Page 12 of Bound By the Duke

“That’s… good.” Aurelia cleared her throat. “I have always believed that the best journeys are the safe ones.”

“Everyone does.” The duke shrugged faintly.

Across the table, Nora raised a brow at Louis, who mouthed,He’s not a beast.

It did not escape Aurelia’s notice. Usually, she would have shot them a quelling look, but she worried more about finding common ground with her husband-to-be.

She stole a glance at him. He didn’t even look like someone who wanted to talk. No elaboration or interrogation. He didn’t so much as blink.

His suffocating silence made her itch to bite the inside of her cheek. So she sat still, smiling faintly, while secretly praying for dinner to end.

When it did, Lord Scovell rose to make a vague comment about horses, and the twins followed after him. The duke stood up as well and nodded briefly to him before making his way to the front hall.

Almost immediately, Aurelia caught the look in her mother’s eyes. That one meant she should go to him.

She hesitated because it was challenging. She wasn’t sure if the duke would want that or not.

Regardless, she stood up and stepped forward.

“If it pleases Your Grace,” she began carefully. “May I escort you to the door?”

The duke paused before turning his head slightly toward her. “If you must.”

His response wasn’t exactly encouraging, but it was as close to permission as she would get.

She followed him through the corridor, her hands clasped in front of her. As they walked, silence fell between them. However, it wasn’t like dinner. This silence was… heavier and quieter.

As they moved under the moonlight, several questions popped into Aurelia’s mind. She wanted to ask if he remembered her. Also, she wanted to ask for his name. There must be something beneath, apart from his rank.

“I believe the evening was… passable.” She cleared her throat. “And the food was pleasant.”

“I did not come for the food,” the duke replied without looking at her.

She bit her lip and nodded. “Of course.”

Suddenly, he stopped moving. “I must tell you something before this arrangement proceeds any further.”

Aurelia paused. His tone had shifted slightly, his voice lower and slower. It was still cold, but now it was laced with something more grounded than his earlier formality.

A thousand guesses of what he was about to say flashed through her mind. Did he want to call off the wedding after meeting her in person because she didn’t look pleasant enough? Or perhaps he was reminded of her cat and still held a grudge against him?

“All right,” she muttered, bracing herself for the worst.

When he turned to face her fully, a soft gasp escaped her lips.

There was something poetically charming about him. Something that left her unable to comprehend what was driving the ludicrous rumors about him.

“I have a daughter,” he said in a voice devoid of emotion.

It felt more like a reminder than news to Aurelia.

“I know,” she responded calmly.

His expression didn’t change.

“She is ten. Her name is Charlotte. She has been under the care of a nanny since her mother died during childbirth. But I believe she needs more than that now. She needs a proper lady to guide her. One who understands society, expectations, and reputations. That is the reason I agreed to this match.”

His words were calm, so calm that they almost sounded rehearsed. As if he had practiced them just enough to be able to speak them without any sort of emotion.