Page 24 of The Duke’s Ultimatum (Unrelenting Lords #1)

CHAPTER 24

E leanor stretched her arms over head, relishing the release of her tight muscles. A small smile twitched on her lips. Memories of why her muscles were so sore flooded her mind.

Images of strong hands and dark eyes vibrated against her skin, and phantom feelings teased her senses. Eleanor took a deep breath and released it on sigh. It had been a long time since Eleanor slept so soundly and was able to awaken so relaxed.

The only twinge of embarrassment she felt was when she recalled how she and the Duke parted ways last night. After she helped him right his study in awkward silence, they shared an even more awkward moment when they wished each other a good night. She scurried to her bedroom without another word.

Eleanor shook her head. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as she thought. She rolled over to the side of the bed and sat up, pushing her feet into the soft plush rug under her bed. She walked over to the window and took in the beautiful summer morning before her.

Everything felt right in her world. She knew her idea would work. All she and the Duke needed to do was get whatever was between them out of their system, and all would be well. They did, and now, Eleanor felt free to move on to more pressing matters like planning her wedding to the Viscount.

She sat down at her vanity and took in her appearance. She tilted her head. Funny. I thought I would look different. I certainly feel different.

Eleanor raised her chin and turned her head side to side. Nothing different. Same Eleanor.

She shrugged. Oh well, she didn’t do it for any reason other than moving on from a silly girlhood crush. She stared into her own eyes. She was glad the Duke was her first; she felt taken care of for her first time.

My love.

She watched as the blush crept over her cheeks as she remembered his husky voice saying that. She dropped her eyes. She could no longer look into her own eyes when she thought of her time with the Duke. It felt scandalous.

Eleanor’s door opened, and her maid came through. “Lady Eleanor, breakfast is served. Would you like to come downstairs, or shall I bring you a plate?”

Eleanor smiled. “I’ll be downstairs, Mary, thank you.”

“If I may say, you look well rested, My Lady.”

Eleanor stood and let the thrill rush through her. She enjoyed having the reason for her restfulness be a secret only she knew. Well, she and the Duke. Warmth spread through her core at the thought of the Duke. It gave her pause at first, but she shrugged it off as being so happy over her mental state. It had nothing to do with the man himself, no sir.

She made her way downstairs and into the breakfast room. Her mother, Sarah, and Beatrice were already seated.

“Good morning, all!” Eleanor breezed in and took a seat at the table. Sarah and Charlotte looked up from their plates with curious looks. Beatrice had her face turned downwards, no doubt reading.

“Sleep well, sister?” Sarah asked.

Eleanor took a sip of tea and nodded her head. “The best I have in weeks.”

Charlotte leaned forward to place the back of her hand on Eleanor’s cheek and frowned. “You don’t feel warm. Mrs. Mac!” Charlotte called the head housekeeper.

Eleanor swatted away her hand. “Oh, Mama! I’m fine,” she chuckled. She turned towards the doorway that Mrs. Mac had just come to. “You can return to what you were doing, Mrs. Mac. My mother didn’t need to call you.”

“What did you do differently last night?” Charlotte asked, looking at her daughter suspiciously.

Eleanor felt the blood drain from her face. “What do you mean?” Her heart thudded. Surely her mother was not aware of her late night escapades with the Duke. Eleanor picked up her teacup to take a sip, hoping to appear normal and not skittish.

Charlotte shrugged. “I mean, you must have done something differently last night, or yesterday, that exhausted you so that you got the rest you needed. Perhaps if you do that every night, you’ll sleep well each night.”

Eleanor sputtered out her tea. Droplets rained down on the table and poor Sarah who was sitting across from her.

“Ew! You got some on me, Eleanor!” Sarah whined as she blotted the tea that dribbled down the front of her dress. “Why did you do that?”

Eleanor began to cough as she tried to swallow what tea was left in her mouth.

“I am so sorry, Sarah. It was a bit hotter than I expected.” Eleanor used her napkin to wipe her mouth and the spots on the table.

“Really, Eleanor, you should pay better attention. Now I’ll have to change.”

“It was an accident, Sarah. Let her be,” Charlotte tutted. “Let’s not ruin her good mood. After all, today is a big day. We’re going to the modiste to pick out a new dress for her to wear.” Charlotte turned to Eleanor. “Are you excited, my dear?”

Eleanor nodded her head. “I am actually. The closer we get, the more excited I am for this new chapter of mine to start.” Eleanor took a breath and sat back. She was surprised there was a glimmer of truth to what she said. A smile broke free on her face. She was right to proposition the Duke; it truly was what she needed to prepare for the next phase in her life.

All was right in her world.

Until he walked in.

The air changed before she even saw him. Her nerves went on high alert. She sat up in the chair; her body was ready. For what? Eleanor couldn’t say. But even before his form appeared in the doorway, Eleanor’s whole demeanor changed.

Even just the sound of his footsteps was enough to turn her skin hot and cause her heart to race. When he sat at the head of the table, Eleanor felt the ground fall from beneath her.

He didn’t look as well rested as she felt. Curious thoughts tumbled through her head, and she couldn’t keep them straight. Why does he look so ragged? Did he not like last night? Did I do something wrong?

Eleanor’s eyes sought Graynor’s out, hoping to be able to read the secrets they held.

“Good morning, Your Grace. Did you sleep well?” Charlotte’s voice held some concern.

“Good morning, Charlotte. Unfortunately, I did not.” His voice was soft. He didn’t look at Charlotte when he responded. In fact, he wasn’t looking at anyone. The once intimidating and commanding Duke kept his eyes focused on his tasks of setting his breakfast plate and taking sips of his tea.

Eleanor, Sarah, Charlotte, and even Beatrice, looked at each other, no one knowing where to take the conversation from there.

Charlotte cleared her throat and shifted in her chair. “Is everything all right, Your Grace? Something amiss with your room?”

Graynor shook his head, continuing to concentrate on buttering his bread.

“No, Charlotte, everything is fine. It’s a business matter that made a turn I wasn’t expecting that kept me up late into the night.”

Eleanor’s heart leaped into her throat. Was he talking about their night together? Or did a business issue truly come to his attention afterward?

Eleanor chewed on her bottom lip. Perhaps this was her chance to find out. She needed to know if their night together affected him. But she had to be careful with her questions, so her family didn’t catch on to her true mission for her line of questioning.

Eleanor took a deep breath. “I can’t imagine how that must feel, Your Grace—when you expect one thing and something else happens.” She turned her body towards him. “I gather from your sleepless night, you are not happy with the change?”

She held her breath.

Graynor stared at his plate. His hands, which were resting on the table, were now flexing beside his plate. He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed.

He lifted his head and looked directly at Eleanor.

His dark blue eyes swam with lust and heat so much so that heat began to blossom within Eleanor’s core.

Unknowingly she licked her lips. She didn’t realize she did it until she saw Graynor’s eyes drop to watch her tongue swipe her bottom lip.

“Actually, Eleanor…” His voice was coarse and husky. “… it was a pleasant surprise, one I would have entertained sooner if I knew the rewards.”

Eleanor’s eyes widened. She didn’t know how, but she just knew this business deal he was talking about was her. Confusion and exhilaration darted through her. Was he saying he would have taken her sooner? Would he take her again?

Images of secret meetings, stolen kisses, roaming hands invaded her thoughts and left her breathless. She heard Sarah’s fork hit her plate, and the haze of lust lifted from Eleanor. Right. I’m at the breakfast table with my sisters… and my mother!

Eleanor swallowed and forced a small smile, trying to appear nonchalant while her insides were exploding with confusing feelings and runaway thoughts.

“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” she managed.

“So why didn’t you get any sleep if it was such a good deal?” Sarah butted in, her mouth full of bread.

“Sarah!” Charlotte chided. “Do not talk with your mouth full. It’s unladylike.”

Eleanor sat back in her chair, thankful for the reprieve Sarah created with her interjection.

Graynor sat back and rubbed his face with his hands. “Because Sarah, the deal fell through. It wasn’t mine to have.”

“Oh. So, you didn’t sleep because you missed out on a good thing?” Sarah followed up.

Graynor’s blue eyes locked in on Eleanor’s. “Yes.”

A tear formed in Eleanor’s eye, and she quickly batted it away. This was not how it was supposed to go. Last night was supposed to cut the tie between them. She needed to get out of this room.

Listening to him talk about losing out on a good thing was breaking her. Was he saying she was the good thing? Never once did he imply something more could happen between them. So why was he saying this now?

Her confusion turned to anger. He had no right to come in here and say those things and confuse her.

Eleanor abruptly pushed away from the table.

“Mama? I’m going to freshen up before we leave. Would you mind if we leave a little early for the modiste? I’m really excited and want to go as soon as possible.”

Charlotte looked surprised. “I can arrange that.” Charlotte reached out to take Eleanor’s hand. “I’m so glad that you’re excited. I told you it would all work out in the end.”

Eleanor looked down at her mother, but she could feel the heat of the Duke’s gaze on her. “Yes, Mama. I’m happy, too. I know I’ll have a happy life with Simon.”

Eleanor excused herself from the room, refusing to look at the Duke. She walked down the hallway, and she quickened her steps when she got to the staircase. When she got up the stairs, she all but ran into her room.

Charlotte gasped. “Oh Eleanor! Look at the color and overlay on this one!” Charlotte’s voice rang out across the modiste’s room. “This color would look so beautiful on you. We must get it.”

Eleanor felt numb. The colors of the dresses that surrounded her blurred together creating a tapestry of muted colors. She walked aimlessly around the room, randomly touching different fabrics. It didn’t matter if they were soft or delicate, each touch felt like sand beneath her fingertips.

Nothing felt right. Nothing looked right. Eleanor passed a mirror and stopped. She tilted her head as she took in the sight in front of her. Gone was the confident, excited, and positive woman that awoke this morning. Now, she felt shattered, broken, confused. Curse that blasted Duke.

“Eleanor?” Sarah approached her timidly. “Mama wants you to try on a dress she found. Don’t you hear her calling? I think Beatrice back at home heard her.”

Eleanor continued to stare into the mirror.

Sarah took Eleanor’s hand in hers. “Ellie, is everything all right?”

Eleanor looked at her sister. “Ellie? You haven’t called me that since we were little.”

Sarah offered a slight smile. “Well, if I’m honest, you look like you’re a lost little girl, so I figured it was appropriate.”

Eleanor just nodded at the explanation.

Both women stood in awkward silence.

“Eleanor! There you are! I’ve been calling you and calling you.” Charlotte stopped and took in Eleanor. “My goodness, child. Are you feeling all right? You look so pale?”

Eleanor licked her dry lips. “Yes,” her voice croaked. “I’m fine, just a bit overwhelmed, I guess.”

Charlotte laughed. “Oh, yes, I can understand that fully! It’ll pass my dear. Try to remember how you were feeling this morning, so happy and joyful” Charlotte began to pull Eleanor to the front of the store. “Come, seeing this dress will perk you right up.”

Eleanor allowed her mother to pull her. If she didn’t, Eleanor feared she would remain staring at the stranger in the mirror.

Once they got to the front of the store, Charlotte took the dress from the modiste who was holding it with the delicacy of handling a new born baby. “Here she is. Isn’t she beautiful?”

Eleanor smiled. “Thank you, Mama.”

Sarah leaned in and whispered, “I think she was talking about the dress.”

Eleanor laughed despite herself.

“Look at the detail, Eleanor. Not too busy but just enough to give it an air of sophistication. I think this will look beautiful on you. It’ll be the perfect way to start your new life as a wife… and hopefully mother,” Charlotte added with a twinkle in her eye.

Charlotte’s happiness was making Eleanor feel guilty. Whatever was going on in her mind in regard to the Duke must stop. Her mother was right, she just needed to get back to the way she was feeling this morning.

Obviously she wasn’t as over her crush as she thought, but if she kept her focus on the wedding, she could overcome it. For the sake of her mother and sisters’ future well-being, she would marry Simon.

She had to.