Page 15 of Her Ruse with the Wicked Duke
He decided to get into his carriage and head back to the empty mansion he called home that was just barely visible from the party, a shadow in the darkness of the night. He felt the coach tremble as the horses led them through the dirt roads and wooded paths on the way to the enormous estate.
He attempted to rest his head on the window of the coach and sleep before he arrived, but his mind was racing. He had not meant to storm off like that, but for some reason, seeing Alice with the Earl across that ballroom had pushed him out of the room like a powerful, invisible force. There was an odd burning in his core as he thought about her body that he could not shake.
After about an hour, he made it up the hill to the large estate, and he felt a wave of relief wash over him. He felt most at home when he was here, in the house that his father had bought and spent his life in.
Though the memories of his mother still haunted him, he refused to let her decisions affect what his father worked so hard to make perfect. As he walked to the front doors, two servants opened them, bowing and greeting him politely.
“Good evening.” Rowan bowed his head.
He treated his staff with the utmost respect, just as his father had, but they still were uptight and nervous.
I suppose having someone as young as me as the master of the estate could be jarring. I wish they trusted me enough to know I would never just throw them to the wolves, unlike Mother.
“Can we get you anything, Your Grace? Dinner? A bath?” his butler asked, following him through the foyer and to the large, wide marble stairs that expanded to the upper part of the house.
“A bath,” Rowan replied, heading upstairs to his room.
He excused the valet who attempted to help him undress, as he needed some alone time with his thoughts. After a while of going through the events of the evening, he realized he may have more to learn about Alice’s personality.
She is not like the other ladies. She has a fight in her, and it is an attractive trait. She got her chance with the Earl tonight, and I managed to get several business connections for the next event. Perhaps this arrangement will go smoother than I expected.
* * *
Alice and Grace made it home just before midnight and snuck inside, getting cleaned up and tucking themselves in bed.
Though she knew that the gentlemen of the ton still had months of the Season to decide on a wife, Alice felt confident that she made a good impression. Even though the Earl eventually left to converse with other ladies, he had spent over an hour with her, in which she believed they made a connection. The night had gone swell, and she already had forgiven the Duke for his sweeping her away from him so abruptly.
His plan worked. How could I possibly be upset? All I need to do now is hold up my end of the deal. I hope I can…
Alice had many swirling dreams that night, of dancing, and of betrothals, but also of her brother’s incessant need to foil her plans of escape.
As she awoke, she felt a smile on her face. She stretched and got out of bed, getting dressed in her plainest dress. The sun was just starting to rise, and she snuck past her brother’s room, downstairs to the maid’s quarters, beginning her chores for the day.
Alice was not fond of the housework she did, but her true problem lay in how her brother treated her. She was not a maid, she was a lady of this house, yet Richard insisted on treating her like his own personal slave. It was a demanding task, taking care of the house, as well as serving his every need. She had some help from the other servants, but it was difficult for them to keep up with his demands.
She relished this quiet, alone time in the early morning, when everything was still except for the sun in the sky and the birds that flew from tree to tree, tweeting their morning songs. She dusted the mantle in the sitting room, and cleaned the tables, before heading to the kitchen to begin preparing breakfast.
Agnes and Grace would be awake soon and would undoubtedly try to shoo her from doing so much work, but she was always happy to assist the elderly woman in her daily tasks.
“Good morning, Miss,” Grace whispered as she entered the kitchen, holding a candle for light.
“Good morning,” Alice chirped, just finishing up building the fire for the stove.
“You seem cheery.” Grace grinned, walking over to help her cut up fruit for the table spread. “I am so happy for you.”
“Thank you, Grace.”
“I cannot fathom you turning down His Grace, though. He is just as handsome as I heard. More so.” Grace nudged Alice’s shoulder, giggling quietly.
“He is much too temperamental for me,” Alice pointed out.
“Indeed. He nearly bit my head off when you sent me to fetch him for you.” She laughed.
“I am sorry. I should have gone with you to seek him out. I was just so terribly anxious.”
“No worries, Miss. He seemed kind enough. And the way he looked at you…”
“The way he looked at me?” Alice stopped and saw the smirk on Grace’s face. “Please, tell me you are playing a joke on me.”
