Page 40 of Pursuing a Duke
Harrison opened the door. “The Duke of Blackstone is here to see you. He is in the drawing room.”
Her heart raced upon hearing Andrew’s name spoken out loud. She had wondered when he would seek her out. Then she remembered how angry she had been with him. “Please tell him I will be down shortly, and have tea delivered.” She handed Harrison her wet cloak and gloves, hurried up two sets of stairs, and entered her chambers, ringing the bell for her maid. Her warm bath would have to wait until later. She removed her damp traveling clothes. Wearing only her chemise, she used a cloth, soaked it in the basin, lathered it with flowery-scented soap, and wiped down all her exposed skin, taking the dust and grime from the streets with it.
“Ma’am,” said Amanda as she entered the room. “I just heard the Duke of Blackstone is here. What shall you wear?”
“The garnet day dress. Please bring a new chemise as well. Mine is damp.”
After she dressed, she sat at the dressing table. “Could you take my hair down? I shall leave it loose as it is also damp.” Once Amanda brushed her hair, Emmeline put on the matching slippers to the dress and slowly walked down one flight of stairs to the drawing room. Outside the partially open door, her hand covered her pounding heart as she tried to calm her nerves. As much as she wanted to see Andrew, she also didn’t want to see him. Part of her was still so angry at him. It had been a month since she had seen him, and she was shocked he’d called upon her so abruptly. She had said she never wanted to see him again, and at the time, she’d meant it... but now?
She breathed in and out several times to calm herself, then she pushed the door open and stepped inside. “Your Grace, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?” He faced the window, his arms behind his back, and he pivoted around at the sound of her voice. His features were guarded as he swept his eyes up and down, taking her in. Two things becamenoticeable at once: he looked tired, and he looked uncertain. She understood perfectly.
“I was in the area and wondered if you knew Langford and Lilly arrive in town tomorrow.”
She frowned. “No. I did not. But a note would have sufficed. You didn’t have to travel out on such a nasty day. I’m quite convinced Lilly will send me a note when she arrives at Langford House tomorrow.” She tried to ignore the fast beat of her heart at the handsome sight of Andrew looking dashing in his riding clothes, even if he was exhausted. No matter how angry she was at him, her heart would never forget him, nor would her upbringing let her be rude and throw him out. So she did the only thing she could think of. “But as you are here, would you care to join me for tea?” She sat on the dark blue settee and arranged her skirts. “Please sit.”
“Thank you.” He took a wing-backed chair facing her, his hat in his hands, and she noticed his hands trembling ever so slightly. So she wasn’t the only one affected by this little impromptu visit. “I didn’t expect you to receive me.”
She tilted her head, her heart thumping wildly as she wondered how this visit would play out and what the outcome would be. Because honestly, she had no idea what she would do or say. “Why did you come?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps to see if you would receive me?”
“I see.”
“I don’t think you do,” he said with sadness.
“Enlighten me.” So many emotions were swirling inside her body and mind that she didn’t know if she’d survive this visit unscathed. They were old friends, awkward strangers, and intimate lovers all at the same time.
“I miss you.” His words were so soft they barely reached her ears.
“Nothing has changed since last we spoke.” Except she missed him every minute of every day. Her heart craved him. But her mind was still so very hurt and angry. She wasn’t a callous person who held grudges—except something deep inside her where she loved Andrew had altered that day. She had been fighting it and trying to heal the wound ever since. Indeed, she was angry at Langford and Caldwell as well, but knowing them, they were likely following Andrew’s lead that day when the story was told. Either that or they were protecting him from her. After all, it was Andrew’s horse Aiden rode and Andrew’s words that spoke the lie about his horse. They just didn’t contradict him.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, his voice edged with fatigue. His usually bright-green eyes were dull, and his face looked drawn as if he had lost weight.
Tears clogged her throat and stung her eyes, but she refused to let him see her cry. She needed to remain strong for the sake of her sanity. Thank goodness a footman took that moment to enter the room and place the tea tray on the highly polished wooden table in front of her. She picked up the pot and poured the tea into two cups. “Sugar?”
“Yes.”
She prepared his tea, then leaned forward, holding out the cup and saucer. He took it from her hands and leaned back in his seat. “Thank you.”
After adding sugar and a splash of cream to her tea, she picked it up and took a sip. “There are biscuits. Please help yourself.”
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
She had been positively famished when she’d arrived home, but no longer. Hoping the tea would settle her stomach, she sipped it slowly.
“How have you been?” he asked over the rim of his cup.
Before she could answer, her mother entered the drawing room. “I thought I heard a man’s voice...”
Andrew rose and bowed. “Baroness, how lovely to see you again.”
“Your Grace.” She curtsied. “What a pleasant surprise. Please sit.”
Her mother joined her on the settee and poured herself tea in the extra cup on the tray.
“Langford and Lilly will be back in town tomorrow,” Emmeline told her mother.
“That is wonderful news. I miss Lilly so much. It is not the same as when she lived with us.”
