Page 78 of Beneath the Beastly Duke's Mask
Arabella inwardly groaned. “Yes, Your Grace?”
"I believe you should try to reunite with your family because I would like to openly court you," he revealed, shocking her into silence. "I have done my best to ignore my attraction to you, but now that there is a way of being together, I felt I must speak to you. My family can be rather strict about mixing with commoners, but I can convince them that since you're a baron's granddaughter, so it shouldn't be a problem to court."
The man had to be out of his mind. Under any other circumstance, she might have found his straightforward manner charming, but this was just too strange for her.
“Well,” she began, trying to find the right words to say.
"Just think about it," he interrupted. "I'm not one to go after my servants, so I held myself back. However, I'd really like to court you, Arabella."
“Uh, I'm afraid I'm already in love with someone else, Your Grace,” she said. “However, I am flattered,” she added. “I really am.”
“Before you refuse me, just think about all I have to offer,” said Lord Grafton.
Arabella didn't need to consider his offer; she had already given her heart to Henry. She just needed to find him and remind him of that.
Chapter 28
“Your Grace?”
Henry jumped, guiltily turning away from the drawing room door. “Yes, Truman?”
His valet appeared amused. “Were you eavesdropping?”
“No!” Henry denied. “I wanted to go inside, but it seems Lord Grafton is speaking to Arabella.” He paused. “I really should refer to him as the duke. You can just call me Henry, Truman.”
"That doesn't sound right," Truman argued. "At least, sir."
“Sir is fine,” said Henry. “Was there something you wanted to say?”
“I wanted to ask about your room,” his valet said. “You said you wanted to move out of it. When would be the right time to do so?”
After the conversation he just overheard, the sooner, the better. “Today,” he said. “We can move it to the vacant cottage near the woods.”
“You're moving in there?” asked Truman.
“For now. I'll get started with packing my personal belongings, but I'm leaving most of the room's contents behind.”
Truman frowned. “You do not have to do that, sir,” he said. “You have been the duke for many years. You are owedsomething. It does not matter that you are not the old duke's son by blood. He accepted you as his son and heir.”
Henry revealed the situation to Truman, shocking the valet. However, he hadn't seen any judgment in the young man's eyes. Mrs. Cooper was already aware because she knew the truth about his identity, but the other servants had yet to be informed.Arabellawas yet to be told.
Henry had been avoiding her for weeks now, barely allowing any conversation between them. He didn't know what to say or how to say it, so staying away just seemed better. He knew it wasn't fair to her, as he could see the questions in her eyes, but he couldn't answer them. If he did, he would have to verbally admit that he couldn't give her the life she deserved. All he could offer her was a scarred man.
"Let's not argue about something that cannot change," said Henry. "I'll start packing, and you can join me when you can. I know the new duke's valet is training you to serve his master along with him."
“Yes, Stewart feels I need to be retaught everything,” he said, rolling his eyes. “However, it all seems to be the same thing, really. I just think he wishes to feel more important as his master is now the duke.”
“You were also a duke's valet and have more experience than him in that regard—just remember that when he tries to lord himself over you,” Henry told him. “Would you excuse me, Truman?”
Henry patted his shoulder and turned to the stairs, slowly going up. His heart felt incredibly heavy, making each footstep rather labored. Florian wanted to court Arabella—he had heard that loud and clear through the door.
It didn't surprise him, although he was annoyed that Florian wanted Arabella to reunite with her mother's family before the courtship. Arabella would likely never do it, so it would be interesting to know what Florian would do next. However, Henry wouldn't be around long enough to see it.
Entering his room, or rather, what would be Florian's room, he removed his clothing from the wardrobe and chest of drawers, neatly stacking them on the bed. Part of him felt guilty for taking them, but Florian couldn't wear them anyway.
He was thinner and taller, so the clothing would be too big and slightly short for him. It was the other things he had to consider, like the shaving kit, hairbrushes, and perfume—these items and more considered personal items, but they could be left behind. Part of Henry felt he should take everything because Florian would have Arabella in his life.
She was worth hundreds of dukedoms and more because there was no one like her. It was why he had to leave and not look back. Just as she had been ready to leave him to save him from trouble, he would do the same for her. Perhaps it was a double standard, but Henry couldn't allow Arabella to suffer just because he had nothing to offer her.
