Page 7 of Ravished by the Beastly Duke (Regency Beasts #1)

CHAPTER 7

“ W here is the yellow ribbon I purchased last week?” Ava asked, blinking back tears.

“It should be on the dresser, Miss,” Marguerite, her handmaid, said, rushing over to check.

“It’s supposed to be in her hair. I told you…”

Eveline tuned out the noise of the women around her trying to beautify her for her special day. Her wedding day arrived quicker than she had expected, and the house was awash with activity, as her family would be hosting the wedding breakfast before she left for her husband’s estate.

Husband.

The word still left a sour taste in her mouth, as she had come to realize what it meant while her family prepared for the wedding.

Ava had yet to stop crying as they packed the rest of Eveline’s things into trunks. Tears also pooled in Eveline’s eyes at the thought of leaving her family behind for a new home, but she did not let them fall because they had warned her not to ruin their hard work.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror and had to admit that she looked beautiful—more beautiful than she had ever seen herself. It was only the fear of ruining the pink hue they skilfully applied to her lips that stopped her from biting her lip.

“When he kisses you, it will come off anyway,” Stella suddenly mused beside her.

The girl had been chattering excitedly as she watched them prepare Eveline, but she had gone surprisingly quiet over the last hour.

“Stella!” Ava scolded. “You should not speak of such things.”

“I’m sixteen now, Ava. I am no longer a child,” Stella responded with a pout.

“Still, it is no proper conversation for a young lady,” Ava reminded her. “Oh, Evie. I do not want you to go. I still do not know anything else about this young Duke.”

“There is no need to fret, Sister.” Eveline smiled, taking her sister’s hand. “The Duke seems very kind. I do not fear for myself.”

“I am not the beast everyone thinks I am, so you do not have to fear if you choose to refuse me.”

His words echoed in her mind, and she blushed as she remembered how intense his look had been. She was grateful to him for proposing, and even more so for giving her a choice in the matter. It attested to the fact that he was a proper gentleman through and through. A fact her sisters had yet to accept since they saw his face.

“I still cannot get used to the sight of his scars.” Stella shuddered. “They are so ghastly.”

“It is not polite to judge him so harshly, Stella,” Eveline scolded. “He earned those scars while defending our country.”

“Stella is not wrong, Evie. The scars frighten me too,” Ava admitted, wincing. “It only makes me fear even more for your safety. What if he is so given to violence that he hits you?”

Eveline had thought that her sister’s worry had dissipated, until she heard Ava trying to talk their father into ending the match. Ava had been persistent in her request, trying to play on their father’s empathy—which Eveline discovered was sorely absent.

“He will not,” Eveline assured her. “I do not think him that lacking in character, and…” She blushed. “I do not mind his scars. They are quite intriguing, and I think they add to his charm.”

Her sisters gave her shocked looks, which caused her to laugh.

“You two worry too much for my well-being.” She smiled at them. “I do believe him to be kind, and perhaps we might grow to love one another someday.”

Ava sighed, while Stella smiled mischievously.

“Have you fallen in love with your husband already, Evie?” Stella asked, squealing.

Eveline’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment. She would not call what she felt for the Duke ‘love’, but she did like him. After all, he was to be her husband.

When he had silenced her father so easily in her defense, she had been so moved by the gesture that she had been unable to sleep the whole night, replaying the encounter. She had wanted to kiss him again, but she had reined in the thought.

“I… I cannot deny that I have developed some affection for the Duke, but it is not so grand as to be called love,” she explained.

Stella squealed again and hurried over to hug her. “Though I do not understand it, I am happy for you.”

“And I thank you for it.”

“I am also happy for you, Evie.” Ava smiled, coming to join the hug. “It might not be the love match you desired, but at least you’re getting something better than what I could have hoped to secure for you. A duke!”

It was rather fortunate that it was not a lower-ranking nobleman Eveline had been caught with, or her father would have refused the match outright.

A knock sounded at the door just then, and they turned to see their father enter the chamber. He cast a glance at them, and for a second, he looked shocked, before he blinked the look away.

“I see that you are all ready,” he said. “The carriage is ready. We must leave now.”

They all rose, and Eveline cast one last glance around her bedroom. This room had seen her afraid and anxious about the future, and now it would see her happy in the match she had secured.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the priest announced. “You may now kiss the bride.”

The pronouncement was met with cheers from her sisters and the few guests her father had invited. Anxiety bubbled up her chest. Would the Duke really kiss her again?

His expression was stoic as she turned to face him, and she wondered what he could have been thinking to have him look so impassioned. She hoped he wasn’t already regretting his decision to marry her.

He had watched her as her father had led her down the aisle with a look she did not fathom, and all the while she had thought him the most handsome man she had ever seen. She had been afraid that she would stumble and embarrass them all, but she managed to ascend the few steps leading up to the altar, and when her hand was placed in his, she flinched at the heat that traveled up her arm.

He leaned forward, surprising her with a chaste kiss on her cheek, causing her to flush. He did not look at her after that until her family had finished their teary goodbyes and he helped her into the carriage.

The ride started, and he turned to look out the window, maintaining the accursed silence.

The carriage swayed occasionally on the rocky country road and Eveline had to hold on to the edge of the seat to brace herself. She was, however, grateful for the occasional rattling sound of the carriage wheel that punctuated the silence.

Was this to be her life from now on?

She looked out the window on her left side, already missing her childhood home, where her sisters would no doubt be indulging in the sweet cakes Cook had made for the occasion. She felt a sudden pang of hunger as she remembered that she had been too nervous to eat.

Soon, she felt hands shaking her awake, and she saw that the carriage had stopped. They had arrived at her husband’s estate. She had not even known when she fell asleep.

He alighted from the carriage first and helped her out with only a perfunctory glance at her, after which he led her to the front of the house, where the servants were already waiting to greet her.

“Welcome home, Your Grace.” An elderly man stepped forward with a bow.

“Jeremiah, may I present my Duchess,” the Duke announced, before eyeing the rest of the staff. “Eveline, this is Jeremiah, my butler and head of staff. I believe you will all give her the respect due to her position and see that she is well-settled.”

The servants bowed and curtsied.

An elderly woman stepped forward with a younger girl in tow, before curtsying to Eveline.

“I am Mrs. Herbert, and this is my daughter, Gracie,” she began. “She will be your lady’s maid from now on. I have been managing the household, and I will help you adjust to your duties here.”

“You will show the Duchess to her chambers,” the Duke ordered, and then he stepped into the house.

Eveline was surprised by the abruptness of his departure but said nothing, not wanting to cause a scene for the staff to gossip about.

“It is a pleasure to meet you all,” she said with a smile she was sure did not reach her eyes.

“If you’d like, I can take you on a tour of the estate before the evening meal. Or would you prefer to retire to your chambers immediately? It must have been a long and tiring trip,” Mrs. Herbert offered with a kind look.

“I would prefer the tour first if it is no trouble,” Eveline replied.

The castle seemed magnificent and well-kept, from what she had seen already. She wanted very much to see the rest of the estate that was to be her new home.

She ended up being impressed with its state and had already marked out the places she would spend most of her time in. The estate boasted impressive gardens, as well as a small pond lined with fragrant flowers that added a tranquil feel to the already aesthetic space. Then, there was the library, with the lovely scent of ink and paper.

By the time the tour came to an end, her feet were sore, and her ribs ached from being constrained by her tight corset. She opted to have dinner in her chambers—which she learned had an adjoining door to the Duke’s chambers—and when her plate had been cleared and she had been dressed for bed, the reality of what the adjoining door signified sank in.

Her face warmed at the prospect, but she was still excited to become one with her husband. She lay in bed expectantly, but even when the candle had burned so low that there was barely any light in the room, the Duke still had not come to her chambers.

She sat up with a frown, wondering if he would come to her chambers at all.

She heard the door in his chambers open and close, as well as his footfalls, and she chose to wait. But when the sound of his footsteps did not approach the adjoining door, she chose to confront him.

She knocked on the door and heard him go still, but he did not bid her enter, which annoyed her and had her opening the door.

Her eyes went wide when she saw he was only in his shirt and breeches. The collar was open wide enough for her to spot a dusting of hair on his chest, and his hair seemed disheveled—ruffled by his hands, no doubt. Her mouth went dry at the sight of his rugged handsomeness.

He also eyed her with blatant surprise, his eyes darkening as they roamed over her from head to foot. She blushed, remembering that she had not worn a robe over her nightgown. While it was long, it was made of a flimsy fabric that did little to hide what was underneath it.

It was a gift from Lily, and she had put it on as an afterthought, seeking to please him.

He cleared his throat and turned away from her, which caused her to frown.

“I… I am sorry to intrude on your privacy,” she stammered. “I… I just wanted to inquire if you will be joining me in my chambers this evening, as is customary.”

His hands clenched into fists at his sides as his body stiffened.

“I just?—”

“I will not be joining you tonight,” he answered tonelessly.

“Why?” she asked, taking a step closer. “We are married. It is expected.”

She worried her lip, as his refusal only served to remind her of the insecurities she thought she had overcome. If she were more beautiful, then he would have come to her chambers without her asking.

“It is, but I intend never to touch you,” he murmured, sparing her a glance. “That is not why I married you.”

Eveline frowned and stepped closer to him till she was looking into his eyes.

“Then this is not a marriage,” she spat. “You should have let my father marry me off to someone else. I did not need you to save me from my fate.”

“Yet here we are,” he said, his eyes straying to her shoulder. “I cannot give you what you desire.”

“What am I to do, then?” she asked. “If you will not touch me, then I will need instructions on how to please you when you finally choose to come to my bed. I said I would not end up in a passionless marriage, and I intend to stand by it.”

“If you will not touch me, then I will need instructions on how to please you when you finally choose to come to my bed.”

Did she even know what she was asking?

And coming into his room so late, wearing such a flimsy excuse for a garment?

This woman was nothing like he had expected, and he frowned at his body’s reaction to her. He knew his answer would hurt her, but he wasn’t going to scare her with the entirety of his scars by attempting to consummate their marriage, and with the lust burning within him, he did not think he could be gentle with her.

He knew he was resigning himself to a life of trouble by marrying someone who would fight against every mold life attempted to fit her in, but he decided to do so anyway, hoping her moment of bravery would be a one-time incident. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

Why couldn’t she just be a sedate woman who would wait for her husband rather than seek him out?

His brain was already formulating all the instructions he could give her, and the images of her doing such things sent a wave of lust so strong through him that he stumbled back.

It did not help that she was wearing such a flimsy nightgown. Her pale, creamy shoulder peeked out as a thin strap slid down her arm. If the other strap were to slide down too, it would take no effort to have her naked before him.

His body responded to the desire to see just how smooth the rest of her looked.

Damn.

He needed to rid himself of her presence soon, or he would indulge himself in what she was offering so willingly.

“Teach me, or I shall find someone else to do so,” she added stubbornly.

“You will do no such thing!” he protested.

“How do you intend to stop me, then?” she asked stubbornly.

Damned vixen.

He pulled her to him, slanting his mouth over hers as he had longed to do since he saw her walk down the aisle towards him. She had been beautiful then, innocent and not this temptress moaning softly into his mouth.

She felt so smooth in his hands, and the feel of her curves pressing against him drove him senseless with need, as his hands itched to rip the garment off her and bury himself in her sheath.

This woman would no doubt be the end of him if he continued kissing her.

He pulled away from her, putting much-needed distance between them.

“I must make two things clear to you, wife,” he growled. “One, our marriage’s sole purpose is to help us escape the torment we would have faced because of the scandal. You wanted a love match, but I cannot give it to you, so do not harbor such paltry notions.”

Her cheeks were pink, and the soft mounds of her breasts teased his eyes, but he did not linger.

“Two, you are never to enter my chambers at this hour ever again.”

“Are you barring me from your chambers?” she asked incredulously.

“I may not be a beast, but I am only a man, and I would advise you to take some caution in your dealings with me.”

“Is there anything else, Your Grace?” She was angry, and that was much better than desire.

“Yes,” he answered grudgingly. “You have free rein of this estate, so you may do as you wish. I will not stop you.”

“I thank you for your generosity,” she sneered and turned away from him. “I bid you good night.”

The door slammed shut loud enough to rattle his glassware, but he ignored it and sighed, running a hand over his face at the turn of events.

He had not expected to lose control as he had, but his body was still primed and ready for release.

“Damn it,” he cursed.

He needed to learn to control himself around her, or she would no doubt begin to harbor hopes he would only dash. So, even if he wanted terribly to tear off her nightgown and taste her flesh, he would resign himself to cold baths and terrible longing to save them both the pain of indulgence.