Page 25 of Her Seven Nights with the Duke

She rushed to explain before he would think that of her. “I was worried someone else would find the letter before I did, and it would be linked back to me… and you.”

“I see.” His voice held no remorse. “It’s good that you heeded my instructions and checked constantly.”

She bristled. She did not know what she had been expecting him to say, but it was certainly not that. An apology, perhaps? She scoffed at the thought. Men like him didn’t apologize for anything. He had told her what to do and obviously expected her to obey. After all, he was paying for her time.

She put her hand on her chest, suddenly feeling a little insecure. He’d told her she didn’t have to do anything she wasn’t comfortable with, but it didn’t change the fact that he had bought her time, and as such, he had right over her while she had nothing except the ability to walk away whenever she felt it was too much for her to bear.

“What did you do between our first meeting and now?” she asked him, annoyed by the direction of her thoughts and seeking a respite from it.

He remained silent for a moment but cleared his throat before speaking. “Why, Lady Nora? Do you ask because you miss me and wish to know more about how I spend my days?”

She could hear the smile in his voice, and it only seemed to anger her more.

She glared at him, despite him not being able to see it. “I merely wish to make conversation, Your Grace.”

Silence lingered between them as she stubbornly waited for him to answer. He could give her at least that much.

“I am not certain that you will enjoy my answer, but if you must know, I worked. I attended some meetings and saw to some other business matters, and now, here I am with you,” he said simply.

“Was that all you did? work?” she asked him, confused.

Nora had always imagined the kind of life she would have when she finally had her freedom. She’d imagined that she would work as a governess for a family while her mother stayed home and enjoyed herself in the gardens of their new home. Yet, the Duke had the kind of freedom she craved, coupled with the fact that he was a man, but he spent all of his time working.

“Certainly. Are there other things that you wish I had done?” he asked her.

She started at the closeness of his voice. She had been so lost in thought that she hadn’t realized just how close to her he was standing.

“I cannot claim to know what it is men do for fun,” she said simply, listening for his next move.

“Pray tell, what did you do while you waited for the letter?” he asked.

Nora’s face heated up. Much like him, she had done nothing fun, running to the gate every few hours to check for the arrival of the letter.

“Well, I?—”

His breath on her cheeks stopped her. His hands replaced his breath as he caressed the side of her face softly.

She struggled to control her rapidly beating heart as her chest heaved. His hand trailed down her shoulder and her right arm, wrapping around her hand. His hot breath warmed her cold hand as he pressed it to his lips.

Nora resisted the urge to snatch her hand away. It had shocked her, but more than that, she had been pulled in by it. She frowned at the foreign feeling that pooled in the pit of her belly as he ran the back of his hand down the front of her dress. Everywhere he touched tingled..

“The rumors about you,” he began. She lifted her face at the sound of his voice, although she couldn’t see him through her blindfold. “Are they true?”

Nora frowned. She’d always thought that this was a secret she would carry with her forever, without any other soul finding out about it, save for her friends, who’d helped her with it.

But why do I want to tell him all about it?

“No, there is no truth to any of it. I spread the rumors myself,” she said as she waited for him to respond.

“I apologize. I believe I might have heard wrong, but did you say you spread the rumors yourself?” he asked.

It was the first time she’d heard any emotion in his voice other than amusement, boredom, and mere indifference. She hid her glee at succeeding at something she hadn’t realized bothered her. She had suspected there was not much that surprised the Duke.

“Yes, Your Grace. I spread them with the help of my friends. It was the only way I could ensure that my reputation was utterly ruined,” she explained.

Silence ensued between them for a moment before the Duke spoke again. “Why did you seek to ruin your reputation? Shouldn’t it be of utmost importance to you?”

Nora sighed. “Perhaps I should have. However, it was the only way to make sure I wouldn’t be married off.”

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