Page 7 of My Blind Duke (The Twisted Dukes #5)

“ T he duke has requested an audience, Your Grace.”

Prudence raised her eyes from the pages of the book she was trying to read, her plans of a relaxing and hopes for a quiet morning long gone at the sudden order.

Things had been much calmer, as of late, with the duke dead set on whipping everyone and everything into shape. He was fierce and strict, never one to mince words as he made demands on what he expected from both the staff and the estate.

Prudence could not deny that his presence – despite its tumultuous beginning – brought a lot of positive changes. The servants were more respectful now than they had ever been toward her – even before Anthony’s passing. And the estate seemed to be steadily changing for the better.

But this sudden summoning did not seem to bode well for her.

“Do you know what this is about?” Prudence asked, trying to gauge if she should be concerned.

Jefferson shook his head solemnly. “I could not possibly hope to know such. His Grace does not confide in me. Truthfully, I feel as though he does not think much of me at all.”

Prudence stared at the other man, wondering if she was meant to feel a shred of sympathy toward him, but inevitably realizing that it would be a waste of her strength. After all, he had not extended the same courtesy to her when his underlings were terrorizing her in her own home.

With a sigh, she rose to her feet, putting the book aside.

“I had better go and see what he needs, then.”

For the most part, William had seemed content ignoring Prudence. And she had hoped it was a sign that her presence was not one to fuss over. Especially as she had begun to grow close to Lady Melanie.

The child was an absolute delight –when she was not striking fear into the hearts of the maids and footmen or terrorizing Lady Clementina– who Prudence had a hard time convincing herself to dissuade that particular chaotic crusade. Although it had only been a few days, Prudence could sense that she was growing rather fond of the young girl.

She only hoped that the days ahead of her brought along with them the peace she had been missing for a long time now.

The duke’s study was on a side of the estate that seemed nearly cut off from the rest of the house. And due to how busy his duties kept him, they had not been able to have any meals together, none since the rambunctious dinner a few nights ago.

As she rounded the corner down the corridor, the duchess nearly bumped into a maid who was scurrying away with a frightened look.

“Your Grace! My apologies!” she hurriedly apologized and hurried on before Prudence could say anything in response. “Please forgive me!”

How odd , she thought as she finally arrived at the duke’s study, inhaling deeply before knocking at the door.

“You may come in,” a muffled voice beckoned.

She opened the door and stepped into the room, the sight of him seated behind his desk filling her with a strange sensation.

William was nothing like Anthony as his dark gaze latched onto her in a way that made her desire a quick escape. Sometimes she could not believe that he could not see, immensely confused by how intense his stares often were, as though he could see directly into her soul.

He said nothing until she was standing in front of the door and she cleared her throat, hoping she did not sound as nervous as she felt when she said, “Good morning, Your Grace. I heard you wished to speak with me?”

He nodded and leaned back in his chair.

“Yes. I do. I merely wanted to inform you that you are to leave Pemberly estate. You are to pack your things immediately, say your farewells, and depart from here.”

Prudence felt her heart drop, panic welling up within her.

“I beg your pardon? I do not understand–”

“I do not know why you find it difficult to understand. I believe I was clear in my statement. Do you have any comprehension problems?”

His mocking tone grated on her nerves and twisted her fear into fury.

“No.”

“What do you mean no?”

“No, I will not leave. This is my home and there is no way I will be leaving it.”

William frowned and leaned forward, putting his hands together on the table as he stated coldly.

“I am the new heir of Pemberly and you have no place under my roof, Duchess. And since you do not have an heir, I am not obliged to give you anything. It is mere kindness that I do not seek to have your previous marriage annulled and stripped of your title. Instead, you will get to keep your annual allowance.”

Prudence clenched her fists by her side and replied furiously,

“My solicitor will be the one to tell me what I have a right to claim, and what I do not. But I will not be tossed aside like a discarded handkerchief.”

William sighed in annoyance, clearly not expecting her persistent rebuttal.

“You sound as though you would be left wandering the streets of London like an urchin. I am well aware that you have family that would take you in without question. Your sister is married to the Duke of Harper.”

Prudence folded her arms and could not help the hardness seeping into her voice.

“I cannot believe you would make such a humiliating suggestion. You do not understand how degrading this is for me. And you have a daughter, no less.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Women are always subjected to such humiliations, treated, and seen as nothing more than a commodity that goes along with a husband. And when he dies, we are left to impose on our family members or be left at the heir’s mercy. As if we were a piece of furniture that goes along with the title. Not to mention that we have no more worth than spoiled goods if we have not managed to provide an heir. For all women in my place and me, I will not have it. It is simply cruel and unfair.”

By the time the last word was past her lips, Prudence was breathing heavily, unable to shake off the feelings of fury and terror within her. A part of her knew her outburst might not plead her case, but she was determined to stand her ground.

She could not allow herself to become a burden on her family now, not after all the painful moments in the past she had yet to let go of.

William rose out of his seat, walked out from behind his desk and began to move toward her, every step he took stealing her breath as she waited to hear what he had to say. He remained silent and instead of standing in front of her, he kept walking until he was directly behind her.

“Unfair? That is quite a selfish statement to make, considering that life is quite cruel to us all,” he said quietly.

It only took a moment for her to realize that he was referring to himself and his lack of sight and she gasped.

A few gossiping maids had inadvertently brought it to her attention that he had become blind a few years ago, in the same accident that claimed the life of his wife. She could only imagine how hard it must have been for him to relearn all that he knew to survive with this disability.

“I did not – I did not mean it that way. I swear–”

“While I think your bravado is impressive,” he shook his head dismissively as he moved to stand in front of her, “You will not be able to put on such an act if you are arrested and imprisoned for the former duke’s death. From what I hear, you are not just the only suspect but a very likely culprit as well.”

A chill ran down Prudence’s spine at the thought of being perceived as a murderer by yet another person who did not know her. She had hoped the new duke would not buy into the rumors of the servants but it seemed she was foolish to have such notions.

“I did not kill my husband,” she stated with a glare.

“Witnesses and the circumstances say otherwise,” William countered casually.

“What witnesses? No one can firmly stand and accuse me of killing my husband because I did not do it and there is no evidence that I did commit such a crime!” Prudence snapped.

“Just because the evidence has not been found yet, does not mean it does not exist. And again, the circumstances are not in your favor. You married a hale and hearty man, and on the night of your wedding, he simply dies? Without being ill or injured? And then you are left to your devices as a rich widow? It is quite suspicious, especially given how you are desperately trying to remain in his house, even though his heir – me – has arrived and now owns his property. All of this merely points to your guilt, Duchess,” he replied lowly.

It was then Prudence noticed that during their argument, they had gotten closer to each other, so much so that she could feel his breath on her face. She wanted to move back but she was pinned by his heavy gaze, his blue eyes glimmering with danger.

A voice in her head warned her to merely relent for the moment, and simply resume the argument again at a later time, but she wanted him to know and understand that she would not be pushed around like a voiceless mule.

Thankfully, he retreated to his desk and she exhaled deeply in relief, wondering what he would say next. However, out of the hundred things she expected, she did not think what happened next would have made the list.

The duke picked up his glass of whiskey, likely served by the maid Prudence had seen in the hall on her way here, and took a mouthful, only to spit it out with a curse.

“Bloody hell – Melanie!” he roared, slamming the glass down at the table so hard, she was surprised it did not shatter there and then.

He had a disgusted expression on his face and Prudence could easily surmise what had happened.

“How many times must I – enough. This foolishness ends, now,” he declared, angrily as he marched toward the door.

The look on his face told Prudence that if she did not stop him, things would not end well for Melanie, and without a second thought, she put herself between him and the door.

“Move,” he demanded, through gritted teeth.

Swallowing at the unease churning in her gut over how enraged the duke was, Prudence shook her head. “No. Not until you calm down–”

“I have told her time and time again that such jokes are unladylike and silly. I refuse to indulge my child as she continues to make a fool of me. Get out of my way.”

“No, Your Grace. Please think about this. You scold her so much, continuously, but you fail to see that she merely vying for your attention. If only you would just talk to her–”

“Talking to her will not fix anything. I have been far too lenient. I have been too patient and she has consistently taken me for a fool. A punishment is long overdue – and perhaps then she will take me seriously,” William snapped, seething.

“You are not listening to me! All this – this anger and rage will only push her further away from you. I understand how upset you are but letting your feelings control you will not help matters. She is just a child! In a new home, expected to build a life of her own, without any guidance because you refuse to sit with her or spend time with her. All she wants is your attention and as we have all seen, she is doing whatever she can to get it,” Prudence pressed, with her hands firmly placed against the door.

After the time she had spent with Melanie, she could not help but see herself in the child. She knew what it was like to feel neglected enough to want any form of attention from a parent – not particularly caring if it was good or bad.

William did not understand the loneliness haunting his daughter, and focused on propriety, as opposed to the happiness of his child. Prudence was prepared to do whatever was necessary to protect a child whose only offense was seeking affection and acknowledgment.

“I will not have a stranger who knows nothing about me or my family tell me what to do. You will be out of this house, Duchess. If I have to carry you out myself, then so be it,” the duke said, his voice low and laced with danger.

Prudence could not understand why he was so intent on displacing her all of a sudden. If he truly wished for her to leave, why did he not say so from the start? Why had he gone as far as to scold the servants for their neglect and disrespect toward her?

“Is that so?” she whispered, dropping her tone to match his as a familiar yet strange feeling started to swirl around in her chest as she became aware of their proximity once more. “And why is that, Your Grace? Why are you suddenly so desperate to see me leave? Have I done something wrong? Or is it that I make you uneasy?”

William placed a hand on the door behind her, and leaned forward, eliminating a great deal of the already little space between them both, and said,

“Although it does not matter – as I do not necessarily need a reason to have you removed from my house – I do not trust you at all. There are far too many suspicious circumstances around you, Duchess. And I do not want that anywhere near me, or my daughter.”

It was almost petulant, the way she immediately responded indignantly.

“Well, I do not trust you either. It is shocking that I need to point this out, but you have not exactly exuded trustworthiness yourself. How dare you judge me when you are basically the same?”

He laughed, humorless and low, and his fingers wrapped around her chin, holding her face up to his in a firm but painless grip.

“You are right not to trust me,” he told her, right before his lips claimed hers.

Prudence felt the thoughts in her mind fade as he kissed her deeply, pressing his body to hers as he kept her trapped between him and the door. Heat flared beneath her skin as one of his hands came down to hold the back of her neck, his fingers fisting her hair as he ravaged her with his lips.

William’s tongue swiped over her lower lip and she gasped, granting him entrance to her mouth, her hands coming up to grip the sides of his shirt as he licked and sucked her tongue.

It felt like a lifetime had passed before he pulled back, leaving her a panting, flushed mess. Mercifully, her back was still against the door and she could lean on it as her weakened knees shook.

Prudence could not move, could not think, could only stare at him and try to catch her breath, losing it once more as he reached out to move her away from the door gently. Then he opened it, and nudged her out of his study, leaning in close to whisper into her ear,

“Do not let me catch you again, Duchess.”

Then he went back in and slammed the door shut.