Page 18 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke
"Thank you," she said, collecting the letter, her brow knitting with curiosity at its strangeness. It was uncommon that she would receive a letter with no address or seal.
She took the letter and climbed upstairs to her room. Placing it on her table, she proceeded to change her dress and unpin her hair, only turning to look at the letter when she was comfortable.
Taking a seat, she turned the letter over again in her hands in hopes of gleaning its messenger.
She had no friends besides the ones she just visited and none of them would have arrived home already to have enough time to write her. Gently she pried the letter open, slowly unfolding it until she could read its contents, her eyes growing wider with each word she read.
Dear Cecilia
As a master of scandal myself, I'm only too happy to guide you in your journey. For this reason, I am willing to be your aid as you wish. It is my hope that you get out of this experience unharmed. I cannot say the same for your innocence though.
My country home and its servants are at your service to host you in two days' time, my lady, It is my hope that by the end of your stay, you will have ticked the first item off your list. Your privacy would be ensured, I assure you.
Scandalously yours,
T
Cecilia had to make conscious effort to contain her shock. Theo was offering to help her get her first kiss. The question remained: did he intend to do it himself and most importantly did she want it to be him?
CHAPTER 6
One problem with masks was that they became tiresome and increasingly difficult to drop with constant use. Theo had spent the better part of a decade pretending to be happy. Pretending to be the perfect rake who had overcome the horrors of war. In reality, he wasn't quite free from the effect of those dark war-torn years of his life. The truth could be found in how difficult it was for his body to find sleep, and how often he woke up screaming in terror. That was the reason why he never slept over with any of his lovers or spent the night in a friend's house.
Many women had fallen for his easy charm, unsuspecting the darkness that bloomed underneath. It was the darkness that insisted he engaged in dark, bloody duels with barbaric men of the London underground, every evening, if he had any hope of granting his mind rest for the night.
It was either that or he seduced some prostitute and paid her extra to indulge in dark carnal acts with him. He was not proud of what he had become, but it was what the darkness demanded.It was the only reason he had any claim to sanity. The best he could do was protect his friends from finding out just how depraved he was.
But there were times when it became even more difficult to keep the mask in place. It was one of those moments that had given William, his friend, a glimpse into the suffocating darkness that was his life.
Now at this moment, he felt the mask slipping as the dukes in the salon he had visited urged him to join in their duel. He could never duel for a multitude of reasons, the chief ones being that there was a high likelihood that he could injure them severely and he didn't want his facade of civility to be destroyed.
English dukes with their lean figures and barely trained muscles could never hold their own against him in a boxing ring, even if he were to yield to them. The only person who could probably take him on was Magnus, and his safety could not be guaranteed when the darkness eventually took over and he brutalized him. He wouldn't forgive himself if he injured him or killed him and the nobility would not forgive him either.
"Emerton," Magnus called from his place beside the ring, sweat dripping down his face, as he adjusted his boxing gloves. His opponent was nursing a broken nose and the bruise around his eyes, told Theo that it would soon be swollen shut.
"Come duel with me, these gentlemen offer little resistance," Magnus cajoled.
"No thank you, Blackmore," Theo replied, forcing an easy smile. "I wish to protect my face, it is my best asset. I wouldn't want it mangled like that of your last opponent."
"The idiot did not know to protect his face in a boxing duel. You wouldn't make that mistake," Magnus muttered.
"I wouldn't be so sure, my friend. Besides, I think you have boxed enough today. A cup of water is in order," Theo replied going to offer him one.
"Thank you," Magnus said, eyeing Theo warily.
Theo knew that Magnus did not truly buy his excuse, but he prayed that he let it go and did not decide to pry.
Magnus must have decided to let it go, because he took a swig out of the cup of water he offered. He lowered himself to sit on the bench close by and Theo immediately took the chair beside him.
"I think it is time to find a husband for my sister," Magnus said quietly.
"Cecilia?" Theo asked.
"Of course," Magnus said dryly. "Do you know of any other sister of mine?"
"I just wanted to be clear. Why do you need to find a husband for her? She seems capable enough to find her husband herself."
"You expect me to leave her at the mercy of the wolves that populate the marital mart?" he asked Theo sharply, A strange light shone in his eyes.
