Page 7 of Bound to the Heartless Duke (Regency Beasts #4)

He must be scared out of his wits, the poor lad.

But Nathan was the one who put them in that situation in the first place. So what if he had to deal with living with the Duke for a month!

“How disappointing…” The Duke turned to look at the portrait on the wall. “I would if I end up taking over,” he drawled.

Lily sighed at that.

Dear God, I hope he’s jesting.

She went back down the stairs, chuckling to herself as she thought about how her brother made a fool of himself around the Duke daily.

In an attempt to avoid him, she started spending more time than usual in the drawing room working on embroidery to pass the time, considering he spent most of the day in her father’s study. of skills needed to secure a match.

But on this fateful day, the Duke, for some reason, broke his daily routine and came down to join her in the drawing room. Her breath hitched in her throat when she saw him walk towards her.

“Beautiful handcraft, Lady Lily,” he praised, nodding to her embroidery.

Lily stopped the needle halfway to avoid pricking her finger.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” she managed to say as he walked past her to the double doors leading outside and pushed them open, letting the sunlight in.

She squinted her eyes at first, then, as she adjusted to the light, she went back to her embroidery, trying to focus her attention on the needle and not the man in the room with her. He sat on the sofa opposite her and crossed his legs, watching her intently.

He said nothing still, and the ensuing silence was deafening. She had to force herself to breathe in and out slowly. Once, she dared to raise her eyes for a second, and immediately regretted it when their gazes locked.

What am I supposed to do?

She thought of several lies to tell to excuse herself from the room, but none of them sounded believable.

Her heart was thudding hard against her ribcage, as though trying to burst out.

Why was he looking at her like that?

She briefly considered starting a conversation with him, to at least get rid of the awkwardness, but that too seemed like jumping into a bottomless pit.

So she stayed put, focusing her attention on her embroidery and hoping for a miracle.

Unlucky for him, Nathan happened to be passing by, and the Duke found a new victim.

My miracle.

Lily smiled inwardly.

“Lord Medlin!” the Duke called, as though he had been waiting for him. “There you are.”

He stood up and went to the door, holding Nathan’s arm as he led him into the drawing room.

Lily let out a long breath, just realizing that she had been holding it the whole time.

Nathan appeared both startled, as though he hadn’t been expecting the duke’s presence in the drawing room and unease at being in the man’s presence again.. He cast perplexed glances at his sister, as if prompting her to help him out.

“I was thinking just now,” the Duke said, “of renovating this drawing room. It could become mine one day… who knows? And I want it to be a little more… modern and presentable. I need your opinion on this.”

Lily gulped at his choice of words and bit her lower lip. But she didn’t look up, still focusing on her embroidery.

“I wouldn’t,” Nathan stuttered.

Lily looked up at his tone. While it betrayed his fear, she sensed there was anger hidden underneath, confirmed by the icy going his eyes held as he looked at the duke. She could tell her brother's pride had been bruised and he didn't like that one but.

“I don’t know what to say to that, Your Grace. I do not… think I should have a say in that.” He lowered his head.

Lily shifted her attention to the Duke just to see his smug smirk vanish as he rose from his seat.

He’s enjoying this!

“Ah, right,” he said, casting a glance around the room. “Of course. It won’t be your house anymore. Excuse me.”

He gave Nathan a firm pat on the shoulder and left.

Nathan waited until the Duke stepped out of the room before rushing to sit beside Lily.

“Oh, look who has his mind back,” she teased with a deadpan look, then went back to her embroidery.

“I have news,” he announced, almost vibrating with excitement, “Really good news I think you should hear.”

She glanced at him before looking back at her embroidery. “Go on.”

“I think I have found a solution to all of our problems.”

She paused for a moment. “I’m a little curious. Does this include your spending and gambling problem, too?”

Nathan frowned hard, much to her pleasure. “Just listen to me, Lily.”

She rolled her eyes. “I am listening to you, Nathan. What is this solution you are so excited to share?”

He hesitated. “Well, I can’t tell you yet. First, I need to be completely sure that it will work, then I will tell you about it. In detail .”

Now she stopped and narrowed her eyes at him.

“Then why tell me about it if you are not going to tell me about it?” she asked, a little upset.

He stood up and walked to the window. “I just want you to know that I am also doing everything I can to pay off our debts. I don’t want you to think that you are the only one making an effort.”

“ Our debts?” She raised an eyebrow. “Need I remind you that you are the Earl of Medlin and that the debts are attached to your title , and not the family name? Have you also forgotten that I will not be duty bound to help you the moment I marry?”

Nathan waved a hand dismissively. “I know all of that. I know. But for now, it’s our debts. And we have to handle it together.”

Wasn’t he obsessed with fixing it all on his own before?

She chose to ignore him and resumed her embroidery. “And what is this brilliant solution you have discovered?”

“I shall tell you later. I promise.”

He turned away from the window and walked out of the room, leaving her to worry about whatever he was planning.

Nathan had never been good at making decisions on his own, so hearing that he had a solution was very unsettling, to say the least.

How could she be sure he wouldn’t make their situation worse with whatever solution he claimed to have found? What if his solution entailed a deal tougher than the one she had struck with the Duke?

The whole thing just left her anxious, and she couldn’t get her mind off the possibility that there was trouble ahead.