Page 27 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

She slipped inside to find the duke sitting behind his desk, waiting for her. She paused in the doorway as if a barrier stood in front of her, her breath catching as memories of the other night flooded her and her heart began to pound.

“Close the door behind you,” he said simply.

“Oh...” She shook her head and did as she was told. But she remained by the doorway, careful not to walk further inside.

A tense silence fell between them. Or perhaps it was only tense for Aurelia. Whenever she was with the duke, she felt as if she was being judged. He was always looking at her, studying her, seeing through her as if he didn’t believe who it was that stood before him. Pressed against the door as she was, she felt her heart beating and sweat beading through her pores. It was as if he was waiting for her to break.As if he knows what he is doing to me...

“Thank you for coming,” he said finally. “I was not certain that you would.”

“Did I have a choice?” she shot back sharply, only to catch her tongue and grimace.Do not rise to his bait.

“No, you didn’t,” he agreed with a smirk. “But that does not mean your acquiescence was a sure thing. We all know how much you enjoy pushing the limits of what you can and cannot get away with.”

“I just want this to be over,” she said carefully. “Thus, I figured the sooner I come see you and find out whatever it is that you need to tell me – that could not wait for a more appropriate hour, the sooner I can leave.”

“An appropriate hour?” He frowned and tilted his head. “And here I was assuming that an hour this late would suit you perfectly. At least in my experience, it always has.”

She looked at him flatly. “Why did you ask to see me? Or rather, why did you command that I come and see you?”

The duke nodded and then went to stand, only to hesitate and reconsider. She could see him working through something, his face scrunched tight as he fought with himself over... she had no idea. But whatever it was, a decision was made, and he stayed seated.

“I have been thinking a lot about you lately – concerning the debt you owe me,” he hurried to explain, his composure dropping for a split second. “Circumstances beyond your control have brought us together, and despite what you might think, I have no desire to laude this debt you owe me over your head. I want you to be free of it.”

She scoffed. “If that is the case, release the debt. It is that simple.”

“Is that what you think?”

“You are the one who my family owes money to, yes? So, it seems to me that it is as simple as I just said. You want to help me? Let us go.”

He shook his head and where she might have imagined it, he almost looked regretful. “I am afraid it is not that easy, Lady Hawkins. If it was, then I simply would do.”

“But why --”

“It is not your concern,” he said sharply. Her eyes widened at the change of tone, he glared at her with warning, and then his expression softened again. “As I was saying, I want to help you. And I intend to. Assuming, of course, that you wish to be helped.” He chuckled. “If such a thing is even possible.”

Aurelia studied him closely for a moment. She was long past the point of believing everything that he said, as a part of her had always suspected he enjoyed the fact that she owed him this debt. That he liked using it against her. And she still believed it so. However, his change in tone just now indicated that it wasn’t so simple. Was it possible that this debt went beyond his control? That he was trapped, just as she was?

“I want your help so long as it is help.” Carefully, she pushed herself off the door and walked into the room. But only a few feet, still careful not to get too close. “That you are not using me.”

“Using you for what?”

“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “Whatever it is you loan sharks do, I have no idea. Further to that point, it might be easier to accept your help if you were not so condescending every time you spoke to me.”

He chuckled. “But you make it so easy.”

“There!” she snapped. “Right there.”

He held up a hand to silence her. “Point taken.” His brow furrowed and he came to a decision, finally standing, at which point he walked around his desk. But he did not approach her, choosing instead to sit on the edge of his desk and fold his arms across his chest. “From this point on, I will endeavor to be more... accommodating, where your feelings are concerned.”

She scoffed. “I suppose that is a start.”

“With that in mind, we come to the topic of how I may help you. I want your debt paid, which means that I want you to find a suitor willing to pay it. But for this to happen, you must be...” He chuckled and shook his head. “Do not take this as an insult, Lady Hawkins, for it is not meant as such. But to find a worthy suitor, you are going to need to make some changes.”

“Changes?” she scowled defensively. “Changes how? What is your meaning?”

“Well, right there is a good start,” he said simply. “You temper. Your tone. Your general sense of hostility which follows you like a bad smell. To find a suitor you will need to behave like a lady who any suitor would be thrilled to court. And as sad as it is to say – again, this is not an insult. But as things stand, you are far from the ideal candidate for such a thing.”

Aurelia scrunched her brow and scowled harder.How dare he!

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