,” she said with a smile she was sure did not reach her eyes.

“If you’d like, I can take you on a tour of the estate before the evening meal. Or would you prefer to retire to your chambers immediately? It must have been a long and tiring trip,” Mrs. Herbert offered with a kind look.

“I would prefer the tour first if it is no trouble,” Eveline replied.

The castle seemed magnificent and well-kept, from what she had seen already. She wanted very much to see the rest of the estate that was to be her new home.

She ended up being impressed with its state and had already marked out the places she would spend most of her time in. The estate boasted impressive gardens, as well as a small pond lined with fragrant flowers that added a tranquil feel to the already aesthetic space. Then, there was the library, with the lovely scent of ink and paper.

By the time the tour came to an end, her feet were sore, and her ribs ached from being constrained by her tight corset. Sheopted to have dinner in her chambers—which she learned had an adjoining door to the Duke’s chambers—and when her plate had been cleared and she had been dressed for bed, the reality of what the adjoining door signified sank in.

Her face warmed at the prospect, but she was still excited to become one with her husband. She lay in bed expectantly, but even when the candle had burned so low that there was barely any light in the room, the Duke still had not come to her chambers.

She sat up with a frown, wondering if he would come to her chambers at all.

She heard the door in his chambers open and close, as well as his footfalls, and she chose to wait. But when the sound of his footsteps did not approach the adjoining door, she chose to confront him.

She knocked on the door and heard him go still, but he did not bid her enter, which annoyed her and had her opening the door.

Her eyes went wide when she saw he was only in his shirt and breeches. The collar was open wide enough for her to spot a dusting of hair on his chest, and his hair seemed disheveled—ruffled by his hands, no doubt. Her mouth went dry at the sight of his rugged handsomeness.

He also eyed her with blatant surprise, his eyes darkening as they roamed over her from head to foot. She blushed, remembering that she had not worn a robe over her nightgown.While it was long, it was made of a flimsy fabric that did little to hide what was underneath it.

It was a gift from Lily, and she had put it on as an afterthought, seeking to please him.

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