The Duke and I: A Forever Yours Novella by Reid Stacy

Author:Reid, Stacy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stacy Reid
Published: 2018-01-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

“His Grace, the duke of Hartford has called, Miss Emma.”

“Yes…yes…I heard you the first time, Williams,” she murmured to the hovering butler. “Have you informed the duke, Anthony has escorted Aunt Beatrice to Bath?”

“He has called for you, Miss Emma.”

Emma took a deep breath. My goodness, she felt restless and out of sorts. The duke hadn’t paid a personal call to her in years. Truly this could not be happenstance. Had Anthony betrayed her confidence?

“Have Mrs. Hodges send in tea and cakes. And please show in His Grace.”

She felt very presentable in her high-waisted, white-spangled gauze overdress with the palest green satin underskirt. Her hair had been coiffed in an elegant chignon with a few loose curls caressing her cheeks. Emma slowly stood as the duke strolled into the drawing room. Elliot had clearly ridden across to visit because he wore knee-high, dark brown, riding boots with gold tassels and breeches of tan moleskin that clung to his muscular thighs. He had discarded his riding crop, great coat, and his beaver but his jacket, waistcoat, and shirt were immaculate. Emma noticed that nestled in the folds of his cravat was a large gold set yellow diamond which reflected the glints in his golden eyes. No scenario she had imagined prepared her to see Elliot so soon after their night together. She hadn’t thought she would have cause to see him before she sailed to see her sister Elizabeth. He was such a unique combination of casual power and refined elegance. She liked it, very much. Emma drank in all of him at once, and pleasure welled up from her stomach and burst upwards to her chest like sunshine. It was always so wonderful to see him but what was he doing there? Please let it be a coincidence, her heart could not bear anything else.

She directed an enquiring glance at him. “Elliot…I... I…Your Grace, I fear Anthony and Maryann have left for Bath. They return in two days’ time.”

Sleek brows rose at her bumbling. Heat climbed her face, and she suddenly wished she had travelled down with them despite the ache in her leg and the pitying glances she had known she would receive. A bit flustered she dipped into a curtsy before lowering herself back on the sofa. His presence suddenly made the spacious and elegant drawing room seem compressed.

Mrs. Hodges bustled in with the tea trolley, and with quick bobs, she quietly departed.

“Forgive my abruptness, but what are you doing here, Elliot?”

His golden eyes ran over her like a physical caress. “Ah, I thought we were friends of sorts?”

Emma was instantly suspicious. More like petrified. She had written him every so often, and only received a few replies. She had sent him small tokens and gifts on his birthday and Christmas and received clipped thank yous. Friends did not ignore each other so.

His eyes lowered to the chess set on the small walnut table before her.

“You play yourself?”

“I…It is more enjoyable than it seems,” Emma offered with a small wince.

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