Page 13 of Her Seven Nights with the Duke

Afew days had passed since they returned home, and Nora still hadn’t heard anything from the Duke.

Has he changed his mind? Did I seem too desperate? Too accepting of his offer?

Her mind was constantly plagued with thoughts of him as she struggled to find the answers to her questions, and with so many unanswered questions, her mood slowly plunged, sinking deeper into the desperation she thought she had finally begun to crawl out of now that she had found a solution to her problems.

Nora sighed as the carriage rolled to a stop at the entrance of the garden party they had been invited to. She wished she could stay home and mourn what seemed to be the loss of another way out of her oddly depressing life. However, she couldn’t stay home.

Her stepfather had raged at the idea of her staying home when she could be out salvaging what was left of the tiny shred of reputation she held onto by finding a husband.

She had quickly gotten dressed, choosing instead to face the loud and pretentious crowd instead of remaining at home.

She alighted from the carriage, her eyes scanning the crowd for the only people she could count on to make all of this worthwhile.

“I certainly hope you can do better at finding a husband here than you did at the masquerade ball and the days that followed. Heavens know I can no longer stand to see you come back to the house like you do not care that soon you will be on the shelf, an old maid, forever alone,” her stepfather grumbled, his eyes burning into hers as he grumbled.

Nora sighed, paying him no mind. She wouldn’t lose hope in the Duke just yet if only to assure herself that very soon she wouldn’t be there to listen to him moan and grumble about how much of a disappointment she was to him.

“I will try my best, Lord Worlington,” she said calmly.

Timothy scoffed, eyeing her with disgust. “Perhaps it is time you do much more than your best. It doesn’t seem to be good enough.”

“I do recall telling you that the ball was your last chance to find a husband. Seeing as you have failed to do so despite the numerous opportunities given to you, I have sent a letter to my sister. She will be the one to deal with you from now on. Prepare to join her the moment she sends a response.”

“Perhaps we do not have to do that, Timothy. She might meet someone today and not have to be sent off to live with your sister,” her mother said.

Timothy let out a short bark of laughter. “Look at her, Julia. Do you truly believe that she is searching for a husband? We are more worried about her future than she is.”

Nora held back a snort. The last thing he could be described as was worried about her future. The only thing he cared about was getting rid of her and possibly using her for financial gain.

The man had made it clear that he cared nothing for her. There was no point in him acting like he cared, and yet he constantly put on a charade as though he could not stomach being thought of as exactly the kind of man he was.

He walked off before she could say anything to him in return—not that she had anything to say. If there was anything that she had learned in the time that she’d come to know him, it was that responding only ever fueled his anger. It was better to wait him out until he had talked as much as he wished to and then went off.

She was glad that they were in a public gathering, as he spoke shorter than he normally would if they had been at home.

Soon, they would be out of here, and she and her mother would never have to deal with him again. Her mother took her hand in hers, smiling guiltily at her.

“It is quite all right, Mother,” Nora said, although she did not know whether she meant that. Still, the last thing she wanted was for her mother to feel terrible about what was happening.

She hadn’t told her mother about her plans yet, but soon, when she was ready, she would take her away from all of this.

Nora stood to the side with her friends. For the past hour, they had walked along the lake, enjoying the serenity of it. Nora tried to remain in the moment. She would miss her friends when she left.

Leaving was certain. The only thing that wasn’t was how she would be leaving—under her terms or Timothy’s.

“Nora, have you been listening to what we were saying?” Selina asked, her eyes boring into Nora’s.

SheNora shook her head, clearing the gloomy thoughts. “I do apologize, my dear friends. It appears I am not the best company today. There seems to be a lot on my mind, and I do not know how best to fix all of it.”

“Is anything bothering you?” Thalia asked.

“Lord Worlington plans to send me away to live with his sister, since I have not been able to find a husband,” Nora said. “He has already sent a letter to her but is yet to receive a response.”

Selina gasped. “Oh, no, Nora. We have been so insensitive, carrying on with such nonsense when you are in such a dilemma.”

“No…” Nora murmured. “I am glad to hear it. I admit I have been lost in thought, but I truly would rather listen to you speak, no matter how inconsequential it is.”

Thalia sniffled. “Oh, Nora. We will miss you if he sends you away.”

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