Page 43 of Her Seven Nights with the Duke

She

A part of her had deluded herself into thinking that he would love her just like she was beginning to love him, but now it had become clear to her.

Too bad it took you this long and already giving your heart away for you to realize what you should’ve known from the very beginning.

Nora was even more angry with herself because of what happened to her mother. The Duke was nothing like her stepfather. However, she had promised herself that she would never allow herself to fall in love or marry unless it was to someone who loved her just as much, and yet here she was, falling for the first man who showed interest in her, albeit a different kind of interest.

How could you have thought this was something special? .

She’d never been the type to have weird expectations. It was very much unlike her.

Nora sighed as she breathed in the cool night air. She strolled around the estate, lost in thought and the misery of her situation. She turned a bend and headed to the gardens, when she heard a sound.

She frowned, leaning closer out of curiosity. Anger overtook her as her hands balled into fists. She watched her mother kneel in front of Lord Worlington, her head pressed against his hand as she pleaded with him to change his mind.

Nora

She turned away, as the sight was too much to bear, although her mother’s cries reached her ears.

Her

Nora’s mind was made up. Although she’d been eager to escape from him, the Duke had distracted her from her plan with the pleasure he brought her and the hope for something more than the deal they had made. However, now that her delusions had been cleared, there was nothing stopping her from putting her plans in motion.

Guilt ate at her. She hadn’t even mentioned the plan to her mother yet.

Don’t worry, Mother, I will save you from this life.

“Why do you have to go out? Why can’t you just stay here with me? Just for tonight,” Julia Swinton begged her husband, looking up at him with so much adoration that it choked Nora to see it from where she stood.

Why do you continue to love him?

Letting him go out, to be with whatever woman he wished to see today, was infinitely better than him being around to get angry at everything they did and beat her up even more.

Why can’t you see that he should be gone than to be around here with you?

“Let go of me, woman. Why do I have to be here with you?” Lord Worlington asked, brushing her away. “Compose yourself, woman. You are a lady, and it’s time you begin to act like one.”

He kicked past her, heading out of the estate, all the while grumbling as he went.

Nora waited until he was gone and emerged from the shadows where she hid, watching everything that transpired.

“Mother, are you all right?” she asked, pulling her mother up from where she sat on the floor.

“Nora, I didn’t realize you were here.” Julia sniffled, looking away from Nora in shame. “I’m sorry you keep having to see me like this. This isn’t how I thought things would go.”

Nora shook her head. “You are not to blame for this, Mother. This is all Lord Worlington’s fault.”

“Oh, I wish you would stop calling him that,” Julia said.

Nora’s eyes narrowed. It was usually so easy for her to blame Lord Worlington, but her mother also had a part to play in all of this. Her heart clenched with guilt.

Her mother was a victim. However, Nora wished there were days when she would simply fight back or maintain a dignified indifference to Lord Worlington’s constant terrible behavior. It would save her a lot of trouble.

“Aren’t you tired? You’re in pain all the time,” Nora asked, angry at the situation.

“Yes, but it is my cup to bear,” the Viscountess said in a defeated tone.

Nora was aghast. “What do you mean it’s your cup to bear? None of this is because of you. It’s simply because of the man Lord Worlington is.”

---