Page 37 of Disguised Desires of a Scarred Duke
How could she ever be with a man who put forth such deception? Even if she had liked him at one time?
“Of course, Miss Whitfield. I am glad to know how you feel about Mr Phillips and I am sorry for his behaviour. We will inform your stepmother next week that there will be no engagement. You have my word.” Cousin Harrison gently lifted Eleanor’s hand to place a comforting kiss on her skin.
Regina pulled Eleanor in for a hug and then asked if she and Mr Black wanted to join them.
“I think Mr Black mentioned wanting to find Lord and Lady Charter for a card game. Is that right, Mr Black?”
It was Eleanor’s turn to flutter her eyelashes coyly and hope that Anthony would follow her intent.
“Ah, yes, Miss Whitfield. I think a game and refreshments with our friends would be most agreeable indeed. Shall we?”
Anthony offered his arm once again to Eleanor and escorted her back into the hall. He was silent as they walked towards one of the game rooms, then suddenly pulled Eleanor into a dark alcove when the hall cleared of other people.
“I don’t know what game you’re playing, but it ends right now. First, you disappear to the opera without any notice of cancellation to me. Then I learn that Mr Phillips proposed to you the night we were to meet in the park. And when I appear at your door out of concern for your health, you send a vague and unfeeling message to send me away? Oh, but wait! I am not finished!
Let’s not forget your hysterics just now and your demand for support without offering any explanation for any of this! I am a strong man, Elle, but my heart is not made of stone. I will never refuse to help keep you safe, but you will not toy with me any longer. Good evening, Miss Whitfield.”
Anthony bowed, turned on his heel, and stormed out into the night.
Chapter 15
Though he’d just unpacked his cases a few hours earlier, William started repacking his things the moment he returned to his room.
Coming here was a mistake.
Not only was he upset by Eleanor’s behaviour and lack of communication over the past few days, but he was also already regretting spending time where it seemed every member of the ton was staying under the same roof.
He was also at risk of causing great harm to Cecil Phillips the moment he saw the scoundrel again. It seemed that Phillips’ behaviour towards Eleanor had got worse. That fact meant his efforts to discourage the man from pursuing her were all for naught.
And now that Eleanor and her sister had the Earl of St Coeur in their corner, William’s help was no longer needed. There were no more excuses to spend time getting closer to the lady, no matter how quickly she’d become the source of his every thought, craving, and concern.
It was time to tend to more pressing matters, like his family’s finances, instead of becoming a pawn in the Whitfield drama.
His family home, where his mother spent most of her time, was near the Charter estate. William would finally reunite with the dowager duchess and retrieve her copies of the St Clair estate ledgers.
Unless the knock on his door proved to be another distraction he could not avoid.
The duke swung it open, expecting Edward to be on the other side.
“Please let me speak with you, Anthony.”
Eleanor’s cheeks were wet with fresh tears. More tendrils of her chestnut hair had pulled free from their silver clips to lay like silky ribbons just above the slope of her enticing cleavage.
“Miss Whitfield, I am packing to leave, and it is not proper for you to be in this room with me. If you need assistance, I am certain your cousin will provide it.” William began to close the door, but Eleanor pushed her way through it.
“I don’t care about what’s proper tonight, Anthony. And I have some important things to say.”
The duke checked the hallway to make sure no one saw the young woman enter his room. He closed the door and pressed his back against it.
“I’m listening,” he said. “But not for long.”
She turned to face William with more determination than he’d ever seen on her face before. And something else shone in her violet eyes. The duke could swear they seemed lit from within.
“First, if you think I’ve come here to apologize, you are sadly mistaken. It’s you who owes me an apology, Anthony. I understand that you feel slighted, but I didn’t deserve to be spoken to like an insolent child. I need to know that you will never shout at me in such a way again. Can you agree to that?”
Eleanor’s stance was outwardly bold, but William could see her lips quiver enough to know that he’d hurt her. And he shouldn’t have unleashed his harsh emotions in such a way. After all, she’d just suffered panic about her sister. And he didn’t know the whole story of the past few days yet.
“Yes, of course,” William replied. “I apologize for my angry outburst, but …”
