Page 36 of Beneath the Beastly Duke's Mask
He raised his eyebrows. “Nothing else?”
“No, Your Grace.”
Relief promptly filled him. He hadn't said enough for her to find out about his background. Anyone could tell his scars were the result of a burn, but Arabella couldn't possibly figure out the significance of that fire. The fewer people that knew about the truth, the better.
***
Arabella had been torn about what to do about that night since she left the duke's room. She had wanted to talk to him but didn't know how to go about admitting that she had been in his room in the first place. It was a good thing that he had approached her first, as it helped her with the awkwardness of revealing the situation to him. It was still awkward in general, but less so because she didn't have to approach him.
“I see,” the duke said, finally speaking. He had been quiet for some time. “Well, I need to thank you for helping me that night. It was obvious that you helped calm me down. You know about my difficulties with sleeping at times. Now you know why.”
"It's terrible, Your Grace," she said. "No one should go through such a terrible experience. Night terrors can affect so many aspects of one's life. My father once treated a woman afflicted with intense nightmares. It was challenging at first because he didn't know what was causing the nightmares, but he eventually realized it was an event from her past. He called it the trauma of the mind. Perhaps it is the same for you, Your Grace."
Arabella was almost certain of it. No one could suffer as an adult and not have an underlying cause.
“Perhaps,” was his only reply.
Arabella couldn't deny she was disappointed he didn't say much. She thought perhaps he might be a little more willing to open up to her because she understood him, but she needed to remind herself that she was merely his employee.
He didn't owe her anything. In fact, he had already shown understanding by not scolding her for being in his room. The other servants had probably also heard his cries but hadn't gone rushing to barge into his room. Only she had been that foolish.
"Once again, thank you for your help, Arabella," he said. "However, I must ask that you refrain from entering my room again. While I understand your good intentions, others may not. I wouldn't want to damage your honor."
Arabella flushed. “I understand, Your Grace,” she replied.
She really did understand, but hearing him tell her to stay out of his room was still embarrassing. She felt like an intruder.
"The song you sang," he said, surprising her with the subject change. "I've never heard it before."
"It's a lullaby from my childhood," she revealed. "My mother often sang it to me whenever I had a nightmare or felt restless at night. It always worked for me, so I thought it might also work for you."
He smiled. “It evidently did,” he said. “You also sing well. Were you trained in music as well? Playing an instrument and singing, I mean.”
"I play the pianoforte, harp, and flute," she said. "I also like to sing. My mother had a wonderful singing voice. It was very clear, and strong, with a sweetness to it that made you think of meadows in spring." She smiled. "She always sang to my father. She would make up a song off the top of her head to fit whatever situation they were in. She was talented like that."
“Your mother sounds like a remarkable woman,” the duke said.
Arabella nodded. “She was. So was my father,” she added. “They complemented each other so well. Whatever one was lacking, the other had in leaps and bounds. Theycompletedeach other.”
“The duke and duchess were the same,” the duke revealed. “If you saw one, you saw the other. People often talk about soulmates. I believe they were a pair.”
Arabella smiled, but she had so many questions. Once again, he had called his parentsduke and duchess, notFather and Mother. Also, she was curious about one of the stories she had heard about his background.
Some claimed the duke wasn't the duchess's son but a commoner woman's child. The old duke supposedly had an affair outside of the marriage and fathered a child. He brought the duke into the house when it became apparent that his wife was barren.
“Let me not keep you from your chores any longer,” he suddenly said.
She was disappointed he wanted to leave, but she understood, so she curtsied and straightened. However, instead of leaving, he simply stood there and looked at her. Frankly, Arabella didn't wish to look away, either.
The moment should have been awkward, but it only caused a warm feeling in the pit of her belly. It built and built until it burst and enveloped her whole body rather quickly. She trembled slightly, overcome by the emotions swirling within her.
“Arabella, I—” Jane's words were abruptly cut off as she entered the room and found the duke inside.
Arabella and the duke sprung apart as though they had been caught doing something they shouldn't have. The door had even been closed. Arabella could only imagine what was on her friend's mind.
“Uh, Jane,” the duke said, clearing his throat. “Would you excuse me, please? I believe we have concluded our business, Arabella.”
He quickly walked out of the room, his discomfort evident to anyone with eyes to see. It didn't help the fact that they were discovered behind closed doors. Arabella wasn't too worried about what Jane would think, but had it been Mirabel or any other servant who suspected her of trying to seduce the duke, they would assume something untoward had happened.
