Page 53 of Beneath the Beastly Duke's Mask
Still, he was her employer, so it was entirely inappropriate. It also didn't help that Maribel always seemed to be lurking in the corners, seemingly waiting for Arabella to do something that would prove her accusations.
“What else can I help with?” the duke asked behind them, startling her.
Arabella turned to him, her eyes flickering over him before lowering her eyes, her belly doing a silly dance of joy. The duke rarely wore the many layers most gentleman could be found in. He preferred wearing just a white shirt and breeches, usually rolling up the shirt on his arms.
It made him look manly and handsome. Even his scars merely added to his appearance rather than took away from him. People would likely think she was crazy for not finding the scars repulsive, but they were part of who the duke was.
“Moving furniture, Your Grace,” said Jane, replying for them.
Arabella glanced at her friend, finding her looking quizzically at her. Her heart sank. It seemed she might no longer be able to hide her feelings from her friend anymore.
“May I help?” the duke asked. “I have some time on my hands.”
"We could use a strong man, Your Grace," said Jane. "The day is rather warm, and the furniture is heavy."
"Since you've been working for some time, I think a break might be in order," the duke said. "Have some refreshments, and then we can continue. I wouldn't mind some soda water and elderflower syrup. I have become partial to it since Arabella introduced me to it."
“I'll get them,” Jane offered first, beating Arabella to it.
“I can do it,” she said. “I do not mind.”
“You know more about the furniture placement,” Jane pointed out. “It will be best if you stay and show His Grace where you would like the furniture.”
Jane had a point. Arabella inwardly sighed. She had wanted a moment to compose herself, but that didn't look like it would happen. She could insist that she get the refreshments, but Jane might question why when it was more logical for her to do it.
“Yes, that makes perfect sense,” said Arabella. “I would like the same as His Grace, please.”
Jane smiled. “I will return soon.”
She walked away, leaving Arabella alone with the duke. It was strange how much Arabella wanted to be around the duke, but when he was near, she couldn't think of a thing to say. It hadn't been like that before. Now, she was like a young schoolgirl unable to reveal her feelings to the boy she liked. Well, she couldn't tell her employer, who also happened to be a duke, that she had fallen helplessly in love with him.
“Why don't we sit down for a little while?” the duke said.
“Oh, I'm fine standing here,” she replied, avoiding eye contact.
She pretended to be engrossed with the shiny surface of a French oak half-moon table. It was one of the many tables she had selected to be pushed against a wall to carry a pretty vase, or an old knick-knack she had found in a storage room which was more of a treasure trove.
“Come, I insist you sit down for a little while,” the duke insisted, surprising her when he placed a hand on her arm and pulled her toward the armchairs.
Her skin, although covered by the sleeve of her dress, could feel the heat of his palms like a searing heat. It wasn't painful, just strange, and somewhat thrilling. She was disappointed when he released her arm and took a seat, spreading his legs wide as he habitually did.
Arabella imagined sitting with closed legs like other men would be challenging because they were so muscular. They strained against his breeches, their power barely contained by their cotton constraints.
Arabella looked away, her cheeks quite warm as she sat on the edge of her chair. She should stop staring and admiring him whenever he was in sight, but that was like telling a dog to ignore a bone.
"I like what you have done with the library so far," the duke said, forcing her to look up. "It's really coming together. I now understand what you meant by giving it a worldly feel. I first thought you meant that in a Biblical sense."
“Biblical sense?” she repeated, frowning.
“Sinful,” the duke explained.
“Oh!” Arabella cried, a hand flying to her mouth as her cheeks stained with color. “Perhaps I shouldn't have used the wordworldly. My apologies, Your Grace. I realize now it was ambiguous.”
She inwardly groaned, embarrassed that the duke had thought that. Arabella had meant having influences from around the world, thus worldly, and never anticipated anyone thinking about the Biblical explanation. She could only imagine what he had expected to see and wondered why he never said anything before.
“There's no need to apologize,” the duke told her, smiling. “I was merely interested to see how you would interpret Biblical worldliness in the library. I said that I trusted you, and I meant it.”
Goodness! That sounded like blind trust to her, if he believed she might have done something portraying the different sins.
