The Art of Pleasuring a Duke by Scarlett Osborne

Author:Scarlett Osborne [Osborne, Scarlett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

N athaniel stood nervously on the stoop of the boarding house, hesitating for just a moment before using the large brass knocker. He could not have said why he was feeling nervous. He had dealt with his mother and that had gone better than expected, surely that would be the hardest part of the day.

Still, he could not help but wonder whether Miss Conolly would be home, and whether she would consent to see him. Visiting her at the boarding house was highly unusual, and perhaps the landlady would object.

Why did I not think of these things before now?

It took only a few seconds to realize that he had come too far to turn back now, and in any event, he did not want to. If anyone had seen him walking up to the door, it would cause more gossip if they saw him leave again without even knocking. If Miss Conolly was not at home, or he was not allowed to see her, then he would simply have to be on his way.

And I suppose it will be better to find that out now than to wonder about it.

He waited several seconds after he knocked before the door was opened by a woman of about forty. She was tall, with a warm, friendly face.

“Good day, Mrs. …” Nathaniel said, realizing that he had not asked Miss Conolly for her landlady’s name.

“Mrs. Hughes,” the woman said, not unkindly, “and good day to you too, sir…”

“I am Nathaniel Hawkins, Duke of Yanborough,” Nathaniel said. “I have come to see Miss Conolly. Is she receiving visitors today?”

“Oh. Welcome, Your Grace,” Mrs. Hughes said, curtseying somewhat stiffly.

She seemed slightly flustered at his appearance on her doorstep, and Nathaniel wondered whether Miss Conolly had told her that he might be coming to see her today. He was not sure whether it would be a better or worse sign if she had not. Nathaniel looked at the landlady expectantly.

Mrs. Hughes cleared her throat and seemed to come out of a moment of deep thought. “My apologies, Your Grace,” she said, sounding much more composed now. “Please do come in. I shall fetch Miss Conolly, if you would like to have a seat in the parlor.”

Mrs. Hughes stepped aside so that he could walk through the doorway, and Nathaniel’s eyes fell upon her. Miss Conolly looked quite different to how she had looked last night. She wore a simple gown of some gray fabric, and her fiery hair was pulled back tightly at the back of her head.

She wore no ornament of any kind, but Nathaniel thought that she looked just as beautiful as she had done in her moss green gown or on stage. She was standing at the far end of the hallway, with one hand outstretched to hold onto the bannister of the staircase beside her, as though she needed to steady herself.

Seeing her there, Nathaniel felt an urgent desire to run to her and hold her up, while simultaneously feeling rooted to the spot where he stood.

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