Page 23 of Her Seven Nights with the Duke

CHAPTER SEVEN

“This is absurd. The Duke must be insane, and I’m no better for encouraging such behavior,” Nora muttered as she walked down the stairs to the gates.

It had been a few days since her first night with the Duke. She had thought that the letter would come immediately, eagerly running to the gate to retrieve it, but she’d been disappointed to see that it was empty.

She’d returned by noon, poking through, but much like in the morning, there was nothing to be found there. In the days that followed, she frequented the gate in hopes of finding out when her next visit would be, and every time, she returned to her quarters empty-handed and disappointed.

She’d become the subject of discussion among the servants. She’d heard them talk about how she liked to visit the gardens more. It had turned out to be the perfect ruse for her actions.

“All this because of some stupid letter I’m not certain I’ll ever receive,” she grumbled under her breath, her lips pulling down in a frown.

She paused just before her feet grazed the last step.

Has he lost interest in me? Would he rather go for someone much like the women he already had?

He had told her during their last meeting that she was more innocent than the types he often went for, after all. It wouldn’t be surprising to her if that was exactly what had happened.

Despite her thoughts, a part of her would be disappointed if that truly was the case. She’d finally been able to hope that he would be the solution to the problem she faced, but if he let her go now, she would need to find an alternative to getting the money she would require to escape her stepfather.

She arrived at the gates, never stopping to breathe in the fresh scent of the flowers. Not many people came around here except her and the servants, who often tended the garden, so she did not need to be cautious as though she was doing something wrong—although she was.

Nora pushed the thought away. Her excitement grew as she saw the letter filling up the space she’d grown accustomed to seeing every time she checked. She hurried towards it, chancing a glance behind her just to be certain that she was not being watched. It would do her no good to be caught now, after waiting for so long.

She slipped the letter between her skirts and hurried up to her room, eager to have privacy so she could read it.

Excited, she tore open the letter. Somehow, this felt even more scandalous than what she did to ruin her reputation. Her eyes scanned the letter, and she let out an unladylike scoff.

“The park? Of all places to meet, he chooses the park?”

She tried to ignore the worry, but it was impossible. Her stepfather would send her off for good if she gave him even more reason to do so. After his threat, she’d been careful to avoid doing anything that would only anger him.

“This is such a stupid idea.” Nora wrapped her cloak tightly around herself as she looked around her. She’d managed to sneak out of the house once again without getting caught by anyone.

She stopped at the place he’d designated for their meeting and looked around, searching for him. She frowned when she couldn’t find him.

“Why couldn’t we just meet at his place like last time?” she grumbled irritably, tightening her cloak around herself, this time to shield her skin from the stinging, cold night air against her skin.

Where is he? I am scared.

She She jumped at every noise, no matter how loud or soft it was.

She pressed her back against a tree just as a figure came out from behind it, shocking her. Her screams were cut off by his hand on her lips.

“Quiet, My Lady. Unless you desire to be caught,” he whispered in her ear.

Her eyes widened when she realized who it was. She struggled out of his grip and turned to face him when he let her go. In the cover of the night, she could still see the amused glint in his eyes as he watched the irritated expression she did not bother to hide.

“What are you doing? This is a public place,” she hissed, her eyes roaming around the park. “We can be caught.”

He shook his head. “You need not worry about that, My Lady. I have never been caught, and I intend to keep it that way.”

“Come along,” he said before she could say anything.

She frowned at his retreating back and hurried to catch up to him.

They arrived at a thick copse of trees that hid them out of sight of anyone who could be walking around at that time of night.

“You need not be nervous, My Lady. I assure you, I have everything covered, and we will not be found out.”

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