Page 48 of Her Ruse with the Rakish Duke
She nodded shakily but looked frightened.
“Do not worry.” He smiled at her despite the turmoil inside him. “It is only my mother. She will not say anything.”
She nodded and scurried off.
He turned back to see his mother smiling at him with a wistful expression.
“I really do like that girl,” his mother said. “Come. Let’s go for a stroll around the orchard.”
* * *
When Daphne entered the privacy of her chamber, she was positively breathless.
Victor had looked really angry with her when he had asked why she had been avoiding him. Yet he had been gentle in his worry, asking if he had hurt her.
It was things like this that made it hard for her to remember they were not really courting. She had almost forgotten they were in public when she had placed her hand on his abdomen, feeling the hard ridges of his muscles.
She warmed up thinking about how his eyes had darkened and how his heat had called to her.
How was she to explain that these were the reasons she had begun to stay away from him? She had to stay away from him, otherwise she would throw herself into his arms.
She lay face down on her bed, screaming into the mattress, not caring about wrinkling her dress.
To think his mother had seen them in such an improper state. She groaned again. The woman would have thought her poorly bred and would no doubt want her son to stay away from her.
She did not know how long she lay there, but soon there was a knock on her door and her sister and cousin burst in to prepare for the evening meal.
She chose a dark blue number that she had been complimented on in the past. Her maid helped her style her hair in an intricate updo which was a tiny bit elaborate for dinner. She applied some rouge to her cheeks and lips, and with a spritz of her favored lavender scent, she was ready. She felt prime and ready for battle as she looked into the mirror.
Her mother had showered her with praise when she stepped into the drawing room as they waited to move into the dining room. Daphne barely cared as it was only one pair of eyes she wanted on her.
She frowned when she could not find him in the room.
Where could he be?
She calmed when she noticed Amelia’s knowing smirk and chose to mingle.
She also noticed that the dowager duchess seemed to be missing and wondered if everything was all right. The woman had not looked too good earlier, with dark circles under her eyes and her already-pale skin looking even paler.
Daphne wondered how she made it past dinner and even past the parlor games afterward with the disappointment bubbling in her bloodstream.
The duke had not shown up to dinner, and as she got ready for bed, she realized that she would not be able to sleep until she knew he and his mother were both well.
She bided her time until Melanie had finally fallen asleep. Then she made her move, remembering to put a robe over her nightgown. She did not bother taking a candle, relying on muscle memory to take her to the duke’s chambers.
Standing in front of his door, she felt her heart pounding out an unsteady rhythm as she realized the gravity of her actions.
How would she explain her reason for coming to the duke’s door?
Shaking off her fear, she knocked, undeterred from her purpose. Since she had made it all that way, she intended to see her mission through to the end.
She knocked again when she heard no answer, and wanted to turn away but decided to test the handle to be sure he was not in.
When the door opened, she looked behind her for any night crawlers like herself. After making sure the coast was clear, she took a step into his chamber.
When she finally turned after shutting the door, a gasp escaped her as blood sang in her ears at the sight before her.
ChapterTwelve
