Page 42 of Her Devil of a Duke
She stepped forward, away from him, and Rafe tried not to let his shoulders sink in disappointment. She walked forward a few steps before he gave her some advice.
“Too much, soften it a little,” he urged. She did as he asked, and suddenly, her walk became more natural.
Rafe smiled, for he had accomplished what he truly wished for. He’d seen Evie often walk around this house with her head bowed, demurely. Whilst it was endearing, he feared that she did it because of a lack of confidence. His simple instruction by leading with her waist forward urged her head upward, so she could not hang it low and hide her expression again.
She looks more at ease now, more comfortable and confident.
“Halt.” At his words, she stopped and turned. “There, walk back to me.”
She did so, walking straight to him, though she naturally had no idea how near she came to him. When she got close, he reached out a hand and took her waist, holding her still.
“Quite perfect, Evie. Perfect indeed.”
“Truly?” She smiled, with her lips visible beneath the blindfold. It reminded him a little of the night they met, how he had been the one masked that night and she had kissed him.
What would she say now? To know that I am the man she kissed that night.
“I think I rather like this blindfold after all.”
“Good. Then you have given me an idea of another use for it.”
CHAPTERTWENTY
Evelyn looked down at the bed, stunned at the gown that Petra had laid out for her.
“It is a gift from the Duke,” Petra said excitedly, bouncing on her toes.
“A gift? This gown… it is like nothing I have ever seen before.” Evelyn laid a hand to the sheer material. She didn’t know such gowns existed, for it would hide little beneath the thin black silk and netting.
“It is beautiful.” Petra giggled and hurried to the door. “I shall leave you to your evening. Goodnight, my Lady.”
“Goodnight, Petra.” Evelyn waved in goodbye, still gazing open-mouthed at the girl’s excitability after she left.
Evelyn may have first feared that the servants would think ill of her for her unusual relationship with Rafe, but the only man who seemed to care was Stede. Every other member of the household had taken it in their stride, and most seemed happy to have a woman about the house. Evelyn was stunned when two days before, the housekeeper came to her and asked what she would like for dinner.
Evelyn had struggled to know what to say. After all, she was not the mistress of the house, but the housekeeper had insisted it was right she chose a meal, so Evelyn had done so.
Petra in particular seemed happy to have another friend under the roof. They had never openly commented on the fact that Evelyn and Rafe often shared a chamber, though clearly, Petra knew of it.
Evelyn reached for the black silk, admiring it as she pressed it between her fingers. After some minutes of smiling at his gift, she changed out of her gown. There was a small note that was left with the black material that read, ‘keep the corset, remove the chemise beneath.’
She took off the chemise and then replaced the corset over her body, rather glad it was one that was tied at the front, so she didn’t have to call Petra back to help her. Once wearing the corset, she reached for the black silk and pulled it on over her body. It wrapped around her, like a lounge dress, the silken ties fastening at the waist. The deep v-neckline revealed the tops of her breasts and the corset beneath. The sheer material also left the corset on show, before the black silk hid the skin on her hips and legs.
Crossing to the mirror, Evelyn looked at her reflection. As she stared at herself, her chin lifted high, she smiled. Maybe she’d never be completely satisfied with her face, but there was something about the outfit that made her feel empowered, even confident.
She had no qualms about reaching for the door of her rooms and stepping out into the corridor, hurrying to meet Rafe at his chamber.
In the corridor, she heard footsteps and darted into an alcove to hide. Stede walked past, mumbling something under his breath about lazy dukes, but he was soon gone, and Evelyn crept out again.
When she passed the west wing, she halted, looking at the cord that blocked off the entrance. A little way down in the shadows of the corridor, a brief glint of moonlight from the nearest window revealed a spot on the floorboards where they seemed crooked. There was also debris, as if something had fallen from the ceiling.
She stepped toward the cord, trying to have a better look, when there were more sounds behind her. Fearing that Stede would come by again and she risked being discovered in her outfit, she hastened to find Rafe’s chamber, pushing all thoughts of the west wing away.
She knocked on his bedchamber door and waited impatiently, bobbing on her toes. The moment the door opened, all her movements stopped. He beckoned her inside fast, wearing only his breeches.
She followed him in, looking around in awe as she found the entire room had been lit by candles.
Something that had happily surprised her about Rafe was that he had never judged her for her fear of darkness. More than once when they had fallen asleep beside one another, he had offered to keep a candle burning through the night, just to comfort her. Tonight, he seemed to have taken this wish to heart, and had flooded the room with candles.
