Page 58 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

“I am not annoyed but please next time, wait for me so I’ll see you and know you have not left me alone. I ….”

Joane noticed Mr. Bruce’s attention had left her face and was focused behind her. He had replaced his hat and there was stiffness in his posture. Joane turned back to see who was coming behind her.

Of course, father.

Joane watched as her father came down the stairs. His eyes were on Mr. Bruce and they were not smiling. The other stewards in the area faced their work and said not a word to each other. The Duke was known to lash out unexpectedly, failing to overlook even the slightest error. The stewards were in utter fear of the man. Joane suspected that her father adored the atmosphere of trepidation that was present anywhere he was, that was one of the reasons she decided to change her attitude towards him. No one was more openly critical of the Duke than Joane now, not even his sons.

“Why didn’t you bring my daughter home last night? You allowed her to come home in the rain,” the Duke said on nearing Mr. Bruce.

Mr. Bruce attempted to speak but he lacked coherence, he fumbled for words and his hand shook.

He is scared.

The Duke neared the man more, choosing to stand a few hairbreadths away from the fidgeting driver. Her father was enjoying this.

In his own sadistic way.

She wasn’t.

“I told him to leave, father,” Joane said.

Slowly, the Duke turned back to look at her.

“You did what?” he asked her.

“I told him to leave. I told him Mr. William would bring me back,” Joane said.

“You told him, the driver of your coach, to leave while you and one stranger would come on one horse,” her father said in a cold, calm voice before his voice rose to a shout. “In the rain”

“It was not raining at that time, and I still arrived home before the coach,” Joane answered.

“And what good does that do for you if you as the daughter of a Duke are wet all over. I will not have this discussion with you in a public place. Meet me in my chambers now.” the Duke said.

Joane watched as her father turned and stormed up the staircase into the house. His exit was dramatic.

Just as he likes it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a smile on his face as he left too.

“Don’t worry Mr. Bruce, you’ll be fine,” Joane said to the still startled driver. She rubbed him quickly on his arm and went up after her father. When she got in she saw her father still walking speedily towards his room. She followed him, making sure to keep space between them. When he entered his room, Joane entered a few seconds after.

“What do you think you are doing?” her father screamed at her immediately she shut the door.

Joane looked at her father squarely in the eyes.

“I don’t understand you,” Joane replied.

The Duke rubbed his bald head. Joane saw the skin scrapped whiter by his long nails.

“Do not play games with me girl, you understand very well what I speak about. What are you doing with William Marlow?” he asked again.

He walked to sit on the soft cushion seat beside his bed but he was too restless and stood up once again.

“I play no games father.”

The Duke looked at her with arched eyebrows. Joane saw it in his eyes, fear.

He is worried about my new relationship with William.

“Do not mock me girl. I was rightly informed that you shared a dance with him at Viscount Patrick’s ball. And now you are spending your days with him, have you lost your senses?”