Page 21 of Her Ruse with the Wicked Duke
Thankfully, no one had recognized him yet. They were too thoroughly distracted with their own business to come over and bother him.
Where is she?
Maxwell returned after a moment. “I spoke to the footmen. She has not arrived yet, Your Grace.”
“I must take the carriage,” Rowan said quickly. “I do not think anyone has noticed me yet. Be sure to keep the crowds placated until I return.”
* * *
“Absolutely not,” Richard said from behind his paper.
Alice despised it when he hid behind those articles, not even giving her enough attention to truly be upset with her.
“Richard, I must go to the garden party. I have been invited… You cannot keep me here,” Alice said firmly. “You claimed that this Season, I will be able to go to every event.”
“I do not like the idea of you tainting my name by acting like some hussy at these courting parties. If I had known that you would be running about with various men, I would not have let you make such a fool of me before,” he said simply. “You are not going. That is final.”
“You know nothing of what I do at these parties! Where have you heard these heinous rumors?” She glared at the newspaper-shrouded figure, who said nothing in response, before stomping out of the room, groaning in frustration as she made her way upstairs to her room. She threw herself on her bed, feeling her anger grow. “Why me?”
Before she even had a moment to relax, the servant’s bell in her room began to ring incessantly.
Richard was calling for her, and she slowly stood up, making her way back to the library and biting her tongue as he smiled at her.
“I would like my cigar lit,” he teased, wiggling the tobacco-filled pipe in her direction.
She took a step toward him when the bell of the front door chimed, notifying them of a visitor. She felt relief wash over her as she turned to escape her brother.
“Leave it. Light my pipe, Alice.”
She turned back to him, astounded at his boldness.
He must truly be feeling insecure about me marrying and leaving him. I have never seen him act so brazenly.
“I must go fetch a match, My Lord,” she managed to say, swallowing the lump of guilt growing in her throat.
She lowered her head and walked across the hall to get a match from the kitchen. She grabbed the thin strip of wood from the kitchen and returned, dipping it into the flame of the lamp.
She could feel her brother’s eyes on her, watching her like a snake, and it made her hands shake as she leaned down to light his pipe.
As she pulled away, she dropped the match, and it landed on the floor. She frantically stepped on it to put the flame out.
“What are you doing, stupid girl!” Richard stood up quickly, pushing her out of the way to stomp on the already-put-out flame.
“Miss Snow!”
Alice whipped her head around, her heart dropping to her stomach.
The Duke stood in the doorway to the library, a bewildered expression on his face. He wore a perfectly tailored blue suit that made his eyes sparkle, and his hair was in its normal untamed fashion. He looked stunning, and she realized she had just been caught in the most embarrassing situation.
She immediately dropped into a curtsy. “Your Grace, apologies for not meeting you at the door. I?—”
“Nonsense. Grace let me in. I came to see if you were all right. I see that is not the case. Miss Snow looks upset and?—”
“And what business is it of yours?” Richard snapped, and Alice’s eyes widened at his boldness to speak to a duke in that manner.
“My Lord, I—” Alice started, but Rowan took another step into the room, between the siblings.
“Miss Snow, are you ready for the garden party?”
