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“ C areful with your step there, Duchess.”

Violet glanced back at the Duke, who seemed to be watching her every step as she made her way up the estate’s staircase. The wedding gown was heavy, and it was not lost on him that she was having some trouble carrying it.

It was hardly the gown of her dreams, but she was lucky to even have one, considering how short notice everything had been.

“Need a helping hand?” The Duke was by her side in a flash. Violet shook her head, adamant to do this on her own. He did not offer again, and the new couple continued to walk up the stairs together—but never once interacting.

Violet wondered if this was foreshadowing of what their marriage was to look like. She swallowed a big gulp. The ceremony was over, the vows exchanged, and she was now Duchess of Bernight.

“Welcome to your new home, Your Grace,” one of the maids greeted politely.

Home. Violet plastered on a smile, but it did not reach her eyes. It would be a stretch to call it home. While the estate itself was grand and beautiful, it felt as cold as the man she had just married. She felt small and out of place, like an intruder in a world she didn’t belong to.

The Duke stopped at the foot of the grand staircase, turning to face her. “Mrs. Smith, the housekeeper, will show you to your chambers. If you need anything, she will arrange it.”

Violet nodded again, her voice caught in her throat. She watched as he turned to leave, his long strides taking him toward what she assumed was his study. But before he disappeared from sight, she found her voice.

“Wait.”

The Duke paused, glancing back at her with a raised brow. “Yes?”

Violet took a deep breath, summoning all the courage she could muster. “I… I think we need to talk once. In private.”

The Duke shot her a curious look which quickly melted into amusement. “Private?”

Violet gestured towards his study. While she detested the idea of being alone in a room with him, it was not wise to have private conversations in front the staff.

“There is no need to go into the study,” he stated in a matter of fact tone.

His gaze swept the room, taking in the presence of a few staff members lingering at the edges, then, in a tone that brooked no argument, he said, “Leave us.”

The room stilled for a moment as the staff exchanged uncertain glances, but within moments, the scene changed entirely. Chairs were pushed back, people started to scramble, and within moments, the room was empty, save for the two of them.

The Duke turned back to Violet. “Satisfied?

She swallowed hard, unnerved by the way his presence seemed to fill the room now that they were alone. “You did not have to make everyone leave like this, Your Grace. The two of us could have simply gone into your study.”

The Duke shrugged, unbothered. “I find this more expedient. Though I have to say, Duchess. I expected you to wait at least a little bit before getting me alone like this,” he said in a bored voice, but his eyes were watching her intently.

She suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. “I think we should set some rules.”

His brow lifted. “Rules?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice firmer now. She wouldn’t let herself be swayed by the reaction that she was having to him—though she was all too aware of the way he towered over her and how domineering he had been in his swift dismissal of the staff.

As if he was making it clear that he was the one in charge here. She hated to admit it, but a part of her found that rather inviting.

“I am waiting for you to explain yourself, Duchess,” he said, suddenly breaking her out of her thoughts.

“Oh,” she flushed, steadying herself. “I just believe that it is best if we discuss things. This arrangement may be unconventional, but we should at least have boundaries. For both our sakes.”

Though, at this moment with how much he seemed to be impacting her, it seemed to be for her sake alone.

The Duke turned fully toward her, folding his arms across his chest. “Fair enough, Duchess. Pray tell, what might these rules be?”

Violet’s pulse quickened under his steady gaze, but she pressed on. “First, you are never to enter my room. Second, you are not to approach me without warning. And third…” She hesitated, her cheeks burning as she forced herself to meet his eyes. “Never touch me.”

For a moment, there was silence, and then the Duke’s lips twitched into a smirk. “Never touch you? My, my. That’s quite a bold demand, Your Grace.”

“I mean it,” Violet said, her tone sharper than she intended. She wondered if anyone else had ever said that to him before—her mind spiraling back to the rumours about it. If she was to be the first, then so be it “This marriage is only on paper, and I expect it to remain that way.”

A playful smile played on his lips, and he took a slow step toward her. “And what brought this sudden need for boundaries?”

Violet thought about her reasoning and realized that it mostly came out of fear. She did not know what to expect from this marriage, so it was wise to set these boundaries so that there would be no unwanted surprises.

She then took an instinctive step back, her cheeks flaming. He intimidated her. She hated it.

“I just think it’s better for both of us. You have a reputation, Your Grace, and I?—”

“Ah, my reputation,” the Duke interrupted, unimpressed. “It always comes back to that, does it not? Tell me. What is it now? I’m sure it’s nothing that I have not heard before. I’m a rake? A scoundrel, perhaps.”

“Among other things,” Violet muttered.

The Duke took another step closer, his smirk turning into a full-blown grin. Why was he amused by this? “Go on, Violet. No need to hold back now that I am your husband. What else have you heard?”

She hesitated, her mind racing with the absurd rumor Isadora had mentioned. It was foolish to even entertain it, but her nerves got the better of her. “I… well…”

“What is it?” He stepped even closer. He seemed to be enjoying making her all flustered. “Lost for words are you?”

“No… it’s…” If you weren’t standing so close, perhaps I could get a word in. “I… I have heard that…”

“Ease into it, darling.” He smirked, not moving an inch. “You can do it. I believe in you.”

If Violet wasn’t already so red from blushing, she certainly would have been from anger. What an infuriating man. He wanted to push her to the limit—worse, he seemed to be deriving some sort of joy from it.

“You’re a…” She stumbled again, but when she saw him grin wider, something snapped inside of her finally. “… a vampire .”

The Duke froze for a moment then slowly backed away. Then, threw his head back and burst into a cackle. His deep voice reverberated down the hall.

“I beg your pardon. I am a vampire?” he said through his laughter. “Really, is that what they’re saying about me these days?”

Violet felt a bit embarrassed at having uttered such a thing out loud. He’s going to assume I’m a silly little girl . So, she decided to do the best thing she could—stand her ground.

“Yes. I mean, it is true that you’re not seen in sunlight much. And that… you enjoy liaising with young girls. I see their point. You feed on young women to maintain your youth and charm.”

The Duke’s laughter subsided, but the grin remained as he took another step toward her.

“Well, I cannot fault their creativity. Now that I think about it, I am mostly seen at social events at night. And I know that people love to talk about.” He shook his head.

“But none of that concerns me. What I wish to know here, dear wife, is if you believe in these rumors?”

“I… I don’t know. But you do have a certain… reputation.”

The Duke’s expression turned serious all of a sudden.

He closed the remaining distance between them with slow, deliberate steps, forcing Violet to retreat until her back hit the cold study wall.

She gasped softly, her hands pressing against the wall behind her as he leaned in, his face mere inches from hers.

“Tell me honestly. Are you afraid of me, Violet?” he asked, his voice low and smooth. “Do you think I’ll bite?”

His gait matched that of a predator, and she felt like his prey.

“I… um…” Violet’s cheeks burned, and she pressed herself further against the wall. “I… suppose not. That would be… ridiculous.”

“Would it?” the Duke murmured, his gaze dropping briefly to her neck.

Strangely, the response that it elicited from her was not fear.

It was something else entirely—unchartered territory.

She had never felt feelings like this before.

“Perhaps you should be cautious, then. I am sure that you are of the opinion that women should avoid men like me.”

“Women?” The word spilled out of her before she could stop herself. He smirked in response.

“I suppose just you now.”

“Yes,” Violet said quickly, trying to save face. She did not want to see him have a reaction like this. “They should avoid falling for your charms.”

The Duke finally leaned back slightly, giving her just enough space to breathe. “What I hear is that you find me charming. How nice of you to say that. I didn’t know you thought so highly of me.”

Violet’s mouth opened and closed. She clenched her fists at her sides, her embarrassment quickly morphing into irritation. “I think you’re insufferable,” she snapped. “And I would never fall for someone as shallow as you.”

The playful light in the Duke’s eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by something colder. His expression hardened.

“Good,” he replied finally, his tone clipped. “It’s better that way. My wife should be the last woman to fall for my charms. How strange would that be.”

Violet blinked, taken aback. He seemed to be so skilled at sarcasm that she could never tell if he was being serious for not. “I—what do you mean? Your Grace, I am not fond of riddles, I should tell you.”

“You can call me Nicholas now. Please. I don’t need to be reminded of my title every moment we speak.”