Page 11 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke (Claimed by Regency Devils #2)

Chapter Eleven

"S isters!” Violet, the Duchess of Aldworth beamed as Aurelia, her two sisters, her brother, and her mother, walked into the foyer. “And mother,” she added as she came for them all, her arms spread open. “I am so glad you all made it.”

“We would not miss it,” their mother said. When she reached Violet she took her by the hands and held her back to study her. “You look well.”

“I feel it.”

“Married life suits you.”

“Clearly, it does.”

“Will your husband be joining us?”

This had Violet’s face dropping, joined by her letting go of their mother’s hands. “Mother...”

“I am simply asking a question!” their mother cried out as if she was the one being attacked. “Is that a crime now?”

Violet scowled at her with warning, not willing to pursue the topic, but not willing to let it pass by either. Their mother, ever the stubborn sort who always thought she was in the right, even when she was not, simply looked back as if waiting for an answer.

“Good evening, Violet.” Aurelia stepped in beside her mother. “Sorry we are late.”

“Aurelia,” Violet sighed with relief, her smile returning. “Not at all. The other guests only just arrived.”

“Who else is here?” Eveline asked sharply. “Tell me your friend Diana has not come. Gosh, she can be a downer.”

“Eveline!” Violet widened her eyes at her sister before glancing over her shoulder as if to check that they were alone. They were, of course, the foyer being empty. But Aurelia could hear the dull murmurs of the other guests in the adjoining room. “Do not say such things.”

“What!” Eveline looked aghast. “She is! The last time I saw her, she spent the entire night in tears.”

“She is widowed,” Violet hissed. “Can you blame her for being upset?”

Eveline clicked her tongue. “I guess not. But that does not mean I am wrong.”

Violet rolled her eyes. “It is lovely to see you. And you, Iris...” She stepped around Aurelia and crouched down to better see their youngest sibling, Iris. “My, look how you have grown.”

Iris was fourteen years old, but she was small for her age, and rather shy because of it. There was no denying that she was the favorite of the sisters in their mother’s eyes, but she was coddled because of it, treated as a precious thing that might just break if the wrong thing was said. Aurelia had always thought it stunted her, keeping her sheltered from the world so she would never have a chance to grow. She and her mother argued about it often.

“I have not...” Iris’ cheeks flushed; noticeable as her skin was paper white, almost translucent.

“You have,” Violet said rightly, then pulling her into a hug. “Oh, I have missed you.”

“And me?” Eveline asked with a grin.

“You wish,” Violet laughed.

“Good evening, sister.” Daniel was the last of them to approach Violet, and he did so in a typically removed manner. Hands folded behind his back, he offered her a short smile and a nod of his head.

“Daniel.” Violet, knowing her brother would hate it, pulled him into a hug. As the two oldest siblings, and easily the most well-mannered, they had always been close, and Violet was the only person who Aurelia had ever seen make Daniel laugh, or even smile. “I am so glad you came.”

“I would not miss it,” he said sincerely. “I have been saying for too long you ought to invite us over. Well overdue, I think.”

“I could not agree more.

It was early in the evening, the same day that Aurelia and gone for a promenade with Eveline and her mother. As had been planned for weeks now, Violet had invited them and some of her closest friends to her home for a small get together, known as a drum. Aurelia had always been fond of these drums as they came with no expectations. No need to worry about suitors. Expectations of decorum at a minimum. It was an intimate affair, featuring drinks and games and often just good conversation. And quite frankly, I could use the distraction.

Aurelia had spent all day thinking about the park earlier, and how the duke had been behaving. He was still very much the man who she knew him to be, only not so much. His mood had been peaked. His demeanor had been relaxed and forthcoming. He had behaved around her and her mother and sister as if they were old friends, relaxed and comfortable in ways she had never seen before.

What was more, he had asked her to see him tomorrow evening for their first official lesson together. An expected affair, and not something that should have made her feel so nervous. Only, I am. What is more, I am looking forward to it for all the wrong reasons...

Needless to say, she needed tonight to relax and stay out of her own head. And, most importantly, to not think about the duke!

“Come then,” Violet said, linking her arm with her mother. “The others are waiting.”

“I do love this home,” their mother mused as they started across the foyer. “Quaint but still roomy. Surely enough room for His Grace to stay, if he was so inclined.”

“I will pretend I did not hear that.”

“I am just musing, dear. Simply musing...”

Violet and her husband did not live together. A secret, as only Violet’s closest family knew – no doubt she had told those here tonight that he was simply away on business. Violet seemed happy with the arraignment, and she had told Aurelia as much. But their mother... she simply could not help but bring it up, as if her constant bickering might see Violet change her mind. Good luck with that!

Her mother was also in an uncharacteristically bad mood. It was just yesterday when it was learned that Lord Littlefield would not be able to marry Aurelia, as he had no money to cover her dowery. Fury had reigned supreme from their mother that day as she huffed and puffed and shouted about time wasted, no honor among men, and how Lord Littlefield would pay for the slight!

As for Aurelia? She was forced to pretend that she was just upset, even if she had known already. Even if she was thrilled by it...

“Attention,” Violet announced as they entered the drawing room where the other guests were waiting. “The last of our guests has arrived – oh, no.” Violet grimaced. “Sorry, we are still waiting on one more.”

“Who?” Eveline asked.

Before she was answered, the other guests came for them like a swarm of locusts.

The dowager Diana was there, and she was the first to greet them. There was also Lord and Lady Hargrave, both close friends of Violet’s as Lady Hargrave was of the same age. Only three of them, but with the Hawkins mob now involved, there were nine altogether. A perfect size for a quaint evening of drinks and games.

The evening started slowly, with the group sitting about the various couches and chairs, some standing, and Eveline sitting on the floor before the fire with her legs crossed. Violet had indicated that they would play games soon, but there was still one more guest to join them. Nobody thought to ask who, and Aurelia didn’t pay it much mind. Likely just another of Violet’s friends.

It was during this short period that she found herself speaking with the dowager Diana, a conversation which was abjectly miserable, if not laden with warning.

“Your mother tells me you are looking for a suitor?” she asked, forcing a smile but sniffing as she spoke.

“Oh, yes, I am,” Aurelia said, careful not to say the wrong thing as she did not wish to upset the woman. “At my age, it is time for such things.”

“I envy you,” Diana sighed. “I remember when I first met Nathan...” She sniffed again. “Oh, how in love we were – a rare thing, I know. But Nathan was sweet and kind and...” She sniffed again, holding her hand to her nose. “Sorry, I --”

“It is fine,” Aurelia assured her. “Truly, no need to apologize.”

“Do me a favor.” She turned serious all of a sudden. “When you find a husband, hold onto him. Do not let go. Cherish it as I wish I had because you never know when it will end.”

“Ah... I will try.”

“And marry for love,” she continued, taking a deep sip of wine. Aurelia was beginning to suspect the woman was drunk, which she personally could not blame her for. “For love is a most splendid thing and although my heart aches for what I have lost, I would not trade it for anything.”

“That is...” She frowned, not sure what to say or how to say it. “Good advice.”

“And a final piece of --”

“There they are!” Violet cried out, thankfully cutting through Diana’s final piece of advice, which was sure to create even more awkwardness.

Aurelia breathed a sigh of relief, turning to see who had come. When she did, her stomach dropped, her heart beat increased, and she wondered if maybe she would have been better off staying in conversation with Diana.

It was the duke of all people, striding into the room in a way that suggested he owned it. He showed no awkwardness at becoming the center of attention, a commonality for him, Aurelia was sure. He was not alone, of course, for Rosalind trailed behind him.

“Sorry we are late,” the duke apologized as Violet reached him.

“Not at all, not at all,” Violet said with huge smile. “And Rosalind, it has been too long!”

Aurelia stared wide eyes, her pulse rising, doing her best not to look caught off guard or as if the duke being here was causing her to panic. It should not be. And there is no reason I should care one way or the other. But the duke looked about the room, saw her watching him, smirked at her, and her cheeks flushed brilliantly.

“Aurelia...” Rosalind came to her. “Is something the matter.”

“Why did you not tell me you were coming tonight?” she hissed under her breath, careful not to pull attention their way.

“Did I not?” Rosalind frowned. “I could have sworn I did.”

If it was anyone else, Aurelia might have thought that her friend was playing a trick on her, as if she knew how Aurelia was feeling and wished to see her squirm. But that was not Rosalind’s way, and likely the woman had just forgotten.

Nonetheless, Aurelia decided quickly that she would need to avoid the duke tonight, just to be safe. Whenever they were together, lately especially, their conversation always steered toward trepidatious waters, the wrong things being said, Aurelia’s tongue and temperament getting the best of her. With so many eyes here tonight, she did not trust herself to behave.

What is more, I do not trust the duke to behave, for I know how much he enjoys testing my limits and seeing how far he can push me.

Thus, Aurelia made no move to approach him like others did, happy to stay out of the way, hopefully for the rest of the night. If only such a thing was possible.

“A game!” Violet announced once everyone was settled. “Let us play a game.”

“What did you have in mind?” her mother asked.

“A word association game,” Violet said excitedly. “You know the one we used to play as children. Teams of two. The most connections made in thirty seconds wins. And those watching will be the judge – if a connection made it too outlandish, it shall be called and the round ends. Understood?”

“What do we win?” Eveline asked.

“It is for fun,” Violet said. “There are no prizes.”

“Oh, that is boring.”

“We must pair off,” Violet announced, at which point her mother took her by the hand. “And it looks as if I have found my partner...” she added said sullenly.

Aurelia’s eyes widened in panic, and she turned to her left, expecting Rosalind to be there. Alas, Eveline had swept in and stolen her. To her right next, settled on Diana for she was better than nothing. But Daniel and she were together! Oh no...

Panic began to rise. Aurelia looked about the room desperately as the teams were formed. Lord and Lady Hargrave together. Iris nowhere to be seen – likely in the washroom. And that meant...

“It looks like you and I are paired.” The duke spoke from over her shoulder, a touch of amusement to his voice.

She swallowed and turned around, pretending to look nonplused. “Lucky me.”

“Do not sound so happy about it,” he laughed.

“Oh, I am,” she said, her stomach fluttering as if a swarm of butterflies had been released. “I just did not take you as one who played games.”

He shrugged. “I am full of mystery, it seems.”

“And you understand the rules?”

“I am a fast learner.”

“And rather arrogant to boot,” she said before she could help herself.

The duke’s smile widened. “You know me so well. A boon for this game, as we are sure to win.” And then he winked, which had her blushing all the harder.

The way the game was played was simple. The team whose turn it was sat in the middle of the room by the fire as the others stood in a circle about them. A clock on the wall was used as a timer, and the game began when one of the coupled pairs said their first word.

The first team was Violet and Aurelia’s mother. They sat themselves down and the circle formed around them. The duke stood by his sister and Aurelia made sure she was across the other side, away from him. A problem, she realized immediately, as that put her directly across from him, and he watched her with a curious smile that suggested he knew what she was doing.

But what am I even doing? Is it not a better idea to act aloof, as if I do not care? The way I am acting I may as well scream at him what is on my mind.

“Flower,” Violet began simply.

“Garden,” her mother said back quickly.

“Manor.”

“Marriage,” her mother said with a smirk,

Violet’s face dropped and she fixed their mother with a glare. Nothing said, all eyes on them. Their mother raised an eyebrow, Violet’s expression hardened.

“Violet...” Lady Hargrave prompted. “It is your turn.”

“Misery,” Violet said just as the clock ticked over thirty-seconds.

“Four connections,” Diana announced.

“It was five!” Eveline cried.

“Misery?” Diana looked at her. “I think we can all agree that is not a proper connection.”

Violet was glaring at their mother as the two rose, replaced next by Diana and Daniel.

“Horse,” Daniel said in a tone that suggested he was bored.

“Rider,” Diana shot back.

“Destination,” Daniel said.

“Gala.”

“Dancing.”

Diana opened her mouth to respond but seemed suddenly unable to speak. Her chin began to wobble. Tears started to well in her eyes. “Rom... rom.... romance...” she stammered eventually, just as the clock ticked over to thirty seconds, which saw her burst into tears.

“That’s five!” Eveline cried, oblivious to the poor woman’s sadness.

Diana sniffed and apologized, hurrying from the circle. Daniel sighed and walked out also, still appearing bored and disinterested.

“Aurelia, your turn,” Violet pressed her.

“Wh -- what?” Aurelia stuttered.

“Who is your partner?” Violet asked.

“Oh...” She blinked and looked about awkwardly, as if to say who it was would give her away. “I... I am with... my partner is...”

“It is I,” the duke stepped into the circle. “Although I do hope my partner’s tongue will become untied before we begin.” He raised an eyebrow at Aurelia, which had the small group chuckling.

As was so often the way with Aurelia, the best means to get her to do anything was to anger her. The duke watched her with a smug smirk as he sat down, and she narrowed her eyes as she sat across from him. They said nothing at first, holding one another in their stares as if daring them to begin.

Silence fell upon them. The crackle of the fire was all that could be heard. There were half a dozen people in that room, but Aurelia found her attention fixed completely on the duke. She looked right at him, he looked right at her, and the tension of the moment built.

“King,” the duke said finally.

“Queen,” she shot back immediately.

“Duke,” he responded with a coy smile.

“Power,” she said without thinking.

“Control.”

“Submission.”

“Defiance.” He flashed his eyes at her suggestively.

“Bravery.” She flashed her eyes right back.

“Arrogance.”

“Independence.”

He chuckled, still staring right at her. They did not blink. They did not look away. “Marriage.”

“Expectation.”

“Desire.”

Her heart began to beat. “Longing.”

“Craving,” he said instantly, licking his lips.

“Hunger.”

“Thirst.”

“Itch.”

“Tingle --”

“Time! Time!” Violet was saying loudly, and by the looks of it she had been saying it for some time now.

Aurelia snapped herself out of the moment. Her heart was racing. Her body was flushed bright red. She was so entranced and locked into the game that she had completely forgotten where she was.

Awkwardly, she looked about the circle, grimacing to see all eyes on her, most with a curious expression as if they weren’t sure what they had just seen. Her mother, especially, rubbing her chin as she looked between Aurelia and the duke.

“That was...” Violet cleared her throat. “Rather impressive.”

“Seventeen connections!” Eveline cried. “That has to be a new record!”

“Well look at that,” the duke said, smiling as he continued to look at Aurelia. “I told you I was a fast learner.”

Aurelia said nothing. She could hardly bring herself to even look at him! Or anyone for that matter. She mumbled something which might have been a ‘well done,’ as she rose quickly and scurried back to the circle. There, she stood at the back, away from the duke, away from Rosalind, and away from her mother. She was mortified. Embarrassed beyond belief. And worse than that, only too aware of what had just happened and what it meant.

She and the duke. More than adversaries. More than merely partners in a cause. There was a connection there, one that she felt like nothing she ever had before. She glanced up, unsurprised to find the duke watching her, which had her looking away, but smiling because of what she knew it meant.

That only raised more questions, of course, ones with no clear answers. But ones that she sensed would become readily apparent tomorrow evening when they had their first lesson. A lesson which as things currently stood, she was looking forward to. So very much...