Page 14 of A Duke for Hire (The Devil’s Masquerade #1)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“ I have to go,” Hugo said, walking away from Seraphina. “There is much I have missed since I have left Merrivale.”

Seraphina felt a chill pass through her. She had anticipated her wedding feeling a bit odd but the day had been more awkward than she could have ever imagined. Even though Hugo had paid for her dress and many other fine things, he’d barely looked at her during the small ceremony. Then in the carriage ride to Merrivale, he had only responded with barely more than one word answers when she was asking of her duties as the new duchess. He did not look at her with annoyance, and his voice was not harsh. But the distance was palpable.

“Already?” She asked, following him a few steps.

“You have not eaten yet,” she then said, venturing toward any excuse. “Perhaps we could have lunch together first?”

Hugo paused on the steps and gave her a small smile.

“You are kind, Seraphina, but I really must attend to the matters at hand,” he replied, then swept an arm toward the estate staff, still lined up on both sides of the foyer.

“If you are hungry, however, they will assist you. Mrs. Purdy?”

A petite woman who appeared to be in her forties stepped out of the lineup, wearing a dress just slightly different from the other maids’, and curtseyed toward them both.

“Your Grace?” She asked.

“Have the kitchen prepare the duchess something to eat, would you? Then perhaps you could assist her with acclimating to her new rooms, I am sure there is a lot for her to learn.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” Mrs. Purdy answered, then turned to Seraphina with a stiff smile.

Hugo then nodded to them both, and without another word, disappeared toward the study. Disappointment swept through Seraphina as she was left standing beside the housekeeper. Suddenly she felt more alone than ever, and regretted not extending an immediate invitation to her friends to join her.

“Well,” she said, forcing out a small chuckle, “I had suspected this day to go a bit differently.”

Mrs. Purdy’s tight-lipped smile remained on her face as she shrugged.

“Our Lord is a most busy one,” she replied simply. “Now, let us focus on lunch. Would you like your meal in the dining room? Or in your new Duchess quarters?”

The front doors burst open before Seraphina could answer, startling her.

“Ah, Mrs. Purdy!” A masked man boomed, striding confidently toward them.

“Your Grace, what are you doing here?” Mrs. Purdy asked the question in the same stern manner as she spoke to Seraphina, but her cheeks blushed wildly.

“Came to see Hugo,” he quipped.

Your Grace? Seraphina thought, taking in the man’s rather odd appearance. A mask in the middle of the day?. And apparently another Duke! She really was moving in higher circles now- even if they were rather curious.

“And you,” the man continued, stopping right before Seraphina to bow, “You must be the new Duchess.”

Although still apprehensive, Seraphina accepted the hand he offered her, and he dipped down to place a chaste kiss across her knuckles.

“Seraphina Kin- Fenwick,” she corrected quickly, still getting used to her new name, “Duchess of Merrivale.”

“Duncan Banfield, Duke of Baxter,” the masked man replied.

Though the mask covered half of his face, she still made out a handsome smile and sparkle in his deep blue eyes.

“I hope I am not interrupting anything too romantic,” he went on, “But Fenwick and I have some business to discuss.”

Seraphina felt a swell of disappointment.

“No, you are not interrupting anything,” she replied. “Though His Grace is very busy, he may not have time to see you.”

Duncan seemed to study her a moment, a look of compassion in his eyes.

“You should not take it personally,” he advised. “My wife was not used to being married to man with such responsibility either at first, but now she is quite supportive. In fact, she is the reason why I am able to do many things now.”

Seraphina smiled, immediately liking him.

“She sounds like an amazing woman. I should like to meet her sometime,” she replied. “Perhaps she can give me some much needed insight.”

“And so you shall,” Duncan replied quickly, letting her go. “In the meantime, why don’t you and I have some lunch? Seeing as I know that Hugo won’t tell me the story, I would love to know how the two of you came to be wed.”

Seraphina immediately like the idea but she still asked, “What about your meeting with my husband?”

“He does not even know I have arrived yet,” Duncan chuckled. “Either way, I shall just barge in and demand his attention. Sometimes you have to do that with men like us.”

He then winked at Seraphina as he smiled, and she could not help but laugh.

“Mrs. Purdy,” Duncan stated, turning to the housekeeper. “I shall show the new Duchess to the dining room. Would you fetch us some lunch, please?”

Mrs. Purdy looked displeased by this new twist, but she forced on a smile and bowed her head to the Duke before taking off.

“I do not think she likes me very much,” Seraphina whispered to Duncan as he led her to the expansive dining room.

“Pay her discontent no mind, my lady,” Duncan told her, pulling a chair out for her. “Things in this estate have never been…easy.”

“Tell me what you know about it?” Seraphina asked, her curiosity piqued. She had tried, in vain, to get Hugo to tell her of the place during their carriage ride, but all she could get out of him was talk of trade.

Duncan frowned as he took a seat beside her, clasping his hands together atop the table.

“Not to keep you in mystery, but it is not my story to tell,” he replied. “Though I will say that Hugo and I and have some things in common with the Dastardly Dukes.”

Seraphina laughed.

“The what?”

“It is what we call ourselves,” Duncan chuckled, “My three other friends and myself. More like brothers, really. You’ll meet them all and their wives, I’m sure. Lovely ladies such as yourself who were able to tame us foul beasts.”

“And my husband,” Seraphina ventured, “Is he also one of these… ‘foul beasts’?”

“Society certainly thinks so,” Duncan said with a shrug as serving platters of food arrived, “But seeing as you are here, it would seem you do not.”

“No,” she agreed quickly, “I do not. But his temper sometimes unnerves me.”

The one brow not hidden by Duncan’s mask rose.

“And has he taken this temper out on you?”

“No,” she replied vehemently. “I mean, we have had our bouts, but he is different with me.”

Duncan’s tense posture relaxed, and he picked up his fork.

“Bouts are common in the beginning of marriage. Lord knows Alice and I had ours. Still do from time to time. But our happiness far outweighs any row we’ve had. As for his temper with others, I believe that you will find he has good reason for it.”

As they ate and talked, Seraphina found herself growing more comfortable. Duncan told her much. About how he had met Hugo, and even some stories from his youth, which had her smiling and giggling. She enjoyed picturing a young Hugo in a boxing ring, sparring and jesting with Duncan and the slightly older “Dastardly Dukes.” When she asked if they were friends, though, Duncan paused.

“It is not that were are not friends,” he explained, seeming to choose his words carefully. “However we are bonded through something that takes people beyond friendship.”

Seraphina felt a wave of discomfort move through her.

“Why do I sense that you speak of hardship?” She asked.

Duncan cleared his throat, then put his cutlery down on his empty plate. She did the same with her own, and then reached for his hand.

“Please, Your Grace, I know there is much you want me to learn from my husband myself, but give me something. What is it that bonds you two? What made you so, as you say ‘dastardly’? What made my husband like he is? You don’t have to speak it all. Just one clue is all I ask.”

Duncan looked away from her as the servants came to clear their plates away and pulled his hand from hers. He then drew his hand together, and his right fingers began to rub at the gold band that was his wedding ring. When they were alone again, Duncan reached up, and carefully removed his mask.

Seraphina fought the urge to gasp as she saw the scars riddled across his face. There were not like Hugo’s, not slashes and streaks of violence, but burns that had marred and melted his flesh.

“We both made sacrifices trying to please our fathers,” Duncan murmured, his piercing blue eyes holding hers in rapt attention.

“Your father did this to you?” Seraphina whispered. She was mortified at the thought.

“Not directly,” Duncan said, pulling his mask back on. “But my need to please him put me in danger.”

“And Hugo’s scars?” She asked.

“His father’s intent was far more direct,” Duncan muttered, getting up from the table.

“And I shall say no more about that, Lady Seraphina. The rest you will have learn from your husband.”

He then pulled out his pocket watch and read the time.

“Which, I really should go speak to, if I plan to make it home at the time I promised my wife.”

Seraphina rose with him, and together they walked back to the foyer. When they reached the stairs, Duncan turned to her with a bow, and kissed her knuckles once again.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” he said, smiling as he stated her new title. “I look forward to seeing you again.”

“As do I,” she replied, meaning it, “And please, next time do bring Alice. I would love to meet her.”

“Consider it a promise,” he replied.

Seraphina waited until Duncan had disappeared up the stairs before she called for Mrs. Purdy again and requested to be taken to her rooms. On their way there, she heard a loud bout of laughter come from a room on the second floor, no doubt from her husband’s office. Something within her eased, and she forced a smile of her own as Mrs. Purdy and her new lady’s maid, Clara, led her to the Duchess’ quarters.

“Your things are put away and your bathwater is ready. Are you sure I cannot stay and help you ready for bed, Your Grace?” Clara asked, hours later.

“Thank you, but no,” Seraphina replied politely, “But I do believe that my husband shall be finished with his work soon and will no doubt arrive to my chambers. Perhaps you could go down to the kitchen and retrieve some things for us? A nice bottle of red wine, perhaps. A bit of bread and some cheeses? I am sure the kitchen staff will know what His Grace prefers.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” Clara replied as a curtsey, “I shall bring them brought up momentarily.”

“Thank you, Clara,” Seraphina replied, clasping her hands tightly until the handmaid closed the door.

As soon as she was gone, Seraphina released her hands and exhaled; grateful to finally have a moment alone. Upon reaching the Duchess Quarters, Seraphina had been surprised to find the elegant rooms full of crates and trunks, and they had just now finally finished putting everything away.

“What are these?” She had asked Mrs. Purdy as she tried to find a path in the sitting room to the adjoining bedroom and bathing quarters.

“Your things from London, Your Grace,” the housekeeper had replied.

“I did not believe I had ordered these many things,” Seraphina muttered, looking around them all.

“Well, Your Grace, it is clear that they are for you,” Mrs. Purdy declared. “Now, if you will please excuse me, I have my work to get back to. Will you require another maid to help you unpack or will Clara suffice?”

Seraphina, though put off by Mrs. Purdy’s shortness, politely refused the extra help, and she and Clara had gone about opening the many crates. Slowly, they began to organize the rooms. Clara was put to work moving her new gowns and wardrobe to the large closet while Seraphina focused on the crates that were unmarked.

To her surprise, she had found they were her personal items from her mother’s house. Her collection of books, some of her latest embroidery pieces, and, to her greatest relief, the collection of palm-sized porcelain dolls Theo had gifted her on her twentieth birthday. Each tiny doll was a different color, representing Seraphina, Theo, Amelia, Rose, and Ophelia.

How did he get all this? Seraphina had wondered as she placed the dolls atop the hearth in her bedroom.

When she’d finished with her crates, Seraphina had then gone into the closet to help Clara, and was surprised at what she had found. Not only were there the clothes and accessories she’d ordered from London, but vastly more.

Capes, cloaks, jackets, furs, and gloves. Stockings, nightdresses, corsets, and day gowns. More jewelry, fans, and hair pieces than she’d ordered.

“Are you sure we did not receive someone else’s order by mistake?” Seraphina had asked Clara then.

“Quite sure, Your Grace,” Clara had replied. “They all had His Grace’s name on it, printed in bright letters.”

Seraphina was taken aback by the quantity of new things, and now as she was left alone to peruse through them, she contemplated what it all meant. Hugo had kindness within him. She’d seen for herself that instinctual urge to protect the night her mother had been ready to strike her again. And yet for all that kindness, he was so very distant.

Was he trying to buy her? Appease her? Were these things from the heart, or were they a way to keep her entertained and out of his way?

Her thoughts were interrupted when Clara returned with the wine and vittles. Realizing she could ask her husband such things when he would no doubt arrive soon, Seraphina went about choosing her nightgown. There were far too many to choose from, she thought, but she finally settled on one of the simpler ones. White linen, fitted but still very comfortable, with capped short sleeves, a slit up the one side, and a scooped bodice.

After a quick but thorough bath she pulled it on along the matching robe, went to the sitting room, and waited for her husband.

“I believe you have done enough for today, Robin, thank you,” Hugo stated after reading the late hour on the mantle’s clock.

A look of relief passed over the young steward’s assistant’s face, but the lad did not yet move.

“If you are still working then I shall still work as well, Your Grace,” Robin replied, then bowed his head as he added, “Respectfully, of course.”

A smile twitched at Hugo’s lips. He admired the young man’s stalwart attitude, but he was in no mood to be disobeyed. His steward, Patrick, who was supposed to be Robin’s overseer, had vastly disappointed him, and now there were many mistakes still left for him to correct.

“Go home, Robin,” Hugo ordered. “That is not a request. I shall meet you in the village tomorrow morning. I need to talk with my people, see what’s been happening while I’ve been away. I’m going to need you to be ready to go, not dragging on your feet from a late night.”

Robin bowed.

“Yes, Your Grace, my apologies, and welcome home.”

Hugo nodded and motioned for Robin to hurry off as he turned his eyes back to the livestock file before him. Before he could find his place again, though, he heard a thump across the study door just as it was about to close. Looking up, surprise overtook him as he saw Seraphina striding in, her face scrunched up in a most adorable, if not clearly displeased expression.

“I am working, Seraphina,” he stated, his tone cold despite the warming effect her nightgown had to his body.

It clung to the most wonderful of places, emphasized by the way belt of her robe wrapped around her waist.

“Do you ever stop?” She asked, balling her fists at her waist. “Even for our wedding night?”

He watched as her eyes roamed over him then, and he could have sworn he saw lust shimmer through her blue orbs as they landed on his half-unbuttoned shirt. Curious, he sat back, letting the fabric part further down to reveal his abdominal muscles, and watched with pleasure as a blush bloomed on her cheeks. Yes, she was definitely admiring him.

“Was there something else you wanted on your wedding night?” He mused.

Seraphina’s blush grew darker, and her eyes shot from his chest up to his.

“I thought you would at least come and find me,” she replied. “See how I was doing, if I had settled in. When you didn’t, I decided that I would come to find you.”

Hugo’s smirk twitched into a side smile, and he waved his pen toward her.

“Is that why you have gotten so pretty for me?” He asked.

When she only blushed he added, “I very much like your nightgown. It fits you quite perfectly.”

“No,” she finally responded, after seeming to pull her thoughts together, “I wore it because I wanted to ask you about it. This isn’t one that I ordered. In fact there are quite a few things I did not order that came for me.”

“Yes, well, after I went over the invoices of your purchases I was concerned it was not enough,” he replied. “I sent a list of garments you may require to a Modiste here in Merrivale and had her compile the rest.”

“That was not necessary,” she replied, taking a step forward, “What I ordered was more than enough.” She then paused, blushing all over again, “Which, thank you, by the way. It was most kind of you to do that. As well as what you obtained from my mother’s house. I thought I was never going to see those things again.”

Hugo shifted uncomfortably in his seat, then picked up his pen again as he looked back to his paperwork.

“It was not kindness, it was practicality,” he responded. “Our winters come early here and so you needed some warmer things, and as the Duchess it is you that will be doing most of the receiving of any dignitaries and I cannot have you wearing anything that does not resemble the success of this land. Speaking of your duties, how did today go? Was Mrs. Purdy sufficient with her tour?”

He didn’t respond to what she’d said about her things from her mother’s house. It had been a complicated deal to close that resulted in him parting with a rather large sum of money. But she didn’t need to know that.

“I spent most of the time organizing my rooms,” Seraphina replied. “They are beautifully decorated. Were they your mother’s?”

Hugo tensed again, but didn’t look up.

“Yes.” He replied, his tone curt.

“Well I don’t wish to change a thing,” she said quietly. “She had remarkable taste.”

Growing more uncomfortable by the second, Hugo seethed out a breath and simply nodded.

“It took you all day to unpack your things?” He asked, his tone bitter.

“That,” she agreed, “And I had lunch with your friend.”

Hugo’s head shot up and he shot her a glare, but his eyes went wide with distrust as he saw close she had come. Now, she was standing so close he could reach out and touch her. A large part of him wanted to, but instead he tightened his grip on his pen.

“You spoke with Duncan?” He grit out.

“Is that a problem?” She asked, taking a step closer.

“That depends,” he answered slowly, raking his eyes down her body. He inhaled another steadying breath, and caught the heady scent of roses wafting from his bride.

“What did he tell you?”

Hugo’s entire body went still as Seraphina slowly took another step forward, and she boldly slid into his lap. Hunger burned through his veins as he felt her small weight shift over his groin, and he could not help but reach up and brace her waist.

“Nothing much,” she murmured softly, her eyes slowly traveling over his face, then down to his chest.

“He insisted that I learn about you through your own words.”

Relief lapped away one of the layers of tension that shrouded him, and he smoothed his hands up Seraphina’s robe. Her warmth, her curves; they felt amazing beneath his hands.

“He is a good man,” he conceded.

“I will have Mrs. Purdy begin her official tour and instruction tomorrow,” Seraphina promised.

She then reached up, cupping her palm against his neck. Lust shot through him at the small touch, and he pulled her closer.

“See that you do,” he murmured, tracing his fingertips over the hem of her bodice. “Now that you are here I am going to need your help. It has been a long time since my people have had a duchess. They will rely on you for much.”

“And you, husband?” She asked.

Hugo looked up with a smirk, growing distracted by the way their bodies seemed to fit so well together.

“What about me, wife?” He asked.

Seraphina leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his ear that made every muscle within him harden. He closed his eyes to the sensation, letting her lips wander.

“When do I get to learn about you? Get to know you?”

“I…” he began, letting his hand wander over the outline of her breast, “Am what some would call a complicated man.”

Seraphina giggled, leaning into his touch.

“Well that is a given.”

“Funny,” he chuckled.

Connections, like static, started to form between them as he felt his body relax into a slow-burning arousal. Hugo slipped his hand up to her throat, caressing his thumb over her pulse. Gently, he pulled her toward him.

“I am a demanding master,” he murmured, grazing his lips beneath her chin.

Seraphina let out a soft sigh and leaned into him closer.

“Mhmm,” she murmured.

“I can at times be impatient,” he went on, then let the tip of his tongue glide from her jaw to her chin.

Seraphina whimpered, her entire body melting into him now. He wasn’t even sure if she was listening anymore, but it didn’t matter. Hugo liked this little game they’d begun.

“And sometimes,” he whispered, bringing her lips down to his, “I forget that there are other things besides work that deserve my attention.”

He kissed her slowly, deeply; the seduction between them rising in its own natural wave. He wasn’t sure if it had lasted seconds or minutes, but when they released from another, his head spun in a most fascinating fashion.

“Well,” Seraphina whispered, placing soft kisses along his cheek, his temple, “Perhaps I could you remind you when other things need your attention.”

Hugo was about to chuckle and agree.

Then her lips grazed the scar slashed from his ear to the middle of his cheek. The soft touch slammed through him like a lightning bolt, causing panic to erupt in him. Hugo pushed her off of him, all his arousal lost in defensive rage, and he knocked his chair over as he scrambled backward.

“Don’t do that,” he snarled, feeling like a caged animal.

Seraphina should have stepped back, but instead she took one forward, her eyes searching for understanding.

And he could not stand it.

“Hugo, I-” Seraphina began to say, but he cut her off.

“Enough of this game,” he growled, taking a further step back. If there is something I want you to know then I will tell it to you. If there is something I want from you I will ask it from you. But until I do, keep your distance. Do you understand?”