Page 55 of Bound By the Duke

Her breath caught, and she did her best to steady herself before speaking.

“Good morning,” she said. Then she turned to Lottie, “I am glad to see you back so early.”

“Father wanted it to be a surprise,” she answered. Aurelia kissed the little girl on her hair before turning to face the duke as though awaiting his judgment, but he merely stared back at her. Blue eyes piercing brown.

It wasn’t a polite, civil look. She felt the heat of his gaze sinking through the silk of her gown, almost stirring her blood.

Eventually, he gave the faintest nod of his head. “Good morning, Duchess.”

Taking a deep breath, Aurelia settled in her seat. She told herself to keep her composure, that it was only breakfast. A simple meal. Yet the way his eyes lingered on her made her flush, as though she was bare before him.

Determined not to let silence reign, she leaned forward slightly and gently spoke. “Lottie, I heard you’ve been practicing yourreading with Sophia. Would you share some of your favorite passages with us?”

The girl blinked, visibly startled. But her surprise faded quickly when the corner of her lips quirked up. “I like the one about the fox, Your Grace.”

“The clever one?” Aurelia asked, smiling warmly.

“Yes. He tricked the others. It was… It was very funny.” Lottie’s small voice trembled with excitement.

She glanced at her father, her hopeful eyes begging him to join the conversation.

Percival’s brows twitched at first. His daughter, who was usually silent, was speaking so freely. He couldn’t hide the flicker of pride and amusement that touched his eyes.

But he masked it quickly, lifting his cup with deliberate calmness.

Disappointed that he said nothing, Aurelia leaned closer to the little girl. “Do you know, I once thought that a fox had stolen one of my slippers from the garden. I nearly chased it barefoot.”

Lottie gasped and then giggled. The rare sound, and the fact that his daughter had easily bought the made-up story, coaxed a laugh Percival couldn’t suppress. But when Aurelia shot hima fierce yet amused glare, he smothered his laughter with a soft cough.

Secretly, Aurelia loved it. That was the biggest smile she had seen on his face.

It seemed that she stared too long because his eyes met hers and held a knowing glint that had her eyes widening, mortified at being caught. But it was too late to deny it. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and the heat crackled across the table between them.

However, the sounds of footsteps in the corridor broke the moment. The door to the breakfast room opened, and a maid appeared.

“His Grace, the Duke of Larcher,” she announced, bobbing a curtsy before stepping aside.

Maxwell strode in with the ease of a man at home. Sunlight caught in his blonde hair, matching his bright and careless smile. The charm he exuded was undeniable, natural as breath.

He approached the table with a smug face, ignoring the way Percival rolled his eyes.

He gave a nod when he spotted Aurelia. “Duchess, you outshine the morning itself.”

“You flatter me, Duke.” Aurelia smiled. The warmth of his words eased the tightness in her chest.

“Flattery?” Maxwell laughed. “It’s the truth, Duchess. The unfiltered truth.”

She laughed again, the sound soft, surprised, and genuine. However, across the table, Percival’s jaw had turned to stone as his eyes darted between Maxwell and Aurelia.

Maxwell pulled out a chair and settled into it with casual grace before he began to talk about his ride that morning. Aurelia and Lottie leaned closer to hear him, their laughter echoing through the room.

Percival knew Maxwell was a good conversationalist, unlike himself. The sight of his wife and daughter enjoying his friend’s presence and almost forgetting about his existence made him feel a certain emotion he wouldn’t dare to admit.

His hand gripped the delicate handle of his tea cup with more force than was proper, yet he didn’t care if he cracked the ceramic, and his lips thinned. Although he didn’t speak, the tick of the muscle in his jaw spoke volumes.

And then the devil in disguise arrived, breaking the moment.

Sir Whiskerton jumped up on the table with regal poise. He sauntered across the polished wood, his tail flapping like a banner. Then, he paused before Maxwell and flicked back his ears, hissing as if to declare,You are an intruder, sir.