Page 16 of My Blind Duke (The Twisted Dukes #5)

“ A nd I think it looks best pink!”

Prudence stared down at the bits of blue paper in her hands and sighed.

“Already learning how to be a bully at such a young age. I will not stand for this. Bring your guardian to me to answer some questions,” she demanded.

Melanie tilted her head to the side. “How do you plan to attend a disciplinary hearing as the accuser and the accused?”

Prudence paused for a moment and then conceded easily. “That is a fair point. I believe it is in my best interest to ignore all your transgressions.”

Melanie giggled, making Prudence smile.

“I am so glad we did this. I did not expect it would be so fun, to make paper crafts in the garden. But it is such a lovely day and I am so happy!”

“That is what I like to hear, poppet,” Prudence nodded proudly, satisfied with her work.

The duchess kept making plans for them to spend time outside, keen on ensuring that she kept Melanie from Clementina since the sight of the child always upset the woman. She had hoped that more outdoor activities would distract the little girl from the fact that Prudence’s piano skills were still nothing noticeable.

Especially after what happened during my last attempt to practice…

A rush of images filled her head, recalling how the duke had tasted her and was immediately obsessed with her. How deeply his tongue went, how heavy his hands were on her thighs and then her hips, holding her legs open and keeping her still, just like he wanted.

William had left her shortly afterward claiming that there was a task he had forgotten about, which needed his immediate attention. She had been unable to say anything, still fighting to catch her breath as her heartbeat rang in her ears.

Prudence had remained in the music room for an additional half-hour after he had left when she was certain her legs could work again.

“Prudence? Are you all right? You look rather flushed,” Melanie voiced in concern.

“Oh! I… um…”

“Are you ill?”

Prudence froze at the new voice that joined their little retreat. Melanie’s eyes widened at the sight of the newcomer, and it seemed as though the child could not help herself as she smiled and called out,

“Papa!”

William chuckled as he settled down next to his daughter, patting her head gently as he said, “Good afternoon. I heard that you were going to be here, and I thought it would be nice to join you.”

“It was! Please come and see us whenever you can,” Melanie requested earnestly, practically glowing beneath her father’s attention.

“I will do what I can,” William chuckled, before turning his gaze to Prudence. “Duchess.”

“Duke,” Prudence managed to reply, dropping her gaze down to her hands.

She had extended the invitation to him without much expectation, so it was truly surprising that he had not only decided to accept, but he also intended to stay for a while, if his lingering presence was anything to go by.

“What are you making?” he asked Melanie quietly, leaning toward her.

“Paper cranes. We made paper butterflies earlier,” she whispered back, grinning excitedly.

“Is it fun?”

“Ah… it is a little hard sometimes. But they turn out really pretty if we are careful.”

William hummed thoughtfully for a moment then he asked, “Could you make me one?”

Melanie perked up immediately. “Would you like only one? I can make you more! Many, many more!”

Obviously endeared, Prudence giggled, only to hear William chuckling as well. They both fell silent and Prudence cleared her throat, looking down at her own work… which she had ruined without realizing.

“As many as you want. Whatever you want,” William assured her gently.

“Are you sure? What if you think they are too messy later and you wish to get rid of them?” Melanie pouted, showing just how often she overthought about things.

William looked uncomfortable and conflicted, as though he wanted to console her but was not sure how to do that. Prudence sighed at the sight of the two of them, realizing that they needed as much guidance as they could get to make any progress in their relationship.

“We will put them all in a glass bowl and set it on a table in his study. That way, they will serve as a pretty decoration, and they will not be all over the place to be seen as messy,” she suggested softly.

The faces of both father and daughter lit up and Prudence felt her heart tremble at the sight, recognizing just how alike they looked.

“That is a great idea. Still, I would not mind keeping one or two on my desk,” William told Melanie.

The girl still looked uncertain and when she glanced at Prudence, the duchess assured her it would be fine.

“All right! I will make them for you,” Melanie agreed with bright pink cheeks.

“Thank you,” William said, sounding the most earnest Prudence had heard him. “Do you need any help?”

Prudence shifted her gaze to him, her heart sinking as she wondered how he felt, knowing that there was little he could do but still wanting to assist his daughter any way he could.

“Yes, actually,” Melanie asked. “What is your favorite color?”

William blinked. “My favorite color?”

“Yes. I want to make butterflies that are only in Papa’s favorite colors. So, you will like them even more,” Melanie declared.

William’s expression softened indescribably and he sighed.

“My favorite color is red. But I would like it if you added your favorite colors as well.”

Melanie nodded eagerly and reached for the colored pieces of paper, picking a red one from the slightly disorganized stack. She began to fold it, nose scrunched in frustration as she worked carefully, then she paused and looked up at her father.

“I might need to borrow your hand.”

“My… my hand?” William echoed, turning to Prudence.

“I need to hold down certain folds, and it is a little hard for me to do myself sometimes. I would appreciate your help,” Melanie said sweetly.

William swallowed and nodded, looking a little nervous when he responded, “Sure. Whatever you want.”

The rest of the afternoon passed like that, with them spending time in the garden as the paper was folded over and over again. Melanie seemed to be under the impression she would never see her father again and was determined to make up for lost time, as well as working to make the time he had dedicated to her feel worth his while.

But William seemed intent on leaving a lasting impression, speaking kindly and gently to Melanie and offering his hand whenever she needed a flap of paper to be held. He was obedient and soft in ways Prudence never thought she would get to see and it warmed her heart.

By the end of the activity, Robert had been summoned to carry the bowl of paper cranes and butterflies up to the duke’s study.

“This was an enlightening experience,” William said as he rose to leave.

“Thank you for joining us,” Melanie said suddenly.

A pained look crossed William’s face and he told her, “You do not have to thank me for such, in the future. I quite enjoyed myself.”

He then petted Melanie’s head and took his leave.

Melanie sighed, dropping her head onto her folded arms resting on the table.

“That was nice. I was hoping it would not come to an end.”

Prudence watched the retreating back of the duke move further and further out of sight, her heart tightening as she understood the unspoken fear that Melanie was probably harboring at that moment.

“Me too, poppet. Me too.”

But surprisingly, that was not the end.

Prudence continued to extend invitations to the duke and he continued to take them. He accompanied them on walks, joined them for tea in the sunroom, and even agreed once to follow them on an excursion to the town to restock Melanie’s art supplies. Although he did not leave the carriage, it was more than enough for Melanie.

It seemed the whole estate was aware of the young lady’s good mood because she had pretty much forgotten her mischievous ways, too preoccupied basking in the joy she felt that her father was finally looking at her.

“I am so happy, Prudence,” she told the duchess once when it was just the two of them having a meal together. “I did not think Papa liked me, but he has been so nice lately! It feels like a dream, and I hope it never ends!”

Prudence nodded, understanding what the child meant. Their frequent interactions seemed to be doing them a lot of good, and she could not deny that it was quite a relief to see Melanie so happy.

As a child, that is all she should know , Prudence mused to herself. Insurmountable joy and happiness .

She hoped things would continue this way, with the years of distance between the father and daughter closing slowly.

“I hope it never ends too. You deserve to live in good dreams too.”

Melanie beamed at her, then moved closer to whisper,

“Do you want to know something?”

Prudence grinned, “I mean, you have certainly piqued my curiosity now.”

Melanie grinned back and said, “I wish Papa would marry you. So, you could stay and never have to leave. You would become my mama.”

Her words hit Prudence like a handful of molten rocks, sinking to the bottom of Prudence’s stomach.

The duchess had never thought of remarrying, much less to the duke and the idea of it alone–

No. I cannot entertain such notions. What has transpired between us means nothing at all.

“I am honored that you care so deeply about me, Melanie. However, with matters like these, it is usually best to leave it to the adults. I am sorry to disappoint you, but your father and I cannot marry each other. It will not be possible because we are not in love. Getting married without such a strong and important feeling would not bode well for us in the future,” she explained gently.

“But I am certain Papa cares deeply about you.”

Prudence paused, her fork carrying a piece of steak going still halfway to her mouth.

“N-No, he does not – why? What makes you say so?” Prudence asked, feeling flustered.

“Well, papa talks about you all the time. He is always wondering what you are up to and how you are doing. So, I think that means he likes you. Is that not true?”

Prudence fell silent, unable to believe her ears.

Why was he asking about her and thinking about her when he had barely spoken to her outside their interactions whenever they were around Melanie? She did not understand what he was thinking and why he behaved as though she was a mere toy he could tease and play with whenever he felt like it.

His to touch when he wants. His to discard when he does not.

His actions confused her and she was not sure how much longer she could put up with it without getting hurt.

“The Rogers has requested an audience with you, Your Grace.”

William groaned, wondering not for the first time if he was truly cut out for this life.

Things used to be easier, so long ago when he thrived on passion. It was always enough for him somehow, fueling him to push through the hardest of storms, and his love for his music helped him rise each time he felt as though he did not want to.

But this – business and unnecessary affairs of meet-and-greets and estate duties were draining the life out of him. It was getting harder every day to care about any of this, but he could not let Melanie down.

Or the duchess.

The household might as well perish, for all he cared, but he wanted to keep his daughter comfortable for the rest of her life. And the duchess who had made no move to demand anything other than the right to remain in the house she had been in since she had gotten married seemed to deserve all William could give.

So, he sat in the study he abhorred and did his best to make sense of all that was going on – half of it being gossip from the ton that he did not care for – day after day.

“When?” he asked finally.

“Whenever is convenient for you, Your Grace. They want you to pick the time and are happy to host,” Robert replied.

“Fine. Let us give them a two-week notice. That way, they have enough time to prepare.”

“Very well, Your Grace.”

There was a knock at the door and William waved Robert to answer it. Moments later, the steward said, “It is Lady Melanie, Your Grace.”

William sat up immediately.

“Melanie? What brings you here? Are you all right?” he exhaled, blinking severely in hopes of catching a glimpse of her shadow.

But because it was evening, he had no natural light showing him the edges and shapes of things and people. All he could see were dark forms dancing across his vision.

“Oh, I am all right, Papa. Do not worry. I only came to put some more butterflies into your bowl. These ones are the prettiest I have made, and I was very proud of them. So, I thought I should give them to you,” Melanie said.

She made it sound so easy, parting away with such important relics and his guilt over how he had treated her in the past intensified.

How was she so forgiving and magnanimous when all I had done was disappoint her?

“You do not have to. The bowl has plenty already. I doubt it needs any more,” he stated.

However, he intended to get her to keep them for herself since they were prettier than the others. As usual, his words did not come out right.

He winced, noting that she had fallen silent.

“Melanie–”

“I will give them to Prudence then. She was the one who suggested I share them with you since I thought they were the best I had made.”

William blinked, surprised. He had known Prudence was invested in his and Melanie’s relationship but he thought her involvement would only go as far as to invite him to join her and Melanie in spending time together. He did not expect that she would send Melanie to him.

“She… she did that?”

“Yes, Papa,” Melanie told him, a pout evident in her tone. “She likes you a lot, Papa, and she says she wants you to have nice things. So, she asked if I could give you my butterflies since they came out really nice. But it is fine if you do not want them. The duchess would be more than happy to keep them all for me.”

That… that vixen had no idea who she was messing with.

“You can keep one paper butterfly, Melanie. I do not want them all because… they are yours. You deserve to hold onto the prettiest things that life can offer,” William said.

Melanie grinned and nodded.

“All right, Papa!”