Page 22 of The Duke’s Ultimatum (Unrelenting Lords #1)

CHAPTER 22

I t had been a week since that deuced man proposed to Eleanor, and Derek hadn’t gone a day without seeing his arrogant face.

Without fail, whichever room he walked into, Simon and Eleanor were sure to be there. It’s gotten to the point Derek wouldn’t be surprised to find them in his bedchamber one night since he ran into them everywhere else.

Eleanor in his bedchamber.

The thought stopped all others. He was sure that her accepting Simon’s proposal would have been the end to her death grip on his thoughts, but unfortunately it only emboldened them.

Every time he saw her, he found ways to purposefully be in her sights, to bump into her, to touch her, to make her blush.

Derek figured if he had to endure seeing them at every corner, he might as well have some fun with them.

He had made it a game to see how often he could fluster Eleanor with looks and touches without Simon noticing. So far, the cad has missed them all. Derek grimaced. He had best remember it was just for fun, or else he could find himself tripping into actual feelings for the girl.

“If you’re going to continue to ignore me, I’m going to pack up my books and leave.” William looked over his spectacles towards Derek.

“Hmm? What?” Derek turned his head from the window overlooking the garden to look at his friend.

“You’re watching her, aren’t you?” William sighed, leaning back in his chair.

Derek threw him a questioning look. “Who?”

William rolled his eyes. “You are too old, and we go too far back, for you to pull an innocent act with me. You’re watching Eleanor.”

Derek was shocked. “I was not.”

William raised an eyebrow.

“And what if I was? I could be making sure all is well, and Hountshire is behaving himself.”

William continued to look at his friend, unimpressed. “Charlotte is out there with them. Plus, they’re engaged; I think any misbehaving they do would be forgiven.”

Derek huffed out a breath as he peered out the window. There better not be any misbehaving.

William cocked his head. “Looks to me like you’re pining.”

Derek laughed and jerked his attention to William. “Pining? William. I do not pine.” He scoffed.

William stood to gather his papers. “Correction. You never used to pine, but you have seemed to take up the pastime since coming here.”

Derek watched William stuff papers and books into his satchel. “What are you doing? I thought we were going to go over the accounts today?”

William shut one of the books and shoved it into his bag. “We were. But now, you’re pining.”

Derek stood and slammed a hand down on a pile of papers William was about to pick up. “I am not pining, and we need to go over these accounts. We have a meeting this week we need to prepare for.”

William leveled a look at Derek. “You get nothing done when you pine.”

Derek’s eyes widened. “I. Am. Not. Pining. In order for me to pine over someone, I have to be interested in someone I can’t have. I can have any woman I want.”

William smirked. “Then go have any woman you want. I’ll wait.”

William sat back down in his chair and folded his arms across his chest.

Derek quirked an eyebrow at his friend. “What are you doing?”

William looked at his timepiece. “I’m waiting. Go on. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? The actress, I believe, was your last conquest. Considering that was some time ago, I’m sure it won’t take you long. Go. I’ll wait.”

Derek’s vision clouded with red haze. “I’m not… What do you… What?”

“Go on. Here,” William reached into his satchel to remove the one ledger he placed in there, “I’ll prepare this account while I wait so it’s ready for our meeting.”

Derek stood staring at his friend. “What is the meaning of this?”

“You said you could have any woman you wanted. So, go, have any woman.” When Derek didn’t move, William continued, “Unless there is someone you want but can’t have, and therefore, you will not take just any other woman?”

Derek clucked his tongue. “There is no one I’m interested in.”

William stood back up. “I have no time for your games, Derek.”

Derek placed his hands on his hips. “I’m not the one playing games, William.”

William laughed. Loudly. So loud it startled Derek. William was not known for his sense of humor so the fact that William was not only laughing, but laughing so freely concerned Derek.

“Good God, man, what has come over you?”

“I should be asking you that question, Derek! Do you truly not realize how you behave around Eleanor?”

Hearing her name gave Derek pause. He never denied his attraction to the woman, but he thought he kept his feelings in check around others.

“You’re playing games with her; you’re like an animal playing with your food. Honestly, I’ve never seen you foolish over a woman before, and I can’t believe I’m seeing it now.”

Derek bristled. “I’m not playing games with her.”

William shook his head. “Really, Derek, this denial is beneath you.”

Derek was offended by the way his friend was painting him. “What? I’m not playing games with her. My whole goal is marry the girls off. She’s getting married to Hountshire; why would I want to risk that falling through for a bit of fun?

“That is an excellent question, Your Grace. Why are you?”

“I’m not!” Derek’s voice thundered throughout the study.

William rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Derek, I am your oldest friend. I’ve watched you flirt and romance almost every woman you’ve wanted. I have never seen you flirt and chase a woman like you are doing with Eleanor. You’re lucky the bloke she’s marrying is daft; you’re not necessarily as secretive as your think.”

Derek’s stomach dropped. “What do you mean?”

“Yesterday when we were talking to Charlotte about the finances, Eleanor walked in.”

Derek shook his head. “I remember.”

“I’m sure you do because you stared at her and completely missed our conversation. When I asked for your opinion, you said, ‘I don’t care what we have for dinner.’”

“Well, I didn’t,” Derek offered.

“We were talking about dowery for the girls!”

“Oh.” Derek racked his brain. He couldn’t for the life of him remember what he, William, and Charlotte were talking about. William was right, whenever Eleanor entered the room, everything else around him ceased to exist.

But that was only because he enjoyed her company.

“I like Eleanor; is that so wrong? Shouldn’t we like the ones we are to be around?”

William narrowed his eyes. “Yes, we should which is why I’m currently reconsidering our friendship.”

Derek rolled his eyes. “Look. I understand what you’re saying, and in anyone else, it would look like pining. But I just enjoy her company; she’s intelligent and witty and?—”

William barked a laugh. Really, Derek was becoming truly concerned for his friend.

“Oh, come on. Derek, this is beyond enjoying her company. You flirt with her, you find ways to be in her presence, you see to her when you’re out in public, you have inside jokes with each other, and you go out of your way to interact with her. Honestly, I think you need to reevaluate your position in her life.”

Derek remained adamant. “Sorry, William, I don’t see it. If it looks like I’m interested in her, I assure you I’m just passing the time. It’s all in good fun. She will marry Simon in a few weeks, and that will be that.”

William just looked at his friend.

“What, no laughter?” Derek joked.

William pursed his lips. “I hope for your sake you’re right. Because if you cross the line with her, it’s not just her life you’ll ruin, but her two sisters as well.”

William’s words stung. Derek pointed to the window that overlooked the veranda where Eleanor still sat with Hountshire and her mother. “Ever since I came here, those girl’s futures are all I care about. How dare you insinuate that I would so carelessly throw them away for a bit of fun.”

“That’s just it, Derek. I don’t think Eleanor would be a bit of fun, I think she could be more for you, and that is terrifying for you. So you keep her at arm’s length. Unfortunately for her, all that will do is cause more damage than if you were to actually take her.”

William’s words touched on something familiar within Derek’s gut, but he ignored it. Derek refused to believe that whatever feelings he had for Eleanor were anything more than platonic. He was steadfast in his belief that he was friendly with her because of their close proximity.

Derek sighed. “I’ve had enough of this conversation. Thank you for your input, William, but I think I can keep my affairs in order without your opinions.”

William once again collected his things. “I do hope so, Your Grace. I will go over these ledgers tonight and send them to you tomorrow morning for you to review.”

Derek found himself staring at the window. He didn’t even see William out. The man was being preposterous. He wasn’t chasing Eleanor; it was just his luck that whatever room he chose to walk in, she was already in. And yesterday, she was the one to walk into the room he was in.

Derek shook his head and laughed at the ridiculousness of him being the one to chase a girl. They came to him, and if he wanted one, he didn’t chase her, he just gave her the opportunity, and she took it.

Voices carried from the veranda, bringing his attention back to the window.

He saw the backs of Eleanor and Hountshire, and across from them, it looked like Charlotte and another woman were struggling with something.

“What in God’s name are they doing?”

Derek followed the voices outside. He found Eleanor sitting in the shade with Simon next to her, staring with a look of shock on her face. Charlotte and another woman were both trying to drag an iron bench across the veranda to a shadier spot.

“What’s going on out here?” Derek’s voice came out gruffer than he intended, but he found it ridiculous a man was content watching two women struggle to move furniture. Hountshire was supposedly all about propriety and what was expected of a man, yet he was perfectly fine letting these women grapple with the bench.

Charlotte stood and stretched her back. “Oh, hello, Your Grace. Lydia and I were just trying to move this into the shade, so we could continue our discussion out of the sun.” She threw a look to Simon, but he was reading a book, not caring enough to pay attention.

Derek glanced at Eleanor, whose eyes immediately dropped to her lap when their eyes connected.

“I see. Let me help you with that. Two fine women such as yourselves should not be moving this. Why didn’t you call for help?” Derek leaned down and picked up the bench with little effort.

Charlotte’s eyes widened at his maneuver. “Um, well…” Was that a girlish giggle Charlotte just let out? Derek smiled beside himself. “I didn’t think I would need to call someone, but it seems the Viscount has hurt his back during a recent hunting trip, so his mother and I figured we could move it between us.”

Charlotte gestured to where she wanted the seat, and Derek placed it there, allowing the women to sit and enjoy the shade.

Eleanor rose. “Let me call Jeffries for some refreshments. You two must be parched after all that.”

The two women murmured their thanks as Eleanor brushed past on her way back into the house.

Derek nodded to the women. “If you need anything else moved, please call for me.” He gave a passing glance to Simon, who was so entranced by his book, he didn’t even realize Eleanor had left his side.

Derek turned and walked back inside. He found Eleanor in the hallway on her way back to Simon and the mothers.

“Lovely day out, isn’t it?” Derek’s voice was low and smooth. He couldn’t help it. He had a naturally low voice, but when he was around Eleanor, words came out with more context than intended.

Eleanor stopped and looked up, her face flushed and her eyes wide.

“It is.” She shifted on her feet, trying to look around him.

What was it about knowing he made her nervous that enthralled him so?

“Wedding plans getting along well?” Derek leaned up against the wall. She could easily walk past him, and he found it interesting she stayed put.

She shook her head. He noticed that her shoulders dropped a bit. “They are. It’s just…”

“Just…?” He probed her to continue.

Eleanor looked to the doorway and sighed heavily. She surprised him by pulling him by his arm into the parlor, closing the door behind them.

“His mother is driving me insane. I thought my own mother would be a nightmare to deal with, but the Dowager Viscountess is giving my mother a run for her money.”

Derek couldn’t help but laugh. William wasn’t wrong that Derek’s relationship with Eleanor was somewhat familiar, but ever since he gave his blessing on Eleanor’s marriage, she tried her best not to engage with him. It was comforting to see her instigate a conversation.

“Someone more antagonizing than Charlotte?” Derek raised an eyebrow. “I don’t believe it.”

She smiled. “Well, believe it because she exists, and she’s out there.” Eleanor pointed to the outer wall.

“What does Simon say about all of this?” Derek hated the name on his tongue.

Eleanor lifted a slender shoulder. “Not much. He says it’s not the man’s job to worry about trivial things such as where we’ll feast or who will be in attendance. He says his job is show up.”

“How progressive of him,” Derek deadpanned.

Eleanor clucked her tongue. “Don’t start.”

Derek lifted his hands in innocence. “Don’t start what?”

Eleanor narrowed her eyes. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing. In fact, I have come to the conclusion that you’re back to your old tricks.”

Derek acted offended. “First off, I am offended you think I have tricks and second that they are old.”

Eleanor shook her head, trying not to laugh which was a shame. Her laugh was beautiful.

“In all seriousness, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Derek adjusted his cravat.

Eleanor’s eyes followed his movements and stood staring as his hands worked, all the while biting her bottom lip. Derek’s fingers itched to leave the cravat alone and trace that succulent lip.

Derek reprimanded himself. He had to be careful, or he would prove William right, and he could not let that happen. This was just a bit of fun. Nothing more.

Eleanor dropped her eyes and gave her head a little shake. “I feel it, too,” she said quietly.

All humor and mirth drained from his body. “What do you feel?”

She didn’t respond.

Derek took a step closer to Eleanor. Standing directly in front of her, he took his finger and lifted her chin. “What do you feel, Eleanor?”

At the sound of her name, she let a soft breath escape. “This pull between us.”

The air in Derek’s lungs evaporated. No. This was just a game. She knew this. It was nothing more. Right?

Derek searched Eleanor’s eyes for elaboration.

“But it cannot be,” she said as she took a step back. Then another one. She turned and left the room.

It was then Derek noticed that his hand was still raised, his thumb extended. By God. I was touching her lip.

With that thought, his mind and body reconnected, and he could still feel the softness of her lip underneath his finger. How could he have let that happen? How did he not have control of his body so that he didn’t realize he was touching her lip?

Maybe this wasn’t a game after all. And if it was, he was in serious danger of losing.