Page 9 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke (Claimed by Regency Devils #2)

Chapter Nine

F or the second time in less than a week, Aurelia found herself sneaking onto the Sutherford Estate. The only difference from the last time was that tonight, she was expected.

The letter had come for her earlier today, delivered privately so that her mother and sister and brother did not see. She had known right away who the letter was from, now that she could have guessed its contents.

Tonight, my study, the same time as the last.

It was all that the letter had read. No signature. No indication as to why she was needed on such short notice, or at such a suggestive hour. Just that she was to be there. And Aurelia, where she would have loved to have denied the duke, just to prove that she could, she also wasn’t that foolish.

So it was that she hurried across the estate, using the cover of night to conceal her, making for the same side entrance that she had the last time. No idea what the duke might want, knowing it couldn’t possibly be good, both nervous and excited because of it.

Maybe he has found for me a suitor? Was that not what he told me he would do? But then why the subterfuge? Why the secrecy? And why do I need to see him alone...

Still, that kiss they had shared lingered on Aurelia’s lips and in her mind. She had been thinking about it non-stop these last few days, not wanting to – or rather, wanting to have hated that it had happened. But whenever it came to mind, she would feel her body flush and her thighs tingle. She would taste the duke on her lips and remember his hands around her body. She would bite her lip and wonder what might have happened had he not stopped... what she might have done.

It was easy to say that she wished to be done with the duke and his influence over her. It was harder to believe it.

Thus, as she reached his closed office door and prepared to knock, Aurelia made herself a promise. She needed to behave tonight. To control herself. And above all, she needed not to give the duke an excuse to rise to anger and do as he did the last time. No matter how much I want him to.

“Come in,” the duke called as soon as he knuckles brushed the wood of the door. “Quietly.”

She slipped inside to find the duke sitting behind his desk, waiting for her. She paused in the doorway as if a barrier stood in front of her, her breath catching as memories of the other night flooded her and her heart began to pound.

“Close the door behind you,” he said simply.

“Oh...” She shook her head and did as she was told. But she remained by the doorway, careful not to walk further inside.

A tense silence fell between them. Or perhaps it was only tense for Aurelia. Whenever she was with the duke, she felt as if she was being judged. He was always looking at her, studying her, seeing through her as if he didn’t believe who it was that stood before him. Pressed against the door as she was, she felt her heart beating and sweat beading through her pores. It was as if he was waiting for her to break. As if he knows what he is doing to me...

“Thank you for coming,” he said finally. “I was not certain that you would.”

“Did I have a choice?” she shot back sharply, only to catch her tongue and grimace. Do not rise to his bait.

“No, you didn’t,” he agreed with a smirk. “But that does not mean your acquiescence was a sure thing. We all know how much you enjoy pushing the limits of what you can and cannot get away with.”

“I just want this to be over,” she said carefully. “Thus, I figured the sooner I come see you and find out whatever it is that you need to tell me – that could not wait for a more appropriate hour, the sooner I can leave.”

“An appropriate hour?” He frowned and tilted his head. “And here I was assuming that an hour this late would suit you perfectly. At least in my experience, it always has.”

She looked at him flatly. “Why did you ask to see me? Or rather, why did you command that I come and see you?”

The duke nodded and then went to stand, only to hesitate and reconsider. She could see him working through something, his face scrunched tight as he fought with himself over... she had no idea. But whatever it was, a decision was made, and he stayed seated.

“I have been thinking a lot about you lately – concerning the debt you owe me,” he hurried to explain, his composure dropping for a split second. “Circumstances beyond your control have brought us together, and despite what you might think, I have no desire to laude this debt you owe me over your head. I want you to be free of it.”

She scoffed. “If that is the case, release the debt. It is that simple.”

“Is that what you think?”

“You are the one who my family owes money to, yes? So, it seems to me that it is as simple as I just said. You want to help me? Let us go.”

He shook his head and where she might have imagined it, he almost looked regretful. “I am afraid it is not that easy, Lady Hawkins. If it was, then I simply would do.”

“But why --”

“It is not your concern,” he said sharply. Her eyes widened at the change of tone, he glared at her with warning, and then his expression softened again. “As I was saying, I want to help you. And I intend to. Assuming, of course, that you wish to be helped.” He chuckled. “If such a thing is even possible.”

Aurelia studied him closely for a moment. She was long past the point of believing everything that he said, as a part of her had always suspected he enjoyed the fact that she owed him this debt. That he liked using it against her. And she still believed it so. However, his change in tone just now indicated that it wasn’t so simple. Was it possible that this debt went beyond his control? That he was trapped, just as she was?

“I want your help so long as it is help.” Carefully, she pushed herself off the door and walked into the room. But only a few feet, still careful not to get too close. “That you are not using me.”

“Using you for what?”

“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “Whatever it is you loan sharks do, I have no idea. Further to that point, it might be easier to accept your help if you were not so condescending every time you spoke to me.”

He chuckled. “But you make it so easy.”

“There!” she snapped. “Right there.”

He held up a hand to silence her. “Point taken.” His brow furrowed and he came to a decision, finally standing, at which point he walked around his desk. But he did not approach her, choosing instead to sit on the edge of his desk and fold his arms across his chest. “From this point on, I will endeavor to be more... accommodating, where your feelings are concerned.”

She scoffed. “I suppose that is a start.”

“With that in mind, we come to the topic of how I may help you. I want your debt paid, which means that I want you to find a suitor willing to pay it. But for this to happen, you must be...” He chuckled and shook his head. “Do not take this as an insult, Lady Hawkins, for it is not meant as such. But to find a worthy suitor, you are going to need to make some changes.”

“Changes?” she scowled defensively. “Changes how? What is your meaning?”

“Well, right there is a good start,” he said simply. “You temper. Your tone. Your general sense of hostility which follows you like a bad smell. To find a suitor you will need to behave like a lady who any suitor would be thrilled to court. And as sad as it is to say – again, this is not an insult. But as things stand, you are far from the ideal candidate for such a thing.”

Aurelia scrunched her brow and scowled harder. How dare he!

She wished to snap at him. To show him exactly what it meant to be angry, seeing as that was how he saw her anyway. And she might have, was she not careful to stay calm so as not to provoke him as she had the other night. That was what mattered the most.

Also, even Aurelia had to admit that at times she could be a tad... rough about the edges. She had a tendency to speak without thinking. She hated being talked down to. And having grown up in a household of six siblings also, two of whom were the apple of her mother’s eye, it stood to reason that she found it difficult not to speak her mind. If for no other reason than a need to be heard for a damn change! And that is not even to mention my mother and the enjoyment she seems to take from fat shaming me.

All of this was fine when she had no desires to ever marry a man. But now that she did, even she had to admit that it made things rather difficult.

“What do you have in mind?” she asked simply.

The duke smiled, clearly happy to see her not rising to anger. He pushed himself off the table and walked toward her, only to stop suddenly, leaving half the room between them in a way that felt purposeful. “We do not have time for a complete make-over, nor do I think such a thing is necessary. We are not trying to change you, merely...” He considered with a click of his tongue. “Merely mask some of your more verbose tendencies.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that I am going to instruct you,” he said, letting the statement sit between them for a second. “Privately.”

Aurelia didn’t know if she should be insulted or grateful. “Instruct me? What does that even mean? I am not a pet dog.”

“I never said that you were,” he assured her. “And again, I am not trying to cause offense --”

“Perhaps you should consider not being so offensive then,” she snapped, again catching her tongue a second too late.

The duke stopped talking and looked at her. There was a warning in those eyes, a silent reprimand which she sensed he wanted to vocalize but was working hard to keep at bay. Again, the dynamic of tonight was different to the last time, a noticeable effort from the duke not to let her get to him.

I should take this as a good thing. At least it means he likely realizes that the last time he went too far. Only... would it be so bad if he went that far again?

“Think of them as lessons,” he continued once he was sure she would not interrupt. “Nothing too taxing, I assure you. Simply a means to refine some of your more...” He chuckled and shook his head. “Your more peculiar habits.”

“Such as?”

He tilted his head as he looked at her. “I am wondering now, growing up, did your family have a governess? Someone to instruct you.”

Aurelia grimaced with embarrassment. “We did not. It was...” Her cheeks flushed. “It was not an option.”

“Why is that?”

“Why do you think,” she snapped again, this time not caring.

For once, the duke was not put out by her anger. He nodded understandingly, his tone softening. “I take it you could not afford one.”

She did not answer, looking away with shame.

“It is nothing to be ashamed of, Lady Hawkins.” He took a step toward her, she caught her breath, he stopped. “Nor is a governess entirely necessary. But it does explain a few things.”

She snorted. “I am aware.”

“Your sister, especially,” he joked. “I see now where she gets it from.”

Aurelia laughed before she could help herself. “Eveline is... well, she makes me seem tame, doesn’t she.”

“Perhaps when I am done with you, I might provide her with lessons also. Although by the time I am done with you, I dare say you might be able to instruct her.”

She rolled her eyes. “You might as well teach a cat how to fly.”

“Anything is possible.”

“She is not as bad as she seems,” Aurelia said softly, feeling guilty now for making fun. “And she does try her hardest – she wants to do what is best for us. She has a kind heart.”

“Something she also gets from you, no doubt.” He sounded as if he meant it. And when she looked at him, she could see in his eyes that he did. “It has not escaped my attention, the reason you are doing this.”

“I told you why.”

“No...” He shook his head as he took another step closer, still leaving several feet between them. A gap he looked careful not to close. One I wish he would... “Not because of your family’s debts, but because you do not wish for you sister to be burdened with finding a husband who might cover them. A man willing to marry someone as young as that, with such high debts...” He curled his lip in disgust. “It is not a man worth marrying, by my estimation.”

“I...” She didn’t know what to say, feeling embarrassed by the revelation. “I do not mind. I am happy to.”

“I know you are,” he said.

Another silence fell between them, this one nowhere near as tense as before. Rather, there was an understanding that seemed to hover between them now, as if the duke was seeing her properly for the first time. What was more, she was seeing him.

All this time, she had simply assumed him to be a liar. Or perhaps a sneak who wore a fake mask to hide a darker side which he was terrified to see revealed to the ton. But that wasn’t him at all. She met his eyes and she could see the concern he held for her situation, and how impressed he was at what she was doing. He cared, she realized in that moment. He cared more than anyone ever had for her or her family.

They continued to stare at one another. The room shrunk around them. The silence grew. The space between them was several feet but it felt like mere inches. It wasn’t as charged as the last time they were alone. She didn’t expect him to grab her and pull her into a kiss. But she wanted him to come to her. She wanted to feel his protective hands on her...

“I think that is enough for tonight,” he said finally, breaking the silence.

“Oh...” she balked in surprise, letting her disappointment show.

He frowned and tilted his head, a smirk behind his eyes. “Do not tell me you are enjoying my company all of a sudden, Lady Hawkins?”

“What? No. Of course not!”

He laughed and walked around the desk. “Good. I would hate to imagine such a thing might be possible.” He stayed standing, looking at her once more. “Now, unless there is something else?”

There wasn’t. And Aurelia knew now was the time to leave. Yet there was an energy between them, a pull she could feel holding her in place. Gone was her hatred of this man. Gone was her feigned disgust. And with that came a new sensation, one she had been hiding from despite its ever present desires.

“Y -- yes,” she stammered, snapping herself out of the moment and forcing a step back. “Yes, I think... our lesson? When will it be?”

“I will let you know,” he said. “But something tells me I will be seeing you soon.”

“I hope not,” she said, although she could not hide her smile.

He laughed. “Good night, Lady Hawkins.”

She nodded, still smiling, cheeks flushing, and turned and hurried from the room. Unlike the last time she left, her mind was nowhere near as frazzled and confused as it had been. In fact, it was as clear and focused as it had ever been. Not that this made things less confusing. If anything, it only complicated the matter.

It would be easier if I was to never see him again. Only now, I don’t want such a thing. Not even a little bit.