Page 7 of Her Duke of Sin: Lady Be Wicked
“Though neither is nearly as lovely as you are.” She glared at him. “That is true as well. I find you breathtaking.”
“You’re too kind, Your Grace.” She waited for the reminder to call him Gideon, but it didn’t come. He must realize it was a futile endeavor. “But these flowers over here cannot compare to anything else.”
“Beauty is in the beholder's eye,” he said in a confident tone. “However, most would agree on some level that both the flowers and you are both gorgeous.”
She rolled her eyes. He could be quite insistent, and this argument would not end well. It was best to stop it from going any further. “You’re probably right, but I don’t wish to discuss it any longer.”
Juliet moved to another section of the garden. A large fountain was in the center. She stopped to look at it. Not because she found it particularly enthralling, but she didn’t know what else to do. The fountain was not new to her. She had walked past it every morning since she had arrived at Wyndam Castle. It wasn’t even anything special. It depicted Athena in a battle pose and water flowed down her body and pooled at the bottom of the fountain.
She didn’t stare at in fascination. No, Juliet stared at in desperation. The Duke of Sinbrough was slowly chipping away at the armor she had built around her heart, and she did not like it. She did not want to feel anything. Especially for him. He was a well-known rogue and she couldn’t afford to have a broken heart.
“Do you like the Greek gods?” he asked. He had come to stand beside her and now studied the same fountain. “I would think you’re more like Aphrodite than Athena.”
“If I needed a reminder that you do not know me, that says everything,” Juliet replied. “I am not a seductress and I do not believe in love.” She glanced at him. “I am far more like Athena, but even that is not entirely accurate.”
“I believe you’re a mix of both,” he told her. “No one is ever just one thing. Everything about us is a blend of different things. If not, how boring would life be?” He smiled at her. “Life is full of choices. Sometimes they are small ones that we do not think about and others are momentous. We deliberate over them and still we are never certain that we made the right one. All we can do is take a leap of faith and hope that in the end, it will turn out as we hope. There are no guarantees.”
She could not argue with any of that. How could anyone? “And sometimes choices not of our making are thrust upon us.” That is how she had ended up being Lady Wyndam’s companion. “Though even something terrible could end up being the best thing that ever happened to you.”
“There is a story there, isn’t there?” he asked. “You don’t need to tell me, but I hope one day you will share it.”
Juliet smiled. “There is not much to tell,” she admitted. “At least it isn’t a very long story and not even that original.”
“I would still like to hear it, if you’re willing,” he said earnestly.
She glanced at him and studied him. He did seem sincere. Did he really want to know more about her, or was this a ploy of his? She had to make a choice, and it could be one of those monumental ones he referenced earlier. If she believed in him, it might lead them down a path. That path could be wonderful, or she might come to regret it. What path should she choose? What made the most sense? Juliet decided to take that leap of faith. She wanted to believe in him, and a large part of her hoped she wasn’t placing that faith in him erroneously.
“All right,” she agreed. “It started before my father’s death,” she told him. “When he became ill, my life altered almost immediately.”
“What happened?” He kept his focus on her, as if what she said next was very important to him. That type of attention… Juliet had never had that before. No one ever put her first. She saw to Lady Wyndam’s needs, but no one took care of Juliet. She couldn’t fathom it.
“My stepmother never treated me well,” she began. “I don’t think she has it in her to be kind. In some ways, I am lucky I wasn’t her daughter. She didn’t pay me much attention.” Juliet closed her eyes. “My sister though…” She sighed. “Clara has no choice. She had to go with Millicent when she moved in with her father. I was told I had to find my own way. If not for Lady Wyndam…” She swallowed hard. “My father’s death led me here. I have not seen my sister or stepmother in years.”
He frowned. “It’s their loss.”
“As I said,” she began. “Clara doesn’t have a choice. I do not blame her.”
“I do,” he said. “But it’s not my place and I understand that. You have a generous heart.”
“Do I?” She blew out a breath. “Maybe I can be too forgiving.” She glanced up at him. “Thank you.”
“I’ve done nothing that I need to be thanked for.” He tilted his head to the side. “But I have enjoyed your company, so I should thank you. I appreciate your kindness. Especially, as I am aware, you were vexed at my interruption of your time in the garden. I hope I didn’t disrupt it too much.”
“You did not,” she told him. “And you’re not so troublesome as I first believed. It has been…nice.”
“Let me escort you back inside,” he said in an amicable tone. “And perhaps the next time we cross paths, you will be happier to see me.” The duke leaned down and whispered, “Also far more willing to address me with my given name.”
“You, Your Grace, are incorrigible.”
His laughter echoed around her. Some things didn’t change, and she was starting to be grateful for that. Her time with the duke in the garden had made her realize something important. Not everything in life had to be complicated. She enjoyed his company and decided that for the rest of the house party, she wouldn’t let the thought of impropriety prevent her from spending time with him.
Four
Juliette strolled around the back lawn, examining everything as the servants set up for the afternoon’s event. Archery had never been something she enjoyed or understood, but she was excellent at organizing. Once she had her list of requirements for having a successful archery contest she set about acquiring them, and planning how it all would be implemented. There were two large tents set up closer to the castle for observers. Farther away there were several targets set up against bales of hay an equal distance apart. She had gathered all the necessary equipment, including quivers, bows, and arrows for the guests to use during the event.
She thought she had thought of everything, but she felt as if she had forgotten something. What that something could possibly be, she did not know. Juliette blew out a breath and reminded herself to remain calm. Most of the guests would not want to participate and would either remain inside or sit with the spectators. She didn’t really care what the guests chose to do, as long as they were comfortable with that decision. With one tent set aside for them to sit in, and the other with refreshments, everyone should be content.
“You’re busy,” a man said from behind her. “Do you ever take a moment to yourself?”
