Page 7 of Corrupting his Duchess (A Duke’s Undoing #1)

How was her sister faring without her, left to face their mother’s weakness alone?

And then there was Matthew Grayson, with his cool, pressing words and carefully measured tone, their conversation still lingered on her skin like a faint chill.

But most troubling of all was Henry. Ever since that near-kiss, she had hardly seen him.

She wasn’t sure which unsettled her more: that she had been carefully avoiding him, or that, for reasons she couldn’t name, he had begun to keep his distance too.

The air between them had shifted, but into what, she did not know.

Anna pulled in a long, steadying breath as she rejoined the small knot of friends gathered near the refreshment table. Gretchen immediately slipped her arm through Anna’s, her fingers giving a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

“Feeling better?” Gretchen murmured softly, her eyes flicking over Anna’s face with quiet concern.

Anna managed a faint, grateful smile. “I’m fine.”

“Good,” Nathaniel cut in lightly, a teasing lilt in his voice as he appeared at Anna’s other side. “Because we were wagering whether you’d slipped off to elope or simply escape us.”

Anna let out a surprised laugh. “You think I’d leave you all to gossip unsupervised?”

“Please,” Gretchen said primly, shooting Nathaniel a slight frown, “you shouldn’t joke about such things.”

Julia gave her a devil-may-care grin. “Why ever not? It’s only fun if someone’s scandalized, Lady Gretchen.”

“Oh, stop it,” Sophia chimed in, laughing as she reached for another tart from the tray. “Anna! We were about to guess which of the Fairmonts would next attempt to charm half the room.”

Anna flushed slightly, brushing a loose curl behind her ear. “Please, don’t let me stop you.”

Natalie gave an exaggerated sigh, fanning herself with the folded morning paper as though the weight of the news was simply too much. “I swear, the Fairmont twins are at it again. Did you hear Charles tried to race Lady Catherine’s horse down the drive? Nearly sent her bonnet flying!”

Sophia laughed, her teacup trembling slightly in her hand. “And Christopher isn’t much better! I overheard him promising Miss Pembroke a ride out this morning, right after telling Miss Ellis he’d take her to see the foals.”

Natalie arched a brow. “The foals that haven’t even been born yet?”

“Precisely.” Sophia grinned, setting her cup down with a gentle clink. “He speaks with such confidence, you'd think he scheduled the births himself.”

Gretchen snorted. “Half the room’s under their spell, and they know it.”

Julia rolled her eyes fondly. “Honestly, I can’t tell if I envy them or pity them.”

Gretchen, ever the composed one, murmured, “It’s all harmless now, but it won’t always be. There are expectations, even for the Fairmonts.”

Julia shot her a grin. “You sound just like my aunt, Lady Gretchen.”

She beamed with pride, “I’d give anything to sound like Lady Canterbury, she is just…amazing.”

Everyone oohed and ahhed before falling into a comfortable silence.

“Have you tried the lemon tarts?” Julia asked, eagerly pressing a plate into Anna’s hands. “They’re heavenly, Sophia nearly swooned after her first bite.”

Sophia gave a delicate shrug, her lips twitching upward. “I only said they were good, Julia.”

“You sighed,” Julia pointed out with mock accusation, earning a round of chuckles.

Natalie dropped her book and leaned closer to Anna, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Careful, Lady Anna. One bite and you might ruin your supper…like me.”

“Unlike some people,” Gretchen sniffed, giving Nathaniel a narrow look, “who seem to fall in love far too easily.”

Nathaniel raised his brows, undeterred. “Are you referring to me, dear Lady Gretchen? Why, I’m wounded.”

“Hardly,” Gretchen replied crisply, lifting her cup.

Anna covered her smile, her heart lightning. But then…

“Lady Anna.”

The familiar, measured voice sliced through the hum.

Anna stiffened.

She turned, heart thudding, to see Matthew Grayson standing a few paces away.

“Lord Vaun,” Anna managed, dipping her head slightly.

Matthew’s voice cut smoothly across the space, and the group fell quiet as he stopped just before her, offering a shallow bow. “A pleasure, as always.”

Matthew’s eyes flicked over the little circle, a faintly assessing gleam there. “May I steal you away for a moment?”

The group shared glances, the shift in atmosphere unmistakable.

Anna hesitated. She could feel the collective gaze of her friends, and, distantly, the weight of expectation pressing down like a stone.

“Of course,” she heard herself say softly. Barely enough for him to hear.

Gretchen squeezed Anna’s arm gently before letting go.

Anna dipped a small curtsy. “Of course, Lord Vaun.”

He led her slightly away from the group, near one of the tall windows where the candlelight highlighted edges of his sharp features.

“You’ve been difficult to catch,” Matthew said quietly, hands clasped neatly behind his back.

“I’ve been occupied,” Anna replied carefully. “There’s been much to do today.”

Matthew gave a small, noncommittal nod. “I understand, of course. Still, I can’t help but wonder if you’re avoiding me deliberately.”

Anna’s breath caught. “That’s not fair.”

“Isn’t it?” His tone was smooth, but his eyes glinted with something keener. “Anna, you know as well as I do that there should be an understanding forming between our families. That’s not a thing to toy with.”

“I’m not toying,” she said quickly, feeling heat rise in her cheeks. “I only…”

“You only need time,” Matthew’s eyes glinted faintly in the candlelight.

“Yes. But time, Lady Anna, is a luxury not all of us possess. “I am a practical man, Lady Anna. I don’t play at delicate games. You know why I call. You know I’m looking for a wife.

And you,” his gaze sharpened “—have given me little but silence.”

Anna’s heart pounded. “I never asked you to?—”

“No,” he murmured, “but you also never asked me to stop.”

She lifted her chin slightly. “I haven’t said yes.”

“True,” Matthew gazed into hers “but you haven’t said no, either.”

Matthew’s eyes lingered on her with a calculating, almost predatory quality as he moved closer. His voice dropped, low and smooth. “Lady Anna, you do understand the weight of these things, don’t you?”

Anna didn’t flinch. “I understand that you think you can persuade me with words alone, but I’ve made no decisions.”

He took another step toward her, his expression unreadable.

“Of course, decisions take time. But you understand what’s best, don’t you?

What makes the most sense.” His gaze held hers, steady and intense.

“The match would benefit both our families, and you would have everything you need. Security, position... stability.”

Anna’s chest tightened, and she forced herself to stand her ground. “I’ve heard it all before, Lord Vaun.” She stepped back slightly, not entirely comfortable with how close he had come. “I am not simply a pawn in some family scheme, no matter how well-intentioned.”

Matthew smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

“No one is suggesting you’re a pawn, Anna.

You’re simply… being sensible. And I am offering you a future you can count on.

Don’t you see?” He reached for her hand, brushing his fingers lightly over her knuckles, and though the touch was brief, it sent a shock of discomfort through her.

“I understand you may have hesitations, but we both know what’s expected of you. What’s expected of both of us.”

Anna pulled her hand away, her voice firm. “I have more than just a duty to consider, Lord Vaun. I have my own mind, my own choice.”

He arched a brow, his voice taking on an almost amused edge. “Choice, yes. But the choice isn’t really yours alone, is it? There are expectations, Lady Anna. Everyone’s watching. And the longer you delay…” He trailed off, letting the silence carry the weight of his words.

Anna lifted her eyes to him. His face was smooth, calm, and too cool. There was no warmth there, no spark, only a pressing sense of inevitability.

“I—” she began, her voice tight.

But the words froze as a familiar voice interrupted, smooth, edged with curiosity.

“I hope I’m not interrupting something…significant.”

Anna turned sharply.

Henry stood just behind them, his dark green eyes flicking between her and Matthew, something almost unreadable in his expression.

“Henry,” Matthew greeted smoothly, a flicker of surprise in his voice. “You decided to join us finally, I thought it rather ungracious for a host to disappear.”

“I had pressing matters to attend to,” Henry said lightly, though his eyes stayed fixed on Anna. “I wasn’t aware the two of you were so… closely acquainted.”

Anna opened her mouth, but Matthew spoke smoothly. “Oh, we’re more than acquainted, cousin. I’ve called on Lady Anna several times.” His gaze slid to Anna. “Haven’t I?”

Anna’s fingers twitched at her side, her cheeks heating.

Henry’s assessing eyes flicked to her. “Is that so?”

Anna’s throat tightened. She forced a polite nod. “Yes… Lord Vaun has been… very gracious.”

Henry’s eyes sharpened slightly, a flicker of something passing through them. “Gracious.” He gave a small, humorless chuckle. “That’s one word for it.”

Matthew’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You know, Henry, Lady Anna has quite the mind for practical matters. She understands the… advantages of a well-matched union.”

Anna tensed slightly. “Lord Vaun…”

He smoothly pressed on, eyes flicking to her, voice mild, “We were just discussing how sometimes a woman’s duty and her personal preference do not always align.”

Henry’s brow furrowed. “Were you?” His voice carried a mildness that didn’t match the sharpness in his gaze.

Anna drew in a slow breath. “Lord Vaun, you exaggerate. We weren’t discussing anything so heavy.”

Matthew tilted his head slightly. “No? I thought we had an understanding, Lady Anna. For both our families.”

Anna felt as if the ground under her feet had shifted, her pulse beating too fast in her throat.

“I'm sure Lady Anna has her own mind,” Henry’s gaze lingered on Anna a heartbeat too long, his eyes darkened as he looked at her, something more intense flickering underneath.

“And you, Lady Anna,” Henry murmured, his voice softer now, “have you been… enjoying the evening?”

Anna felt her breath catch, the way he said it, the way his eyes softened when they looked at her, as if the room had narrowed down to just the two of them. Or was she imagining things?

“I…yes,” she said quietly, her fingers curling slightly against her skirts. “I have.”

Their eyes held, unspoken things stirring between them, the memory of that almost-kiss brushing the edges of her mind. She took three steadying breaths, she was sure her flaming cheeks were obvious even in the dark.

Matthew’s voice cut smoothly between them, sharp as a knife wrapped in velvet. “You two seem unusually familiar.”

Anna flinched inwardly, forcing a polite smile. “We, we’ve crossed paths at this party.”

Henry’s mouth tilted into a knowing half-smile, but his eyes didn’t leave hers. “Yes… several times.”

Matthew’s green eyes narrowed slightly, cool and assessing. “Interesting.”

Anna felt the tension pull taut around them, her heart beating a little too fast.

She stepped back slightly, her heart thudding, forcing a polite smile. “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me, I promised Lady Gretchen I’d join her for a moment.”