Page 7 of Her Duke to Tempt (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance #29)

“Marriage,” she answered him. Her marriage hadn’t been a bad one, but neither had it been good.

It was…comfortable. There was no grand passion between her and the late earl.

He had been fifteen years older than her and needed an heir.

He treated her as if she were a child that he needed to take care of, and for a while she let him.

It had been easier that way. When he died everything had changed for her.

She had to learn to stand on her own for the first time in her life.

“Or rather what came after my marriage. When my husband died my whole world was upended. It was then I became the person you have come to know.”

He nodded slowly. “I can see how that might happen.”

“I wish I had been like Felicity back then.” She sighed. “Perhaps my life would have been far different than it is now. Though perhaps not. Fate led me here and I like who I am now.”

“I like who you are not too,” he said softly. There was some heat in his gaze that stirred something inside of her.

“Thank you…” Enid felt her heart skip at the softness of Templeton’s words.

His gaze, usually so composed and confident, now carried an intensity that made her uneasy, yet deeply intrigued.

For a moment, she forgot to breathe as the warmth of the room seemed to fade, leaving only the quiet hum of their conversation between them.

She quickly recovered, lowering her eyes to her stew, but the warmth that lingered in her chest was difficult to ignore.

Why now? she asked herself, trying to steady her thoughts.

She had known Templeton for years, and yet in this moment, something about him seemed.

.. different. Her fingers gripped her spoon a little too tightly as she took another small bite of the stew, but the food, though warm, failed to distract her.

He watched her for a moment longer before breaking the silence. “Not everyone has the fortitude to carry on after a tragedy,” he said softly, his voice gentle. “You are far braver than you may believe...”

She met his gaze again, this time with a mixture of surprise and something deeper, something she couldn’t name. “I never saw myself as brave,” she replied, her voice faltering just slightly. “I simply did what was required of me.”

Templeton’s lips quirked into a half-smile. “Even now, with Felicity and this search for her, you still go on. You’re determined. Willing to face the unknown for the sake of someone you love.”

“I suppose I am,” she murmured. The truth of it settled heavy in her chest. I will do anything for Felicity …

Yet she wondered if there was more to her motivations than simply fulfilling her duty to her niece.

Was it not also about reclaiming something for herself—something that had been lost to her years ago?

“And that,” Templeton continued, leaning forward slightly, “is what makes you remarkable. You are far stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

Enid opened her mouth to respond, but the words faltered as their eyes locked once again.

For a heartbeat, everything else in the world seemed to fall away, the storm outside forgotten, the chatter in the inn’s common room a distant hum.

She could feel the heat of his gaze on her skin, like the warmth from the fire that crackled nearby.

His expression had softened, the earlier teasing gone, replaced by something that made her pulse quicken.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Templeton spoke again, his voice low, almost a whisper. “I admire you, Lady Winston. For me, there is no one like you.”

Her heart raced in her chest. His words sent a jolt through her, shaking her from the safe, quiet life she had built for herself.

Admire me? The notion was strange, yet somehow not unwelcome.

She had always considered herself something of a quiet observer, always on the periphery, never the subject of anyone's admiration. And yet here, with Templeton’s words, she began to feel a warmth—an unexpected pull that was both exhilarating and terrifying.

“There’s no one else for me,” he added softly, almost to himself. “And I?—”

Enid’s breath caught, and for the first time in a long while, she felt the stirrings of something more.

She reached for her glass of water, trying to calm the fluttering in her chest. “I think you need not say more,” she said, forcing her voice to steady.

“Whatever it is you wish to say… It’s not the time or the place. ”

Templeton chuckled, his gaze never leaving hers. “Perhaps,” he said. “I will keep my silence for now. After we find my son and your niece...” His tone softened as he added, “I will not be so deterred.”

Enid felt her throat tighten, and for the first time, she wondered if this was what it felt like to be seen, truly seen, by someone who admired her.

She wanted to speak, but the words caught in her throat, leaving her speechless.

The heat between them, the energy crackling in the air, was undeniable.

She could not go down this road though. She could not afford to open her heart to the duke.

That would only lead to disaster. Something she truly wished to avoid.

Her heart hammered against her chest as the room seemed to narrow, focusing on the man before her.

His gaze softened, and though she couldn’t explain it, she felt as though he understood her—understood her in ways she had never allowed anyone to.

Did her realize how much his words had sent her into a near anxiety fit?

Templeton’s voice broke the silence again. “If you are finished, I can escort you to your room.”

How could he set what he had said aside as if were not so life altering?

His pronouncements still hung in the air, charged with an intensity she hadn’t expected.

Her mind raced, and her heart trembled, torn between the fear of the unknown and the pull she felt toward him.

She had spent so many years living quietly, choosing to remain within her boundaries, never allowing herself to cross that line.

“I—” she started, her words faltering as she looked down at her hands. The trembling had not ceased. “Yes, I would like to go to my room.”

“Then we should go,” Templeton said, his voice gentle. He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “Do not fret, love. It will work out as it should.”

Enid met his gaze, and for the first time in years, she allowed herself to believe in the possibility of something more. Something unexpected, but no longer terrifying and in that quiet moment, she knew that whatever path lay ahead, she would not walk it alone.

She just hoped that when the truth came, it wouldn’t break her, or anyone in its wake.