Page 10 of A Tempting Maid for the Beastly Duke (Lustful Lords and Ladies)

It was still morning when Rose carefully stripped some willow bark from the small, well-tended garden behind her home. She worked with practiced efficiency, her movements swift and certain. However, despite the simplicity of the task, her mind was elsewhere, as she couldn’t get the events that took place in Montford Manor earlier that morning.

She still had the image of the duke lying in bed in pain. She had been trained by her aunt to recognize and use various natural remedies, and willow bark, known for its pain-relieving properties, was one of the most effective ones.

Despite the duke’s insistence that his pain would be a lifelong ailment he would simply need to learn to live with, she was determined to bring some willow bark back to his manner and prepare him a tea that was sure of alleviate some of the lingering discomfort he had.

She wanted to help him. She wanted to make him feel better. But that was not all. She couldn’t help but feel an entire amalgamation of emotions. There was, of course, concern for his well-being, but there was also curiosity about the man he was, and a strange, unbidden sense of connection. Shaking her head to clear her mind, she refocused on the task at hand. The duke needed her help, whether he was aware of that fact, and that was what mattered.

As she finished collecting the willow bark, she bundled it carefully in a cloth and tucked it into her basket. The next challenge was obvious: getting is past Mr. Hancock and explaining what it was for. The man was fiercely protective of the duke, and Rose could easily imagine Mr. Hancock suspecting her intentions, no matter how benign. She knew she would have to be careful in her approach.

“What are you doing, Rose?”

Rose turned around upon hearing her aunt’s voice. She smiled. “Just gathering some willow bark for the duke.”

“Speaking of the duke, how are things going at Montford Manor?” her aunt asked, glancing at Rose’s basket.

Rose hesitated for a moment, thinking again of the incident from the previous night and that morning as well. She decided it would be best to leave out the details of her unexpected encounter in the duke’s bed chamber. Instead, she provided a general overview of things.

“It is going well, Aunt Cora,” Rose assured her. “The manor, as you know, is quite grand and there is plenty of work there to keep me busy.”

Her aunt eyed her carefully, clearly sensing there was more to the story. “And how has the duke been treating you?” she inquired.

“Fine,” Rose said with a shrug. “I barely see him.”

That was partly true. Partly… not so much. Once again, her aunt knew that there was more than met the eye.

“Rose, I respect your decision to work for him, but I cannot help but be concerned for you,” her aunt explained her predicament.

Rose smiled reassuringly, trying to alleviate her aunt’s fears. “He has been nothing but kind to me, Aunt Cora. Yes, he is a very private man, but that makes everything easier. Mr. Hancock oversees most things, and he is very protective of the duke. Still, he is fair in his dealings, and I couldn’t ask for anything more than that.”

Her aunt finally smiled. “I am happy to hear that.”

“Happy to hear what?” Henry’s still sleepy voice echoed around them as he entered the room. He had just woken up, and his hair was still disheveled, in a state of complete disarray as he rubbed his eyes. He looked only half-awake as he sat down at the dining table opposite his sister and aunt.

“God morning, Henry,” Rose smiled. “Did you sleep well?”

Henry yawned and nodded. “What were you talking about?”

“I’ll get you some breakfast, my dear,” Aunt Cora immediately got up, serving him a plate, and Rose decided it was the right time to bring up the subject of him working at the manor. She knew it would be a difficult conversation.

“We were talking about my employment at Montford Manor,” Rose explained.

“I told you that wasn’t a good idea.” Henry shook his head as he buttered his toast.

“Well, that’s too bad,” Rose continued, “because I talked to the duke about the possibility of you working at the manor as well. I thought it might be a good opportunity for you.”

Henry’s expression changed instantly, and the knife in his hand lingered in the air, between the bread and the plate. Curiosity gave way to anger as he spoke. “You did what?” he snapped, pushing his plate away. “Why on earth would you do that, Rose? Why would I ever want to work for that horrible man?”

Rose held up her hands in a calming gesture. “Henry, please, listen to me. You don’t know that man. All you know is what you’ve heard of him. You shouldn’t judge people without knowing them.”

“Knowing him?” Henry’s voice was rising. “I know enough. That man threw stones at me and my friends! He is a monster. Everyone says so!”

Rose felt a pang of frustration. “Henry, you know what it is like to be judged unfairly,” she said gently, reminding him of a time when some of the other boys teased him as well. “You were teased and bullied because of things that weren’t your fault. Isn’t it unfair to do the same to the duke?”

Henry’s anger faltered for a moment as he considered her words. However, he wasn’t ready yet to let go of his resentment. “That’s entirely different, Rose. He’s an adult, and he chooses to be cruel.”

Rose sighed, reaching across the table to take his hand. “People change, Henry. And sometimes, people are different from what they seem. As I was telling Aunt Cora, the duke has been nothing but kind to me.”

“Well, I’ve had a different experience,” Henry pouted. She could see that there was no convincing him.

“Can you tell me exactly what happened that day?” she asked. “What did the man look like? The man who threw the rock. Because maybe it wasn’t the duke.”

Henry shifted uncomfortably in his seat, avoiding her gaze. “I… I didn’t get a close look,” he admitted reluctantly. “It was dark, and we were running away. But everyone said it was the duke.”

“Sometimes, people are quick to blame those they don’t understand, or those who are different,” she reminded him. “Are you sure it wasn’t all a misunderstanding?”

Henry shrugged, clearly conflicted. “I don’t know, Rose. Maybe. But I still don’t want to go and work for him. I just don’t trust him.”

Rose looked at him with sympathy, understanding his reluctance but aware of the fact that as the older sister, she needed to gently steer him toward practicality. “Henry, I understand how you feel. I truly do. But we need the money. It is wonderful that you are helping Aunt Cora and picking up odd jobs here and there, but we also need to think about your future.”

Henry frowned, his shoulders slumping. “I know, Rose. But I just don’t like the idea of working for that particular man.”

Rose nodded; her tone soft yet firm. “I get that. But we need to be realistic, Henry. You need to try and become apprenticed somewhere. Until then, working at the manor would be of huge benefit to our family. It could provide some stability and experience that might open up more opportunities for you at a later point in your life.”

Henry sighed deeply, his resistance waning in the face of Rose’s gentle persistence. “I guess you are right. It’s just… difficult.”

She smiled. “I know it is. But I believe you can do this. Trust me, it isn’t as bad as you think. The duke is nothing like the stories portray him to be.”

After a moment of contemplation, he nodded reluctantly. “All right, Rose. I shall give it a try. But only because we need the money and because you asked. Not because of him.”

Rose beamed at him, relief washing over her. “Thank you, Henry. I promise if it turns out to be difficult for you, we shall find another way. But I appreciate you giving it a chance.”

Henry managed a small smile, though his uncertainty was still evident. “When do we start?”

“Tomorrow,” Rose informed him, thinking about the willow bark she had wrapped for the duke.

The rest of the day passed by uneventfully, and Rose found herself eagerly anticipating the day of her return to the manor. As Rose and Henry made their way to the manor in the duke’s carriage, the morning air was crisp and filled with the scent of blossoming flowers.

The path ahead seemed almost serene, a stark contrast to the swirling thoughts inside Rose’s mind. Just as they reached the edge of the village, a well-dressed stranger approached and waved in an effort to stop the carriage, looking slightly disoriented. They immediately patted on the ceiling to let the coachman know and the carriage came to a slow halt, allowing them to exit and approach the man.

“Excuse me,” the stranger called out politely but urgently. “Do you know the way to the estate of the Duke of Montford?”

Rose hesitated, but she nodded. “Yes, we do. It is just up that hill over there.” She pointed him in the right direction.

He glanced at her, then at Henry. “Are you perchance headed in that direction?”

Rose smiled. “We are actually heading there.”

“Splendid!” the man exclaimed joyfully. Then he proceeded to introduce himself without even being asked to do so. “You see, I am an old friend of the good duke. My name is Mr. Stephen Trent.” He extended his hand in greeting, and Rose could see the sincerity in his eyes.

She proceeded to introduce herself, then her brother, explaining that they were employed at the manor house. As they continued their journey together, Rose couldn’t help but wonder what Mr. Trent wanted with the duke. He rarely had any visitors, and this sudden arrival piqued her interest.

“Is the duke expecting you?” she tried to inquire as politely as she could, although she could suspect what the answer would be.

“Well, no, not really,” Mr. Trent smiled nervously. “You see, we served together during the war,” he told them as they neared the manor house. “I have been traveling abroad and only recently returned to England. I thought it was high time to pay him a friendly visit.”

Rose’s curiosity only grew with each passing moment. She had heard a little about the duke’s past, and the arrival of an old friend seemed significant. “He’ll be surprised to see you, I’m sure. The duke doesn’t get many visitors.”

Mr. Trent nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, I imagine he keeps to himself these days. But I hope our old camaraderie will bring some light into his life.”

As they continued up the path, the imposing silhouette of the duke’s manor house came into full view. Rose could feel a sense of anticipation building inside of her. What would the duke think of this unexpected visit? Would it bring joy or unease to his otherwise secluded life?