Page 17 of A Cursed Bride for the Duke
“A trophy?” he echoed, his voice laced with a hint of mockery. “You wound me, Duchess. I assure you, my intentions are far more practical.”
Wilhelm leaned closer. “You grossly underestimate yourself,” he said plainly.
Genevieve’s heart pounded in her chest, and her eyes narrowed on him.
What did he see in her? What hidden value did she possess, to which she herself was blind?
Before she could press him further, the carriage lurched to a halt.
Wilhelm straightened, his expression shifting back into the aloof mask he wore so well.
“We have arrived,” he announced, his voice devoid of emotion.
Chapter Six
“Welcome to Ravenshire, Duchess,” Wilhelm said, his voice cutting through the tension that had settled over them as Genevieve peered out the window, unable to look away.
Before her loomed Ravenshire, a mansion that seemed to stretch endlessly across the landscape, its vast facade bathed in the deep, golden light of the setting sun.
The carriage swept through imposing wrought iron gates, each bar etched with the sharp silhouette of a raven, their dark eyes seeming to watch them as they passed.
As they drew closer, Genevieve could make out the darkened windows that punctuated the towering walls. Ancient growths of English ivy twisted up the stone and clung to it with a possessive grip, as though it had been woven into the very bones of the house.
The air around her was permeated with a stillness that seemed to rise from the stones themselves, which breathed of secrets long buried in the walls.
The carriage rolled to a stop before the grand entrance, the dark ebony doors adorned with intricate carvings.
“It is…” Genevieve began, but she broke off as Wilhelm immediately stepped out of the carriage without saying a word and ran a hand through his hair.
He extended a hand to allow her to descend safely from the carriage as she took in the view that surrounded her.
Her gaze swept over the freshly trimmed lawns and the estate’s towering, sculpted hedges. The path to the front door was lined with statues. There were horses with human faces, winged angels casting judgmental stares, and an enormous raven, nearly as tall as she was, its wings spread—whether in welcome or warning, she could not tell. All were carved from gleaming white marble.
“This is where we will live?” Genevieve’s eyes widened, and she shivered as she took in the magnificence of the sprawling estate and a windy chill seeped through her coat.
Wilhelm gave a sharp nod without looking at her, his gaze fixed firmly on the front door.
He had let go of her hand but was walking beside her, leading her along the trail to the grand entrance.
As they ascended the steps, the doors swung open, revealing a spacious, circular hall.
A sweeping staircase with a polished banister gleamed in the soft light and dominated the entryway, while a crystal chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling, its intricate facets casting a kaleidoscope of colors over the walls. The manor radiated a hushed stillness, as though it had long been untouched and unoccupied.
It felt colder inside than in the hands of the blustery winds that had assaulted her on arrival.
A small group of servants waited in the foyer, all dressed in black. The young maid at the head of the line held her breath as Wilhelm’s gaze swept over them, glancing at his face before she quickly looked down.
A footman squared his shoulders, but his hands trembled slightly as he clasped them behind his back.
Wilhelm moved past them without a word, his gaze fixed ahead, his presence commanding a silence that none of them dared to break.
“This is Lady Genevieve, the Duchess of Ravenshire,” he announced, his stern voice echoing through the vast space. “She will be your new mistress.”
Gasps rippled through the servants, their wide eyes darting to Genevieve. Some of them pressed their lips together as though they were holding back questions.
In the dim light, Genevieve caught the thinly veiled alarm on their pale faces. Although her pulse raced at the sight, she straightened her posture and lifted her chin.
I will show them no sign of weakness.
