Page 32 of Trapped with the Beastly Duke
Rose thought back to the woman she had met when she first arrived. The Dowager Duchess had been an older version of Olivia, with the same kind smile and gentleness. Yet, she had been more reserved than her daughter, embodying a kind of serene grace that evoked a sadness in Rose that she did not fully understand.
“And what about you and your siblings?” Rose held Olivia’s gaze. “Can you not speak to your brother?”
Olivia laughed. “Oh, we can, but none of us really has a head for decorating or groundskeeping. And to be honest, I agree with Mother. The castle should be the seat of the Duke, and until he decides that it will be his home, I do not think there will be any changes made.”
She paused, then gave Rose a sidelong look and an impish grin. “Although, perhaps what Emberly really needs is the loving touch of a new Duchess. Is that not what wives are supposed to do?”
Rose felt her cheeks redden, even as she laughed. “If you have no luck convincing the Duke of the need to tend to the castle, I scarcely see what I could possibly achieve.”
“You underestimate your influence, my dearest Rose.” Olivia’s gaze was serious. “This is the longest he has agreed to remain at the castle since Father died.”
Rose felt her jaw drop but was saved from having to think of anything to say by the sound of maniacal laughter and delighted shouts. Curious, she glanced at Olivia.
“What on earth is that?” She gestured in the direction the sounds were coming from.
Olivia grinned. “I suspect it would be best to show you. It will be far too difficult to explain, and I suspect you would not believe me anyway.”
“Intriguing. Truly, Olivia, you do know how to pique one’s curiosity.” Rose allowed herself to be led towards the sound.
Olivia grinned and held a finger to her lips, clearly indicating that a cautious and quiet approach would be necessary. Rose smiled at her sister-in-law but did as she was asked.
I feel like a child trying to see something I ought not to.
As they rounded a corner, Rose saw the source of the commotion. Three children were holding wooden swords in their hands, all aimed at an incredibly tall man before them. Rose recognized the children as Alexander’s siblings.
“At last, we have found you, you scallywag!” cried the tallest of the three children.
She was ten and wore a navy blue dress coat and hat made to look like that of a naval officer. The girl was Marie, and she kept having to push her hat up so that she could see. Beside her were the twins, Peter and Natalie, who were eight.
“You thought you could escape the King’s justice, but you were wrong!” Peter waved his sword at the man before them, the sleeves of his coat swallowing his hands comically.
“Yes, tell us where the treasure is!” Natalie cried, attempting to roll up her sleeves whilst also holding her sword.
“Never!” came a deep and somewhat familiar baritone. “You fools think you have me cornered, trapped like some wild dog? Yet, it is I who have lured you to your doom.”
The man leaped onto a nearby bench, holding his sword before him and letting out the same maniacal laugh Rose had heard before. As he turned to better face the children before him, she gaped.
It was Alexander. He wore an open, ruffled white shirt, with a second wooden sword strapped to his waist. His hair was wind-swept, and he wore a dark eye patch over his eye, which highlighted the scar on his eyebrow.
He pulled the second sword out of his belt, holding both before him as he advanced on the children. “You think that I, the Dread Pirate Golden Eye, would be lured here by such a foolish ploy? I, who conquered the seven seas? The same Captain Golden Eye who has laid waste to half the King’s navy? So brave, and yet so naïve. The treasure shall never be yours. Even if you kill me, you will never find what you seek. For I have hidden it, and you lack the wit to find it!”
“You dog!” Peter lunged with his sword at Alexander, laughing as he was gently parried away. “We are the finest wits in the land! We are the King’s men!”
“And women!” Marie added indignantly.
“Be you the King’s men or his women, it matters little to me.” Alexander held his swords before him as if inviting his siblings to attack. “For it is I who holds the power here. And it is you foolish children who have enteredmydomain. There is no hope to be found here, for you shall not best me in spirit or body! Flee while you still can!”
“Never!” Marie pushed her hat further up her face. “We shall defeat you and be victorious.”
Alexander let out a villainous laugh once more. “You have spirit, and I like that. But it will do you no good here. Yet,perhaps… Yes… Perhaps I shall allow you to amuse me. After all, it is so terribly dull being the most fearsome man in the world. Let us play a game then, or do you lack the courage?”
Rose watched in amazement as Alexander turned away from the children, and spotted them. Instantly, he dropped the act. His mouth opened, and in his haste to put away his swords, he dropped one on the ground.
“Good morning, Sister, Rose.” He bowed to them. “I had not expected to see you.”
Rose noticed a faint flush on his cheeks and found herself smiling. “I had not realized you were such a talented actor.”
To her surprise, Alexander’s flush deepened.