Page 11 of The Scarred Duchess Deal
His voice was so soft that it tugged at something deep in Tessa’s chest. Her heart fluttered as she stared up at Leo. For the first time in three years, she feltseen. She stood there with his soft touch and felt as if he were seeingher.The scars on her face did not matter – nothing mattered when he looked at her like that. She had given up all hope of a man ever looking at her like this. She could not deny how good it felt to even pretend that she was desired.
It was not as if it meant anything. The bargain could be dissolved at any moment, of course. The best outcome was that he was right, and they located Mortimer. If the worst case occurred, then she would forever have the memory of her cousin’s affronted face.
“I do not offer you pity, Tessa, I offer you company… friendship, perhaps. You might not need my assistance, but I think that you might want it,” Leo said in a soft, husky voice that sent ripples of excitement over her skin.
Tessa’s gaze dropped to his lips where it lingered only for a moment before she caught herself and flicked her eyes right back to his. Even just allowing him to touch her face like this was the boldest thing that she could remember doing.
The Duke leaned forward and brushed his lips against the scarred side of her temple. It was a sweet gesture, and he lingered only a moment before stepping back from her.
“How about I call on you, and we will discuss any details that you wish. I promise you shall hear from me shortly.” Leo grinned. He felt lighter than he had in a long while for reasons he could not quite understand. “I cannot tell you how happy I am to have run into you this evening, Tessa.” He bowed his farewell. “Until the morrow.”
Tessa dipped her chin in acknowledgment. He disappeared into the night and she was left there, dumbfounded.
What has just happened?
ChapterSeven
“Mama! Are all of the biscuits placed on the trays just as I requested?” Sophie’s shrill voice carried down the hall easily. “Make sure that the servants know to have the tea kettle on all afternoon!”
Since the moment that the sun had started to poke its head up over the clouds this morning, Sophie had been pestering the entire household. She had disrupted breakfast by occupying nearly the entirety of the household staff to assist in making sure the sitting room was as perfect as it could possibly be. She was certain that there would be a line of suitors clear out of the door interested in her. Lunch had not even happened yet as Sophie would not stop prattling on and on about her visitors.
Tessa had been forced to listen to her narrate each and every moment of last night’s ball. She listened to Sophie's chatter, which was continuous, with her cousin without hardly pausing to take breaths in between the lengthy and repetitive recounts of her dances and how she had been the center of the whole ball.
As expected, she had not even noticed that Tessa had not been in the ballroom for the majority of the evening. In fact, such a circumstance was still somewhat shocking to Tessa herself.
She sat with her embroidery, pretending to be occupied when really she just needed something in her hands that she could focus on. The ball felt like a dream. She was half convinced that the incident in the gardens had not actually happened. She must have fallen asleep against the wall and dreamed the entire thing. It was too surreal to have possibly been true.
When the clock on the mantel struck one with a soft chime, Tessa was yanked out of her daydream. Sophie kept changing seats. Over and over again she would ask her mother if this position or pose made her look better than any of the others she had tried. Anna could hardly tear her eyes from the scene on the drawing room floor to pay attention to her daughter, let alone answer redundant remarks.
Theodore sat on the floor with Colonel Floppy Ears. He cooed at the beast in a loving, overly affectionate, and soft tone as he played with one toy and then the next. He kept pulling out treats from what seemed like every pocket on his person. Uncle was oblivious to anything else in the entire world that was not his dog most days, and this was certainly no exception.
The clock struck two without so much as a single visitor.
At half past two, Sophie started to fret. She took to pacing the room back and forth, muttering under her breath. She seemed to be searching for any excuse she could concoct that would explain why there was nobody come to call on her. Naturally, not a single one of the reasons that she listed had anything to do with her. She seemed perfectly content to blame her problems on anybody and anything around her. At one point it seemed she was muttering about her mother complaining about the dog and how that might have been off-putting to some.
Three o’clock brought flowers. Not small bouquets of admiration but large vases with stunning and expertly arranged plumes. So many flowers, in fact, that the small sitting room was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer mass and wonder of them all. Sophie squealed happily and started to clap.
“I knew it! I just knew it! See? Did I not say? Oh, they are all so grand and lovely! I cannot even name all of these flowers! Quick, Mama – help me find the card to know who they are from. My suitor is clearly a shy but generous man. What fortune I have!” Sophie started to pick over the arrangements quickly. She had no care for the petals that she so callously ruined in her hasty movements as she picked and plucked for a card.
Tessa rolled her eyes and turned back to her task.
Anna finally tore her gaze away from her husband and his dog to help her look. “I do not see a card.”
A moment later, when the servants had finished decorating the room in all things floral, they announced the caller. “Might I present His Grace, the Duke of Huxton.”
The servant bowed deeply at the waist before taking a step back to allow room for Leo to enter.
Tessa shot up to her feet so quickly that her wooden embroidery ring clattered to the ground – not that such clumsiness was noticed as both Sophie and her mother squeaked in joy. They both struggled to compose themselves as the Duke walked in and bowed in greeting. Sophie curtsied and giggled deeply but Leo did not so much as look at her. He did not glance in her direction for even half a second – his eyes locked on Tessa’s and stayed there.
He breathed a sigh of relief as if he had just been reunited with his long-lost love. “There you are, My Lady.”
Tessa pressed her lips together to keep from laughing over the sheer drama of it all.
“What?” Sophie blurted out, and Tessa cut her eyes to her cousin. Sophie was slack-jawed in shock. It was such an impossible notion to her that it simply could not be real. She could not fathom such a thing, and disbelief was written plain as day over the entirety of her face.
Tessa reminded herself to keep her calm. She wished that she could have a painting made of Sophie’s face at this very moment so that she might treasure it forever. Leo marched straight across the room to Tessa who lifted her hand so that he might kiss her knuckles, which he did.
“I hope you forgive the late hour. I simply could not get you off of my mind all evening, My Lady. I wished to ensure that I had a proper gift to offer you when I came to call.” Leo gestured broadly to the flowers in the room.
