Page 42 of Her Seven Nights with the Duke

Nora laughed, the sound like a soft morning bell. “I suppose you are right. I did feel quite relaxed afterwards, and being in your arms like this is so comforting.”

Samuel’s eyebrow rose in shock. She was more vocal now than she’d been during their first meeting.

He sighed. “When we spoke about marriage earlier, was there a reason why you were set on the idea of love?”

Nora remained silent for a moment, and he had begun to think she’d drifted off once again before she answered him.

“I know someone who was in love and happy. But now, they’re married to someone else who they believe they love, but it isn’t truly so, and it’s the worst union I’ve ever seen. I wish it would come to an end already.”

“Does it truly hurt so much to watch her lose herself?” he asked.

Her face contorted with pain, her eyes closing as if his question made her relive the moments again.

She nodded, her lips forming a shaky smile. “Yes. More than anything ever has.”

Samuel ran his hand up and down her bare arm. Her voice held sadness when she spoke, and she’d let out a shuddery breath afterwards. He wished he hadn’t pried and had any reason to bring her pain.

He sighed. Perhaps it was time he told her about his own experience. She was not alone in the way that she was feeling. He sighed as he prepared to speak about what he’d always held at bay.

“When I was younger, I was raised more strictly than others. For many years, I thought it was how everyone was raised, until I started to notice that it wasn’t, but there was nothing I could do about it, except endure it.”

She placed her hand on his jaw as it ticked. It wasn’t something he usually wished to talk about, but with her, it was easy to forget and completely open up until they had no secrets between them.

Samuel’s hand paused, and his eyes widened slightly. He had never opened up to anyone before. He preferred to keep people at arm’s length, and yet here he was, opening up to her.

“You should leave,” he said suddenly, pulling her hand off his face.

“What? Have I done something?” she asked, sitting up. “If I have, I would like to apologize for?—”-”

“Get dressed and leave. Now,” he said, his voice devoid of emotions.

She gasped as she looked at him in shock. Samuel held back from consoling her as tears welled up in her eyes.

She got up wordlessly and dressed herself, wrapping her cloak around her shoulders before disappearing into the night.

Samuel held his face in his hand, disgusted with himself.

I did the right thing.

Yet, why did he feel like he had made the biggest mistake?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

How could I have been so dumb to be so taken with him?

Nora had never felt more stupid and depressed than she did at that moment. She had ignored all the signs that had been there even before she agreed to go to this unfortunate rendezvous with him.

Seeing him with a mistress that first night should’ve made it clear to her that she would never have anything serious with him. While the Duke knew how to make her feel safe and warm, none of that meant that he wanted more from her than what he’d offered.propositioned.

Seven nights. Why does it hurt so much if it’s only meant to be seven nights?

She knew what she was getting into, and yet his cold tone as he sent her away had hurt more than it should have.

You knew what you were getting into before you started this. You cannot let yourself be so hurt.

She repeated the words over and over to herself. He’d had no reason to ask her to stay.

She’d gotten too used to his kindness and warmth. Nora pictured him in her head as she tried to be angry with him, but she couldn’t muster up the energy to do that. He had been honest with her from the beginning. If anyone had been in denial, it was her.

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