Page 15 of Her Seven Nights with the Duke

She kept her hands at her sides, refusing to offer him her dance card. He could not order her around as he saw fit. They had a deal, and he would be paying her for it. However, she was not his servant to carry out his every bid.

“I cannot do so, Your Grace. The next dance has been reserved for someone else, and I don’t believe he will be pleased to see me dancing with another.”

She looked at the dancers, hoping he would take the hint and leave her alone, but his domineering form continued to tower over her.

Wordlessly, the Duke plucked her dance card off her wrist and hummed as he went through the names on it. He crossed off the name already written for the next dance and wrote his name in the suddenly blank space. Nora glared at him, but he did not seem to mind.

“There.” He lifted the card to her face. “You are available now.”

He took her hand in his and led her to the dancefloor before she could disagree with him, although she doubted there was anything she could say to change things.

Nora had never been afraid of a person before as much as she was afraid of the Duke. If only she had done more research before she thought it a good idea to blackmail him.

Beneath her fear lay excitement. Despite herself, a part of her was attracted to him. She hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind from the very first moment she saw him until then.

“I believe you wouldn’t trip over my legs if you focused on the dance,” he teased, his eyes filling with humor.

Nora stared at him sheepishly. She had thought she was doing a good job of keeping her nervousness at bay, but she was already tripping over him.

“I apologize, Your Grace,” she muttered softly.

For the rest of the dance, she remained painfully aware of every part of him that brushed against her.

Are people staring at us? Do they fear for my safety?

His breath on her neck jolted her back to the present. “Be at my estate at midnight for our first night.”

Nora stared at him dumbfounded. “What? How am I going to make it?”

“You are a resourceful lady. You found yourself in my room to blackmail me, so I’m certain you can find a way to meet me for our first night together,” he said with a smile once again.

Nora narrowed her eyes at him. He was enjoying seeing her like that. He escorted her to her friends, leaving immediately after.

As she watched him leave, only one thought raced through her mind.

How am I going to do this?

CHAPTER FIVE

Nora knocked on the door nervously, wrapping her cloak tighter around herself as she waited for someone to open the door. She looked around her worriedly, much like she had done from the moment she left her house.

She knew what the rumors would do to her if she were seen. With the already terrible rumors surrounding her, it would be so easy for her to end up completely ruined with no chance at redemption.

The door immediately opened, the sound startling her. She looked at the butler who opened the door, her eyes wide.

“This way, My Lady. His Grace awaits you,” he said, leading her inside.

None of the staff who walked around had stopped to stare at her in surprise. She scoffed inwardly. He had done this so many times that they had already come to expect it. She frowned atthe jealousy she felt towards the women who came before her, surprised by her feelings.

It was the kind of man that he was. His entire household already knew that he was loose and had multiple women coming in at various times of the night to be with him. She had become one of those women.

It hadn’t bothered her before now, knowing that there had been lovers before her and would be many more after, and it shouldn’t bother her now, considering she was here only for a short time before she got what she needed and found a way out of it.

Focus, Nora. Remember why you’re here.

She focused on the butler, following his quiet steps as he led her down the hallway, a torch burning bright in his hand.

She breathed in deeply, suddenly so nervous as she waited, uncertain of how to proceed. Nora looked behind her at the long, dimly lit hallway she had come through and shuddered. She had come so far already, doing things she would never do just so she could be there. She could not allow her heart to fail her now.

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