Page 9 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

“At least he is interested,” Rosalind pointed out innocently.

“Somehow, I doubt I am the one who has captured his interest,” Aurelia said with a wink, even if there was a layer of truth to her comment that added another less than appealing worry she was dealing with tonight.

Rosalind was, in Aurelia’s eyes, gorgeous. Dark hair. Big brown eyes. Pixie-like features. And a curvy body that she knew men to trip over themselves in pursuit of. Eveline too, short like Aurelia yet skinny, with elegant features that would only grow more beautiful with age. Not that Aurelia wished Lord Harrow to be staring at her, but she was certain that of the three of them, she was the last one he might have wished to take notice of.

Aurelia had always been self-conscious where her weight was concerned. Although she thought of herself as pretty, with her dark hair and deep brown eyes, she was also plump in figure; a body-type which she and her mother argued about constantly, as women of the ton should not allow themselves to get as large as she was. Or so her mother said. It played havoc with her confidence, and although it wasn’t the reason she had abstained from the romantic scene all her life, it certainly didn’t help!

These were fears that she had to overcome and rise above, as she no longer had the luxury of turning her cheek up at courtship. And if she might have gotten cold feet and changed her mind...

“Oh no,” Rosalind groaned.

“What?? Eveline asked.

“My brother,” Rosalind said, exhaling sharply. “Why is he watching us? I told him, I wished to spend the beginning of the night with you. He really does not like you much, Aurelia.” She laughed. “Considering how you two spoke to one another the last time you were together, I guess I cannot be surprised.”

She is speaking about the ball last week. Although she is not wrong either, as I have no doubt His Grace thinks less than little of me. Just as I do him.

The duke stood across the ball room. Engaged of present with several other lords, all of whom pandered to him like sycophantic worshippers, he still managed to keep an eye on Aurelia, ensuring that she saw him doing so.

Seeing him again tonight had brought about strange emotions in Aurelia. On the one hand, she wanted to hate him, as he was the one who had put on her this most harrowing task in the first place. On the other... she could not ignore the warmth which spread her body and made her heart race each time their eyes met. She remembered him standing over her. She remembered the power he had in that small room. She remembered...he has a dark side, more than he lets on. One which, for some reason, I find myself drawn to.

But she could not let herself get distracted. Her family were counting on her. And with His Grace watching, she figured that she had to act now or see her family doomed.

“Lord Lakeview it is,” she sighed with regret.

“Oh, good,” Rosalind said. “I think he is a fine choice.”

“A bit boring.” Eveline curled her lip. “He has a face that you would not recognize if he was standing right next to you.”

“I am going to talk to him,” Aurelia said with a firm nod, forcing confidence which she did not feel.

“I will leave you to it.” Rosalind took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Good luck.”

“I will find mother, I suppose,” Eveline grumbled as she slunk away.

Aurelia watched her friends go, still working up the courage to approached Lord Lakeview. Again, she caught the duke watching, and she curled her lip at him and widened her eyes to warn him off.

About to make her approach, Aurelia saw movement out the corner of her eye. She followed it to where Rosalind was walking toward the back of the ball room, and then outside and onto the balcony. Likely, she was just getting some fresh air. Thinking nothing of it, Aurelia was again about to work herself up to approaching Lord Lakeview, only to again become distracted. This time it was a distraction that had her gasping.

Lord Harrow was slinking across the ball room, his path fixed on the balcony where Rosalind had just disappeared. He wore a sinister smile as he hurried for it, and when he reached the doorway, he made sure to look over his shoulder and survey those nearby as if double checking that nobody was watching him. His smile grew and he stepped outside.

Oh no...

Rosalind was a most innocent creature, the type who might trust a wolf who invited her into its den without questioning the obvious danger. Aurelia did not know anything about Lord Harrow, but she knew his type, she knew that look in his eyes, and she knew that to leave him alone with her friend was a mistake she was not willing to make.

She did not care that she had a mission of her own. Nor did she care that the duke was watching her. Her friend needed her, and that was all which mattered. And so, Aurelia acted.

Across the ball room, she hurried for the balcony, breaching the door and stepping into the cool night. It was dark outside, the moonless night making it difficult to see. Not that she needed to, for she spied immediately her friend and Lord Harrow. Worse than that, she heard them.

“... a pretty thing like you should not be out here on your own,” Lod Harrow purred. His back was to Aurelia, and he blocked her sight of Rosalind.

“I am perfectly fine, thank you,” Rosalind said, her voice shaking.

“You are now that I am here,” he continued. He stood over Rosalind, far too close, his black coat making him nearly invisible. Which Aurelia figured was the point. “I have been watching you all night, you know. And I pray it is not too bold for me to tell you that I like what I see.” He purred again. “Very much.”

“Yes, well...” Aurelia could picture her friend’s panic. “If you do not mind, I must be heading back inside.”

“What’s the rush.” He moved to block her.

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