Page 27 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke (Regency Beasts #3)

" S o Hickling…" Theo began once the meal had been served. "Tell us more about yourself. We didn't get a chance to be more acquainted when we played games previously."

Cecilia buried a sigh as she watched the easy smile on his handsome face. Her heart hadn't stopped beating since he had arrived unexpectedly at their home, worse still when she saw the frigid look in his eyes as he looked at her suitor.

She couldn't understand why his usually charming demeanor seemed forced around the man and wondered if perhaps there was some history between the two men.

Even Lord Hickling, who usually had a beatific look on his face looked as though he didn't mean the smile he sent the duke's way. The air between them was potent, like the air before lightning struck across the sky.

How was she to eat when the air was so charged?

The only person oblivious to the tension hovering in the air happened to be her usually perceptive brother who had been smiling and making jokes – making jokes – all evening.

She didn't understand this change her suitor had wrought in him and while anyone else would have celebrated this change in him, she dreaded it. It announced the fact he was already overjoyed by a possible match between her and Hector.

While anyone else or even her might have been overjoyed as well by a match to a man who was everything she had wanted in a husband, she felt only dread at the probability of the match being finalized too quickly.

She felt nothing but a pleasant cordiality when they conversed, nothing like the heat that the duke set in her blood with only a gaze from him.

She had thought she knew what she wanted in a husband before, now that she had tasted what passion could exist between man and woman, she wanted nothing more than to experience that for the rest of her life.

"I believe I have spoken enough about myself today, Your Grace," Hector answered. "I do not want to bore the lady and His Grace by reiterating my tale."

"Oh I'm sure you might prove adept at telling the same story in a more entertaining manner," Theo said, cutting into his beef. "What are your hobbies and interests?"

"Have I perhaps sparked your attention, Your Grace?" Hector asked.

"Indeed. You are most interesting," he answered. "I cannot look away."

Hector laughed. "I am flattered, Your Grace."

Cecilia watched the conversation between the two men with bated breath. If she didn't somewhat know the duke, she would have thought the duke was being merely inquisitive but his eyes betrayed something else.

Still, she was grateful he was saving her from the conversation that would have ensued had he not monopolized Hector's attention.

She tried to catch his eyes to tell him that she wanted to speak to him later on but he seemed hell bent on ignoring her.

The conversation moved from the dinner table to the drawing room as the meal ended and coffee was served for her and Hector with the duke and her brother opting for whisky.

She suggested a round of cards but the men were deep in their discussion so didn't even hear her. She sat in silence and used the time to watch the duke feeling guilty all the while she did.

She was supposed to be making conversation, or at least admiring her perfect suitor who would, from the looks of things, soon be her husband. Yet she was watching another man who had done naught but help her in corrupting herself.

"I regrettably must bid you all good night," Hector announced suddenly, drawing her gaze. "The hour is late."

“'Tis still early, Hickling. You cannot leave just yet," Theo teased with a charming smile that didn't fool her. There was pure ice behind his eyes as he looked at the man. "Or are you perhaps meeting a mistress?"

Cecilia choked on the coffee she had been drinking and coughed violently. Her eyes burned with unshed tears and mortification and she readily accepted the kerchief handed to her by Hector.

"Are you alright, Lady Cecilia?" he asked with a hand on her back.

She felt uncomfortable at his touch and nodded, moving away from him.

"I am well. Thank you, my lord," she told him. "I was surprised, that is all."

"As was I," Magnus said with a stormy look. "Emerton should know better than to discuss such things in front of a lady."

"My apologies, Lady Cecilia," he said, turning to her with a look that scalded her. "I didn't mean to offend your delicate sensibilities."

He was mocking her.

If anyone else looked at his eyes they would have seen that he knew she didn't possess said delicate sensibilities.

She sent him a look she hoped told him she wished to speak with him later but he turned away quickly and she frowned.

This was the first time he had acknowledged her since his greeting earlier in the evening and while she should have hidden her grief better, she knew she was sporting a frown on her face.

What had she done to deserve his ire?

She was the one who was supposed to be angry after he had so harshly ordered her home after she had cleaned his wounds and then ignored her in her own home.

She was the one supposed to be ignoring him yet she still wanted to speak to him despite how he had hurt her.

"On the contrary, Your Grace," Hector answered. "I want to have an early night as I will be going on a business trip tomorrow morning."

"Have a safe trip then, Hickling," Magnus said with a smile. "We shall discuss further upon your return."

Cecilia felt her heart sink when she saw the two men shake hands, feeling somewhat like a sold horse. It seemed a proposal was in her near future and all he wanted to do was run away.

She sent a look to the duke who was conversing with her brother. She set her coffee cup on the table and rose to her feet.

"Are you retiring, sister?" Magnus asked, noticing.

"Yes," she answered. "It is indeed rather late."

He rose to his feet as well, nodding.

"Emerton, will you be staying or…"

"I shall take my leave now," Theo answered. "I have intruded enough on your hospitality. Have a good night as well, Lady Cecilia."

Cecilia felt her heart soar in panic as she saw him shake hands with her brother and leave the drawing room.

"Aren't you going upstairs, Cecilia?" Magnus asked drawing her gaze.

"Oh… yes. I just remembered I wanted a glass of warm milk before bed. It helps me sleep better," she said, wringing her hands. "You can go upstairs first. I'll go to the kitchen first."

He nodded and left and once she heard his steps retreat above stairs, she rushed after the door hoping the duke had returned home like he said.

She didn't have time to change into a simpler dress so she would just have to risk being seen exiting a hansom in front of his estate.

She should have found a way to speak to him before he left but she didn't want to risk her brother knowing just how familiar the two of them had gotten if he caught them alone together.

She neared the coat room when she saw the door slightly ajar and before she could think, hands reached out and pulled her in, closing over her mouth.

"Before you scream, remember that you do not want your brother discovering us, little mouse." Theo's voice whispered in her ear.

"I thought you left," she said once his hand lowered from her mouth.

She couldn't keep her sadness out of her voice. Her mouth even dipped into a frown even if her heart raced from fear at being so startled. He had a bad habit of frightening her and it hadn't gotten amusing.

"You so obviously wanted to speak to me," he stated smugly. "How could I leave?"

Her cheeks heated and she lowered her eyes.

He had noticed that after all.

She thought he had been too taken in his anger at her to notice but of course the infuriating man noticed.

She folded her arms across her chest feeling her ire kindled. He didn't have any right to be so upset at her when he was the one who had done naught but offend her.

"You have misunderstood me then," she lied. "I have no reason to speak to you."

He chuckled deeply in his throat and she felt the sound reverberate through her.

"Is that so?" he asked.

"It is," she answered, lifting her chin.

"Why does it then appear I stopped you from donning a coat and running after my carriage?" he asked smugly. "You barely managed to keep your brother and suitor from suspecting we are more familiar than we are."

Damn you, she thought.

He couldn't very well just leave well alone.

She hated the fact he used every mistake she made to tease her. He couldn't be chivalrous and ignore it like a gentleman would.

"I was only heading to ensure the doors were locked," she answered, feeling foolish as the words left her mouth.

He chuckled harder then, forgetting that they were to be as silent as possible so they were not discovered.

"I thought we promised ourselves honesty, Cecilia," he commented.

"I wasn't the first to break our agreement," she retorted, feeling like a chagrined child.

Her cheeks heated up in mortification.

"I have been honest with you from the beginning," he told her. "I can be honest now. You look positively ravishing. I had a hard time keeping my eyes off you today. Your suitor was much the same and on that note I could not disagree with him."

Her skin warmed but she couldn't allow herself be distracted by him even if he was working hard to.

"That is not what I'm referring to, Your Grace," she scolded.

"What are you referring to then?" he asked. "Is it as interesting a discourse as what we are doing now?"

"Why did you send me home so abruptly that night?" she asked. "I thought we were finally becoming better acquainted. Did I do something wrong?"

The question had tossed and turned in her head yet she had been unable to understand why he had suddenly become so angry with her. He didn't even look at her as she left.

"I would not have us speak of it," he said sharply.

The temperature of the room turned as cold as his eyes had been when he was staring at Hector earlier.

"Why?" she asked. "I do not understand how you could just change so abruptly when we were having…"