Page 32 of Deviant Duchess
“But why?” Deborah called after him.
Cedric bowed his head, but he kept on walking.
“Because she cannot stand me, that is why.”
The way he said it, the hurt that echoed in his deep voice as he walked away, had Deborah stopping her pursuit, and for the first time, she felt pity for the man.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“What is it?” Cedric called as he heard the knock at his office door.
He resumed chewing on the corner of his bottom lip as he continued looking down at the papers before him. He’d been called away the night before to hear an investment opportunity into the nearby town’s wheat yield increase, and though the investment returns were clearly written out on the pages before him, he could not seem to focus.
It seemed all he wanted to focus on anymore was Deborah’s lips. How soft they felt, how addicting they had tasted; like milk and cream and peaches. He’dnevermet a woman who tasted so delicious. Even when he wanted to be mad at her earlier, all he could feel was yearning, which had only soured his mood further and was how he found himself doing something he was not prone to doing- apologizing.
He knew she would never admit it, but there was a moment- abriefmoment, where she let herself go and sank into his arms.Feeling her melt into him had been…heavenly.Better than any touch he’d felt with a woman, and he had felt many.
“Ahem.”
Cedric blinked, realizing that once again he’d gotten caught up in the memory of their kiss, and looked up to see his young valet, Ebon.
“Yes, my boy,” Cedric sighed, dropping his pen onto his desk. “What is it?”
Ebon gave him a curious look.
“I am just waiting for your answer, Your Grace,” the young valet replied.
Cedric’s brows furrowed.
“Answer to what?” He asked.
Ebon’s look of curiosity shifted to one of worry as he shifted nervously on his feet. Cedric rubbed his temple as he stifled a groan, suddenly understanding that the boy had spoken to him, and he had been so wrapped in his thoughts that he had not heard him.
“To my question, Your Grace? I- I asked you if you would like me to turn down your bedding for you. Or if I could bring you a glass of port?”
“Turn down my bedding?” Cedric muttered, reaching for his pocket watch, “Why would you do that? It is only-”
Cedric paused as his eyes narrowed in on the lateness of the hour.
“Nearly one in the morning,” he sighed, snapping his pocket watch closed.
He put his pocket watch back and looked toward Ebon with a pitying gaze.
“Go to bed, my boy; I will take care of myself this evening. I am sorry that you waited to help me. I had no idea it had grown this late,” Cedric apologized.
There I go, apologizing again,he thought dryly.
Ebon gave him a kind smile and bowed.
“It really was no trouble, Your Grace,” he replied.
Cedric bid the valet farewell and then returned to his investment proposals. The words were just starting to blur and lose focus again when the sound of shattering glass had him jolting out ofhis chair. The word ‘Help!’ was then screamed with desperation, and Cedric rushed from his office.
His heart began to thrash wildly in his chest as he rounded the corner of the hallway and found Ebon on the ground, trying to hold down a convulsing Adeline.
“I did not mean to!” Ebon cried, looking up at Cedric with tear-filled eyes. “We just bumped into one another. It gave me a fright. Her as well. She laughed but then…then this happened!”
“It is alright, Ebon,” Cedric said, going to his knees, “Let her go, I have her.”
