Page 66 of The Duchess and the Beast

“And did you notice?”

“Notice what?” Virtue frowned.

Lucy made a circular motion at her face with her hands. “He was not wearing his mask.”

“Oh...” Virtue turned back and looked across the estate as if to double-check. “No... I did not.”

“Perhaps he has it with him?”

“No...” She smiled at the thought, knowing full well that he didn’t. “I don’t think so.”

That alone was proof of how much her husband had transformed. She was so used to seeing him without the mask on by now that she might have found it strange to see him wearing it. And the fact that he left without considering wearing it, that it scarcely even seemed to cross his mind, was further proof of how far the two had come together.

Her smile lingered, as she instructed Lucy to prepare some tea so they might take to the gardens.

Before she got a chance to do that, however, she decided to pop into the library to fetch a book. A relatively short walk to make, but one that she relished for how easy it was to do. Her strength was returning, and for that, she was grateful. Selecting a romantic novel—a fitting companion for a tranquil afternoon—she retraced her steps through the foyer.

And that was when she heard it, a knock at the front door.

Hesitation gripped her for a moment. Though the safety of her own home surrounded her, the recent memory of her poisoning cast a shadow of unease. Sebastian was not there as usual to reassure her, and no footman was immediately available to answer the door with the final renovations of the gardens still being underway. For a brief moment, she considered going outside to fetch someone but then chastised herself for being silly. She could not live her life in fear, and this right here should have been the most simple of tasks. After all, for one to have made it this far onto the castle grounds, they must have been accounted for already.

Taking a deep breath, Virtue approached the door, her hand steady as she reached for the handle, ready to face whatever—or whoever—awaited her on the other side. But then she opened the door, and suddenly, she found herself wishing that she had listened to good sense and called for someone.

“Lord Prescott!” she gasped at the sight of her ex-betrothed.

“Your… Your Grace?” A flash of surprise crossed his features to find her answering the door. His smile was sheepish, tinged with discomfort, suggesting that his visit was borne of necessity rather than desire. “Is there nobody else to man the doors? What a delightful coincidence,” he laughed awkwardly, his eyes not quite meeting hers. “How are you this fine afternoon?”

Virtue kept the door only half-open. “I am well...”

“That is good,” he said, his smile attempting to widen convincingly, yet lacking any real assurance. “I was in the areaagain and thought I might stop by and see how you are doing. I had the good sense to send a calling card prior to my visit this time. I hope it arrived well?”

Virtue had no possible way to know if what Lord Prescott was saying was true, especially with Sebastian absent. So, she chose to play it safe. “Thank you for your concern,” she replied carefully.

They stood in a state of tense silence. Virtue did not want to prolong the conversation any more than she had to, so she chose not to speak. And Lord Prescott was clearly nervous, fiddling with his hands, eyes flicking about himself and over her shoulder.

“Why are you here?” Virtue finally broke the silence when it became clear he would not broach the subject first. “Truly?”

“The truth? I wanted to make sure you were all right,” he doubled down. “Word of what happened reached my ears recently, but nobody seemed to know how you were progressing.”

“Oh? It did, did it?”

“Of course.”

“Well, again, I appreciate your concern, but as you can plainly see, I am fine.” She tried not to speak curtly or rudely to the man, but his being here at the precise moment her husband left wastelling. “And if that is all—” She moved to close the door but he shot out a hand to stop her.

“Well,actually, there is something else.” He stepped forward, his hand reaching out to prevent the door from shutting. “May I... May I come in?”

A surge of unease washed over Virtue. Once, the sight of Lord Prescott had her heart fluttering for reasons that now felt laughable.So handsome, she used to think. Sobigandstrongandmanly. Now, she wondered what she ever saw in him.

But it was more than that now. The way he looked at her. The way he hovered and leered. It was unsettling and eerie, so Virtue stood ready to slam the door in his face if need be.

“The Duke is in his study,” she began, albeit unconvincingly. “And I do not think he would appreciate me inviting my ex-betrothed into his home.”

“Is he?” Lord Prescott frowned. “So that was not him I just passed riding south?”

She felt her throat tighten, her reply barely a whisper. “N—no. You must be mistaken.”

“Virtue...” He sighed. “You have nothing to fear from me. I just want to talk.”