Page 19 of Beneath the Beastly Duke's Mask
No one on the estate but Mrs. Cooper knew the duke had adopted him, and that was how he wished to keep it. Hiding his secret was the only way he could keep his promise to the duke to look after the dukedom and its people after his death. Henry intended to do that until his very last breath or until a better-suited heir came along.
“Argh!” he cried, embarrassed for himself.
It wasn't just the fear of being discovered but how quickly Arabella had disarmed him. Henry considered himself wise enough to resist a woman's charms. Various maids had tried to seduce him in the past, but he had always easily figured out their ploy. Perhaps the reason why he had fallen for her charms was because she wasn't trying to seduce him. Henry had watched her enough to know this.
Arabella went about her daily chores happily, always doing everything to the best of her abilities. She was cheerful when interacting with others and tried to avoid conflict as much as possible. Arabella certainly wasn't someone one could take advantage of, but she preferred to deal kindly with people.
That had allowed some maids to think it was acceptable to not do their work properly so Arabella could do the cleaning for them. Fortunately, Mrs. Cooper realized this recently and scolded the maids. Henry would have stepped in and dealt with the situation if he had to, but he should have trusted his housekeeper to keep atop of such matters.
Rising to a sitting position, he ran his fingers through his hair, finding a tangle at the end. He worked it out, wincing when he tugged a little too hard. His hair did its job of creating a curtain between his face and the world, but he didn't really like having long hair.
Most of the servants, while respectful, were uncomfortable whenever they saw his scars. Arabella was one of the few who didn't mind, and the only one who saw the man beyond the imperfections and even his title. One might think she was comfortable around him because she had other intentions, but she wasn't like that. Henry had yet to catch her sneaking around the house or trying to get closer to him.
He had briefly wondered if Basil had sent her to infiltrate his home, but he doubted someone like her would work for his cousin. Also, their interaction some weeks ago proved that Arabella wasn't someone to fall for Basil's flirting. Henry could certainly trust Arabella, but he didn't trust how he felt around her.
Rising to his feet, he trailed a finger along an old bookcase. He hadn't changed anything from the time of the old duke, preferring to keep everything as it was. Of course, some of the furniture had eventually needed fixing, and he had to throw out the old chaise longue when it grew too ratty and uncomfortable, but everything else was still the same.
Henry recalled the days he would spend with the old duke. Sometimes, the old duke would give him lessons on how to run the estate and other times, they sat in companionable silence, reading books. The duchess would join them at times, often bringing a tea tray with her. They truly were just like a family.
Henry missed those days of knowing he had people who loved him and wanted the best for him. Wishing to have someone who would accept all of him was his weak spot, and Arabella had found it without even trying.
“Oh, this is ridiculous,” he said, squeezing his eyes tightly.
His heart was fluttering just thinking about her! Henry realized how desperate he must be to fall under the influence of anyone who showed him a little interest. He needed to control himself better, but it felt wonderful knowing he could be more himself around someone. But that was dangerous for him because it weakened him considerably.
Henry could grow so comfortable around Arabella that he could reveal more about his commoner background, leaving him vulnerable. It would be much easier for Basil to discover the truth and snatch the dukedom from him. Henry couldn't let that happen. He needed to be strong, for the sake of his promise and the people under his care. Arabella could not be his downfall.
***
Later that evening, Henry propped his feet on a footstool and settled into his armchair, his fatigue weighing his body down. He should go to bed, but he wanted a cup of coffee and a little reading before retiring for the night. The butler was due to arrive at any moment with his coffee, but he didn't know what to read. He had read most of the books in his library and was looking for inspiration.
The door behind him opened, and assuming it was his butler, he didn't bother looking but continued resting with his eyes closed and told him to place the tray on the table. However, something about the butler's footsteps didn't sound right. Henry cracked an eye open, bolting up in his chair when he saw who it was.
“Arabella!” he cried. “Why are you serving me? Where is Mr. Black?”
She curtsied. “Mr. Black has suddenly taken ill, Your Grace,” she revealed. “He is currently resting. If there is anything else you need, please let me know.”
People's inhibitions tended to be lower at night, worsening the later it grew. Having Arabella around him at this time of the night was asking for trouble.
“No, you can retire for the night if you have no other chores to do,” he said dismissively.
Arabella bowed her head. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
She walked away, but it seemed Henry didn't know what he wanted because he called her back. Arabella seemed a little surprised when she returned to stand before him, but he was more surprised. Perhaps he was yearning for a little conversation to end off his evening.
Mr. Black usually spoke to him a little before leaving him, so he was merely accustomed to it. However, Henry could have just called his manservant to the drawing room if he wanted conversation. The truth was that he wanted to speak to Arabella. He needed to just admit that to himself.
“Yes, Your Grace?” she asked.
“Uh,” he said, scratching the side of his head as he tried to think of something to say. “Do you have any favorite books?”
“Favorite books?” she repeated, tilting her head slightly. “I have too many to count, Your Grace. Their ranking also changes.”
“You've ranked your favorites?”
"Certainly," Arabella replied. "I rank them by genre first because it wouldn't be fair to compare an adventure story to something meant to scare the ghost out of you. However, I have perhaps five books that I will always consider my favorites, no matter how I'm feeling.
They have the power to lift my spirits when I'm sad, give me hope, and allow me to let my imagination loose without restraint. Three are from my childhood and are fairy tales, and two I read a few years ago. Do you have any favorites?"
