Page 57 of Her Seven Nights with the Duke

“It is either that, or she is unable to have a second letter sent to us,” Thalia said.

Samuel sighed. He should have convinced her to go to her aunt’s, where she would have been safer. Instead, he had chosen to be selfish, only thinking about how he would feel if she left. Now, she was in trouble, with no one to protect her.

Guilt, shock, and fury ate at him. He was furious with himself. However, his fury was also directed at the Viscount, who couldn’t see how wonderful and strongminded Nora was, and at her mother, whom she’d returned to protect but who couldn’t protect her from the vile man she married.

He kept his face blank, keeping his emotions to himself. There was no point in them knowing the turmoil churning within him.

Samuel thanked the ladies, escorting them back to their mother, who was patiently waiting for them. As he walked back home, his mind filled with ideas on how to get Nora out of the confinement she had been placed in.

He could not sit still as she was treated harshly and then married off to some undeserving man, much like in the fashion she had hoped to avoid by ruining her reputation.

A thought occurred to him as he neared his estate. The one thing people like the Viscount liked was being seen as important. He would host a dinner party at home, the first one he’d have since he became the Duke. Then he would invite the Viscount and make sure to be clear that the invitation was extended to everyone in his household, including Nora.

When he finally got her alone with him, he would find a way to make sure that she didn’t return to the prison her home had become.

Samuel rushed into the estate, walking into the sunroom, where he was certain to find his mother.

“Mother, I wish to host a dinner party at the estate,” he announced, stunning her.

The Dowager Duchess stared at him, her mouth opening and closing. Samuel marveled at the sight, feeling a slight bit of pleasure at it. This was the first time he had managed to stun her into silence. His mother often had a lot to say when it came to the decisions that he made, no matter how many times he made it clear that he did not care to listen.

“Oh, that’s a surprise. I cannot say that I am not surprised by your decision to host a dinner party. Where has this come from?” she asked after she found her words.tongue.

Samuel shrugged. “I simply believe it’s time we have one. I have never done so since I became a duke. Don’t you believe it is time people are treated to one?”

She nodded, still staring at him in shock. “I suppose that is true. I cannot deny that it would be a good idea to host a dinner party, but why now? And all of a sudden?”

She walked up to him, looking him over. “You did not seem to have this idea on our walk, so what could have happened between the time I left you and now?”

Samuel’s jaw ticked. Even now, she refused to acknowledge that things could never be as she wished them. He had hoped for a mother who cared about him when he was merely a young boy, but he hadn’t gotten that. Instead, he had gotten a mother who constantly disappeared and reappeared as she liked, never caring what happened to him.

Now was not the time for her to act like the mother he needed all those years ago, not when he didn’t need one anymore.

“If you will not tell me why you wish to host such an event?” she asked, sitting back down.

Samuel looked at her for a moment and sighed. “Please, take care of the necessary preparations, Mother. I would hate for this to not turn out the way that I wish it to.”

His mother nodded, turning to him. Samuel frowned when he saw the glint in her eyes. He dismissed it and walked away. He would leave it all to her. There were other things that he needed to take care of, if this was going to go the way he wished.

He walked to his study, drained by the conversation with his mother. It was never a good feeling speaking with his mother about things that caused her to pry. He preferred to keep her at arm’s length. However, she refused to let things be.

He pushed the thought to the back of his mind as he prepared to pen a letter to the Viscount.

Samuel had never had reasons to make dealings with the Viscount, especially since they did not run in the same circles. The Viscount had always kept questionable company, one that did not much suit Samuel’s taste, but now was not the time for him to balk at the thought of inviting him.

Samuel heaved a sigh as he sent for his butler. Now that he had made sure to specify that his invite was for the whole family, the Viscount would have no choice but to make sure that Nora, and her mother by extension, were present at the party.

He was a duke. While he was not one to pull rank, he knew that now, the Viscount had no choice but to bring Nora along, as anything else would be considered a slight towards him.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Itrust you can manage to behave yourself for the next few hours?” Lord Worlington growled at Nora, glaring at her like he would rather she hadn’t been invited.

“Heaven only knows why the Duke would personally invite you,” he muttered under his breath before turning to glare at her once more. “I certainly hope you haven’t managed to cause any trouble for me, girl. I will not be as kind as I am now if that’s the case.”

Nora scoffed quietly. The Viscount did not know the meaning of the wordkind. He had locked her in her room all week, only allowing the door to be opened whenever she was to have a bath or eat.

Unfortunately for her, none of the servants were willing to risk their positions for her, and she would never ask them to. Although she could tell that they pitied her and wished shedid not have to experience this, they unfortunately feared Lord Worlington more, and that was all it took to keep her captive.

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