Page 60 of Healing the Duke's Desires
Is it too early?Alexander wondered as he spurred his horse onward, galloping with excitement toward Emily’s home. According to society’s standards, of course it was. This was the height of impropriety, but Alexander did not care one bit.
The cool morning air brushed against his face, invigorating him as he approached her estate.No, it is not too early, but it was almost too late, he concluded with a smile, overjoyed that he had avoided making the biggest mistake of his entire life.
Pulling up before the grand entrance, he dismounted gracefully and approached the imposing front door. With a firm yet excited knock, he waited for the butler to answer. He pressed his pocket for the millionth time to assure himself that the little velvet box was still there, that it hadn’t somehow fallen out of his pocket on the way here. But even that would not stop him from doing what he had set out here to do.
Moments later, the butler swung the door open, his expression one of both surprise and decorum. “Good morning,” he greeted, maintaining a professional demeanor. “May I inquire the purpose of your visit?”
Alexander could barely restrain his enthusiasm, which was bubbling just beneath the surface. “Good morning,” he greeted the man back with a smile that felt like it illuminated his entire face. “I am the Duke of Ravenswood. I have come to request an audience with Lord Ashfordshire, if he would so kind as to receive me.”
“Is he expecting you?” the butler inquired equally politely.
“I’m afraid not,” Alexander admitted in a voice that did not diminish his joy. “But please inform him that it is a matter of the utmost urgency.”
“Right away, Your Grace.” The butler bowed. “If you would be so kind enough as to follow me into the drawing room, and I shall inform Lord Ashfordshire of your visit.”
Alexander followed the butler into the lavish drawing room, his heart drumming with nervous energy. He wanted to rush to Emily, to reveal everything that had been concealed inside his heart and soul right this moment, but he needed to do this the right way.
There had been too many mistakes already. This time, everything had to be perfect. And this required of him to speak to Emily’s father first, to tell him that he loved his daughter with every fiber of his being and that nothing would make him happier than having her as his wife.
As Alexander stood in the elegant drawing room of Emily’s home, his nerves began to fray with anticipation. He paced back and forth, his steps echoing in the vast, opulent space. The ornate furnishings and delicate decor seemed to blur as his thoughts were consumed by the weight of the upcoming conversation.
He adjusted his cravat, attempting to regain a semblance of composure. Every moment that passed felt like an eternity, and each passing second only heightened his nervousness. He checked the time on a beautifully crafted mantel clock—each tick seemed to echo in the room.
At that moment, the door flung open, and Emily’s father stormed into the drawing room, his face contorted with anger and disdain. The abrupt change in the atmosphere was palpable and a knot of fear tightened in Alexander’s chest.
“You!” Lord Ashfordshire exclaimed, his voice wrought with fury, while his finger of blame pointed right at Alexander. “You have brought disgrace upon my family, tarnishing our name and reputation, and you dare show your face in my home!?”
His eyes were filled with a fiery anger, burning with a fierce protectiveness for his family’s honor. Their usual warmth had turned cold, reflecting the depth of his resentment and disappointment. It was a side of him that few had seen, emerging now in a storm of emotions that threatened to engulf all reason.
Alexander’s heart sank. He had known that this meeting would be challenging, but he had hoped that Lord Ashfordshire would at least give him the opportunity to explain himself and his reason for being here.
“My lord, you have every right to be upset—” Alexander started, but he was cut off by the sheer fury of the man standing opposite him.
“Upset!?” Lord Ashfordshire’s cheeks had gotten so red it was as if there had been a smoldering fire burning just underneath the surface of his skin. “One is upset when one spills tea in his lap. What I am cannot possibly be expressed in mere words!”
Alexander understood him well. No apology would be enough for the shame of their name being dragged through the newspapers in the way that they had been. But Alexander was here to make amends in any way Lord Ashfordshire saw fit. That was what he needed to tell him, if he would only be given a chance to do so.
“I assure you, my lord, I am not trying to diminish the validity of your emotions.” Alexander spoke calmly and kindly, in an effort to defuse the situation. “But I also want you to know that I never intended to—”
Once again, he was not allowed to continue.
“No excuses!” The man’s voice was sharper than a blade. “Your thoughtless, selfish actions have wounded my daughter in ways you cannot possibly imagine, and sullied the good, respected name of our family. This cannot go unpunished!”
Alexander’s heart dropped. This could only mean one thing. “What would satisfy the insult I have caused?” he asked, although he knew the answer already.
“A duel at dawn,” Lord Ashfordshire revealed. “To defend the honor of my family.”
The severity of the situation was sinking in. A duel was a grave matter, one that could have dire consequences. Alexander had to tread carefully to find a resolution that would preserve both their honor and the chance for love that had brought him here.
***
A duel!? That can’t be!
Hidden behind the closed doors, Emily strained to hear the intense exchange between her father and Alexander. Her heart pounded heavily as the words settled upon her soul.
The words fired back and forth in the drawing room were a storm of accusations and fury, echoing the conflict that raged within her own soul. Tears welled in her eyes as she grappled with the magnitude of the situation. The man she loved and her own father stood at odds, their confrontation threatening to shatter the delicate balance of her world.
She listened as her father’s voice rang out, laced with anger and disappointment, his words accusing Alexander of being the cause of their family’s disgrace. The accusations felt like a knife to her heart, and she struggled to maintain her composure. But upon hearing the word “duel,” she couldn’t remain a hidden spectator any longer.
