Page 19 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

“Mother!” Aurelia cried, looking about with bewilderment, panic taking her as if there was a chance her mother might be able to read her mind. “What are you --”

“Quickly, Aurelia. Quickly...” She rushed to Aurelia, taking her by the arm and lifting her to her feet. “You need to get dressed. Something appropriate – do you have another dress similar to that which you wore yesterday?” She swept to the wardrobe and threw it open. “Rosalind was so nice to lend it to you. If only you had asked for another!”

“Mother, what is going on?”

“He is here, is what,” her mother said with exasperation. “As I knew he would be.”

“Who?”

“Who do you think! After yesterday, I had no doubt he would come. Oh, this is good news, Aurelia. An unexpected visit like this one! It can only mean one thing!”

Despite herself, Aurelia’s mind went to the one place that she wished it wouldn’t. It was ludicrous, she knew. Totally unlikely and thus not worth fixating on. But her eyes drifted to her diary, her mind drifted back to her dance yesterday with the duke, and she could not help but wonder...no. There is no way. His Grace... he is here to see me?

Aurelia found her heart racing at the thought.

Not that this brought her happiness. Not that she wished for it to do so. She would have rather had snarled to hear his name, perhaps felt sick with grief at the prospect of having to see him. But dammit… the way her body flushed suggested a different desire.

“Is something the matter?” her mother said as she fussed through her wardrobe, noting the smile Aurelia wore. “You are not sick, are you?”

“What? Why would you say that?”

“Your cheeks and chest dear. They have turned bright red!”

“They have…” Aurelia felt her stomach drop and she turned away, trying to cover herself.Why is my body reacting like this!“I am fine,” she then added desperately.

“Good.” Her mother said as she turned back to the wardrobe. “It would not do to be taken ill. And after Lord Littlefield has come all this way.”

“Wh -- what!”

“Lord Littlefield,” her mother said as she yanked from the wardrobe a pale pink gown with a big bow-tie ribbon on the front which Aureliahated. “He is here, and he wishes to see you. Now, put this on and meet us downstairs at once.”

Aurelia’s expression was horrorstruck, which her mother thankfully assumed was on account of the horrid dress.

“Oh, it is not that bad,” she sighed. “Believe me, Lord Littlefield will love it. Now, on it goes and quickly, Aurelia!” She swept across the room and toward the door. “This is your chance, dear. I spent all yesterday singing your praises to Lord Littlefield. All you need do is not embarrass me!”

Easier said than done.

Aurelia cursed herself for being so foolish. Of course His Grace had not come to see her.Why would he!And of course it was Lord Littlefield who had done. Which was a good thing, she then reminded herself. She did not wish to see His Grace – or be anywhere near him. Still, she detested the man, for he was arrogant and a liar and not at all what he pretended to be. The less she had to do with him, the better.

And that her heart continued to race as she pictured his eyes, his smile, the way he had grabbed her when she was wearing that dress and tearing it open…no, that is nothing to fret over. Perhaps I am getting sick after all?

It was thus that Aurelia put on the hideous pink dress and made her way downstairs and outside to the garden where her mother, Lord Littlefield, and Eveline were waiting. She wore a forced smile as she did, repeating in her head again and again and again to be on her best behavior.Do not think about the duke. Do not think about how he makes you feel. That is not important.

What was important was impressing Lord Littlefield, which Aurelia got about doing as soon as she appeared.

“There she is!” her mother said with over-the-top joy as Aurelia crossed the garden. She and her sister and Lord Littlefield were sitting by a small table underneath a large oak tree which grew across the garden’s back corner. The three of them rose to see her coming. “And doesn’t she look wonderful!”

“Lady Hawkins...” Lord Littlefield stepped around the table to greet her. “It is so nice to finally meet you. And I must say, that dress...” He took her by the hand and gave it a kiss. “Is stunning.”

Behind Lord Littlefield, Aurelia heard Eveline snort.

“As it is lovely to meet you, Lord Littlefield,” Aurelia agreed. “I am so pleased that you have decided to come visit.”

“How could I not,” he said. “After all the delightful things your mother was telling me of you yesterday, I simply had to see if she was prone to exaggeration or if her daughter was indeed the prize that she led me to believe.”

“Shall we guess what the answer is,” Eveline muttered just loud enough for her mother to hear. This saw her widen her eyes at Eveline in warning, which had Eveline grinning.

“Please, sit, Lord Littlefield...” Their mother swept in and quickly led Lord Littlefield back to his seat. “We have so much to talk about, and I know Aurelia will be thrilled to answer any questions you might have.”

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