Page 11 of His Forsaken Duchess
“I imagine most are unused.”
And filling with dust,she wanted to add.
“His Grace has no use for them, but we keep them clean at all times.”
Audrey sucked in her lips, glad she did not comment on something she knew little about.
They walked down a long hallway, the silence broken only by the soft sound of their footsteps. Finally, they reached a door at theend of the hallway. Potts opened it and stepped aside, allowing her to enter.
Audrey stepped in and took a moment to survey the room. It was charmingly decorated in shades of rose and mahogany, the furniture sturdy and well-crafted. The sunlight streaming through the window highlighted the delicate floral patterns on the upholstery.
“I trust you find it to your liking, Your Grace,” Potts said.
Audrey tilted her head, considering her words. “It is… lovely,” she replied politely. And then, she couldn’t help but add, “But I expected it to be larger.”
Potts nodded, unfazed by her observation. “The rooms on this side of the castle are smaller, Your Grace,” he explained.
Audrey frowned slightly, a question forming in her mind. “Why is that?”
“His Grace instructed that these chambers be prepared for you,” Potts said evenly.
She tilted her head further, and then, as the meaning sank in, she scoffed inwardly.
How utterly extreme.But no matter, I wouldn’t wish to stay in the same wing as a brute like him anyway!
Potts offered her a bow. “If there is nothing else, Your Grace, I shall take my leave.”
“Of course,” Audrey said, dismissing him with a slight wave. As he disappeared down the hallway, she turned to Miss Smith with a faint smile. “I cannot wait to leave in the morning.”
Miss Smith nodded. “Nor can I, Your Grace.”
Yet, when Audrey woke up the next morning, the sight that greeted her beyond the window stopped her cold. The entire estate was buried in a blanket of snow, the fields and paths alike transformed into an endless expanse of white.
She ran from room to room, peering out of every window she passed. The storm had come overnight, relentless and unyielding.
“This cannot be happening,” she muttered, pacing the drawing room as she wrung her hands. “There is no way a carriage could make it through this! None! I was meant to leave this morning—this morning!”
She turned toward the window, staring helplessly at the white expanse outside. The snow seemed to stretch on forever, burying the estate in its icy grip. Her breathing quickened as her frustration boiled over.
“Of all the wretched luck,” she said, half to herself. “Why now? Why here?”
“A pity,” came a deep voice from the doorway. “I suppose we are stuck together.”
Audrey spun around, her eyes widening as they landed on the Duke’s figure leaning casually against the doorframe. He was watching her with that same infuriatingly calm expression, as though her predicament were little more than a minor inconvenience to him.
“Stuck?” she repeated sharply. “Pray, how long is this imprisonment going to last?”
“You are no prisoner here.” The Duke stepped further into the room. “Snowstorms of this nature can last for days.”
“Days?” Audrey’s voice rose slightly. She gestured toward the window with an exasperated sweep of her hand. “In this frigid castle? How does one bear it?”
The Duke raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching faintly. “The castle is perfectly habitable, I assure you.”
Audrey’s glare was immediate. “Perfectly habitable for whom, Sir? Polar bears?” She folded her arms and turned back to the window, muttering under her breath, “One would imagine that more suitable furnishings might at least retain some warmth.”
The Duke’s amusement grew as he approached, stopping just behind her. “Ah, so the true villain in this tale is my furniture? Atragic oversight on my part, no doubt. Shall I replace the chairs with roaring fireplaces and hot bricks?”
Audrey spun back to face him, nearly colliding with him. Her cheeks flushed—not with the cold, but from how close he was. He was too handsome, too tall, and too imposing!
