Page 14 of Her Seven Nights with the Duke

“Yes, very much so,” Selina added. “Is there nothing to be done about this? What do you plan to do?”

Nora looked around her. She had been thinking about how best to tell the girls without them worrying too much about her decision or what that would mean for her.

“There is a second option,” she said, not as confident as she was mere days ago.

“A second option? What is it?” Selina asked excitedly, her eyes lighting up.

Nora sighed, exhaling deeply. “Well, I made a deal with the Duke of Bancroft. He’s going to save me.”

She watched as the girls stared at each other worriedly. She had known that they wouldn’t be as enthused by the idea as she was. However, she had no other option, and she did not want to be dragged off to live with Timothy’s sister while he did whatever he pleased with her mother.

“You heard the rumors about him, didn’t you?” Thalia asked her. “His father was not a good man, and his wife suffered at his hands.”

“Yes, Nora. Everyone is scared of the Duke because they believe that he has too much of his father in him. I do not think it is a good idea to risk that. It might be too dangerous.”

Nora’s steps faltered when she heard that.

“Yes, I had heard that, but surely it is only rumors. Perhaps he is not as they say he is.”

A silent look passed between her friends. “It’s true that he’s never done anything characteristic of his father’s actions. However, we cannot be certain of anything.”

“Yes. There aren’t many who would ever dare to utter it for fear of the Duke finding out. No one wants to find how hot his temper truly burns.”

“Oh, dear. Perhaps I have made a terrible decision, after all,” Nora said regrettably, her heart beating fast in her chest.

“Maybe it isn’t too late to end this. Whatever deal you might have made with the Duke, I’m certain he will forget all about it in mere moments if you do not try to speak with him first. There must be so many people trying to make deals with him anyway.” Selina looked to Thalia for confirmation, and Thalia nodded.

Nora hoped they were right. Perhaps that was why he hadn’t reached out to her yet. He had forgotten. She bit her lip, shaking off the disappointment that filled her at the thought.

It’s for the best.

She had learned so much about the Duke in the days since she saw him and his mistress. However, everything she learned seemed to warn her of the dangers of getting close to him. She couldn’t stand the idea of getting hurt and leaving her mother all alone with Timothy. Perhaps she should have been thinking about herself. However, her life was nothing if she couldn’t protect the person she loved most.

She was caught between two terrible ends and needed to choose the most preferable one.

As though she had summoned him with her thoughts—not that it had worked in all the other times she wished that she would see him already—Nora felt him before she saw him.

Her shoulders dropped, and she looked in his direction. The Duke stood with a group of gentlemen, his eyes fixed on her as they spoke. Her eyes widened as he began walking towards her. She willed her legs to move. However, much like the first time she saw him, her feet remained planted on the floor. Her breath caught in her throat as dark blue eyes raked the length of her form. It was both intrusive and exhilarating, neither of which she cared to understand at the moment.

Nora was shocked. She hadn’t expected that he would approach her out in the open.

Shouldn’t you be keeping yourself clean in public so no one can have anything to say about your reputation?

She wished she could scream at him to go elsewhere, far away from her, but she resigned herself as he reached her, planting his feet in front of her.

“Lady Nora,” he greeted.

Nora gasped silently. It was the first time he had said her name since she revealed it to him. She loved the way it rolled off his tongue.

She blushed at the direction her thoughts had taken. .

“Your Grace,” she greeted, curtseying slightly. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

She sharpened her gaze, hoping he would understand and leave her alone, but he remained in front of her, that half-smile still on his face.

“Dance with me,” he said, his tone demanding and leaving no room for argument.refusal.

Nora looked behind her at the girls. Their eyes were wide with fear and surprise as they watched their interaction.

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