Like clockwork, his nightly glass of scotch was already poured and waiting for him. He settled into a chair, and he was happy for the fire that burned in the fireplace. Though they were solidly into spring, the nights were still quite cool.
Alexander was a man who knew what he wanted, and he chased success like a fox chasing a hare. He was comfortable in most business situations, and in his role as the Duke of Farnworth. But, as he stared at the clock and sipped on his scotch, he realized that he had no idea how to act around Laura…Miss Elkins.
The door to the sitting room opened suddenly and Robert Hardy, the butler, stepped in.
“Your Grace,” Robert said. “I’m sorry for the intrusion, but the Earl of Kirkwall is here to see you.”
Graham? What does he want?
“Please see him in,” Alexander replied as he stood.
Graham walked through the door of the sitting room and Alexander could immediately see that the usual jovial and charming man that he knew was wearing a despondent look.
“My friend,” Alexander said, as he walked toward Graham with an extended hand. “Welcome.”
“I’m so sorry to intrude,” said Graham with a grim tone. “I was sitting and eating dinner alone tonight, and I realized that today is the anniversary of Joan’s death.”
Alexander’s face fell. “I didn’t realize. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, no need to apologize, friend,” said Graham as he took a seat near the chair Alexander had occupied. “You wouldn’t have remembered.”
“I wouldn’t have remembered your sister’s death?” Alexander asked, puzzled.
“No, the date,” explained Graham, as he took a glass of scotch from the footman who presented it to him on silver tray.
Alexander sat down and looked at his friend. “Has it already been three years, or is my mind deceiving me?”
“It has been,” said Graham with a downcast, slow nod. “I wanted to be with someone who knew her, and toast to her memory.”
Alexander squirmed a bit in his seat before lifting his glass. “To the memory of Joan. May she rest in eternal peace.”
“To Joan,” said Graham, raising his glass to meet Alexander’s.
Joan had loved Alexander, that he knew. In fact, she had come on quite strong to try to win his heart, but he had been uninterested in his best friend’s younger sibling.
“Thank you, friend,” said Graham, after he had swallowed his scotch in one swift drink. He held out the glass and the footman filled it up with more amber liquid.
Alexander glanced at the clock once again. It was five minutes to 8 o’clock. “I am always happy to help you, friend. I hope you know that.”
“Oh yes,” agreed Graham. “That’s why I came here. I knew you would understand. I hate dwelling on it, but I do want to honor her. It is probably best that I focus on the present, though. So, let’s change the subject. How are things at the brewery?”
“Not very well, I’m afraid,” said Alexander. “The business is fine, of course, but we just got word today that we lost a big customer.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Graham. “What happened?”
“Rival brewer,” explained Alexander. “I’m sure this won’t be the last client we lose. Woodworth suspects that the man is a bit despicable in his business practices. We can’t and won’t, sink to that level.”
“Good for you, friend,” said Graham. “You have always been an upstanding gentleman.”
“I appreciate that,” said Alexander with a smile. “It’s nice to have the support of lifelong friends.”
“Always,” agreed Graham, as the familiar, charming grin emerged on his face. “More scotch?”
Alexander nodded, and the footman quickly came to fill his glass. “Thank you,” he said as he watched Graham get his glass filled for the third time.
“I’m sure we will figure it out,” said Alexander, as he glanced at the clock once again. Almost on cue, there was a knock at the door.
It opened and once again, and Robert stepped into the room. “Your Grace, Miss Laura Elkins to see you.”
“Please bring her in,” said Alexander, briefly noticing Graham’s demeanor was greatly improve at the mention of a woman entering the room.
Alexander saw the shape of Laura walk through the door, but it was almost as if he was temporarily blinded by her physique. The dress she wore was tight around the hips and the fabric seemed to hug her breasts perfectly. For a moment, he couldn’t register anything but the shape of her body as she moved.
“Alexander?”
Alexander was brought out of his spell.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
I really wish Graham wasn’t here right now.
“Oh, yes,” said Alexander, finally coming to his senses. “This is Miss Laura Elkins, Lady Emily’s governess. I asked her to join me tonight in the sitting room.”
“The pleasure is mine,” said Graham, greeting Laura. Based on the smile that covered Laura’s face, Alexander couldn’t help but notice that Graham had charmed her almost instantly. He had always had a gift with ladies, a gift that Alexander could never dream of having.
“It is nice to meet you,” Laura said with a shaking voice. Is she nervous?
“Please join us, Miss Elkins,” Graham boomed, showing the signs that his previous glasses of scotch were going to his head. “I would love to learn more about you. His Grace has hardly mentioned you, and he certainly hasn’t mentioned your ravishing beauty.”
Alexander could feel his cheeks flush, and he was certain that they were as red and bright as his hair. This is not going as planned.
Chapter 10
Laura could not believe what was happening. She was in the sitting room speaking with a charismatic man, and she couldn’t help but smile at him. She had come here with the intention of speaking with the Duke, but instead, he seemed uninterested in her. He was simply sitting in a chair, sipping on his drink, and almost looked as if he was brooding.
“How do you like working with Lady Emily?” the man, who had introduced himself as the Earl of Kirkwall, asked her.
“She is a wonderful child, My Lord,” said Laura. “She is very intelligent, and I am enjoying her daily company.” She couldn’t help but keep turning her head to see all of the glamorous items in the room. Paintings, statues, and ornate furnishings were everywhere her eyes moved.
“Lady Emily is lucky to have you, I’m sure,” said the Earl. “I daresay my friend Farnworth is lucky, too,” he laughed.
Laura blushed. “I enjoy working here very much.”
“I’m almost thinking I should find myself a governess,” Lord Kirkwall said with a loud howl of laughter. “Do you think that’s a good idea, Farnworth? And I don’t even have a child to educate!”
Laura could tell that the Earl had been drinking, but there was something very likable about him. Even though she was slightly uncomfortable in this situation, he seemed like one of those people one would just want to spend time with.
“I’m sure Miss Elkins has lessons to work on tonight,” said the Duke suddenly. “Perhaps she should go back to her quarters.”
Laura turned quickly toward him, and she could tell that he was very serious.
“Oh no,” said the Earl. “She should just stay right here. We can use the company of a stunning beauty. I would like to see more of her…err…speak more of her…err…speak to her more.”
“Miss Elkins, please come with me,” Mr. Hardy, the butler, had simply appeared out of thin air and was now standing next to Laura.
“Oh, yes,” she said, confused as to what was happening. She stood and once again turned toward the Duke. He now had his back turned toward her. He must be angry with me. I was too friendly.
Laura followed Mr. Hardy out of the sitting room, trying hard to hold back the tears. She had been on edge all day about speaking with the Duke, and now it was over in a matter of minutes.
Once they were a few feet from the door of the sitting room,
Mr. Hardy turned to her. “Have a good evening, Miss Elkins,” and he walked back toward the sitting room.
Laura was a bit stunned. At this point, she only had two choices. She could barge back into the sitting room, or she could simply go back to her sleeping quarters. As she knew it would be extremely improper to go into a room without being invited in, so she chose the latter.
Alexander was quite appalled at Graham’s behavior. He also didn’t like the way Laura has smiled at him. Why am I feeling so jealous?
“I think it might be time to retire for the evening,” Alexander said to Graham with a purposeful coldness.
“Oh no,” slurred Graham. “We have only just started to have a good time.”
“You can stay,” said Alexander, “But I have work to do tonight, and I need to focus on that.”
“Alexander, you are a Duke!” bellowed Graham. “You can do work tomorrow.”
“That’s precisely why I have to work tonight, friend,” said Alexander. I need to get out of here. “Again, you are welcome to stay here tonight, as always, but I must excuse myself for the night.”
Alexander didn’t even wait for an answer. He quickly started to walk out of the room, with only one hope, catching up to Laura.
He couldn’t believe how perfect she looked tonight when she stepped into the sitting room. In fact, he felt a heat move throughout his body that was like nothing he had ever felt. He could still feel his heart beating out of his chest. He had even felt that familiar tightness in the front of his trousers when she turned just slightly and he could see the curve of her backside, though when she started smiling at Graham, he almost immediately felt his erection subside.
Alexander walked through the hallway as quickly has he dared as to not arouse suspicion from the staff, but he wanted to speak with Laura, and it would be scandalous if he went to her sleeping quarters.
He climbed the stairs, skipping steps at a time, and momentarily damning the large size of his home. The lamps had already been put out in most of the estate, and Alexander was sure that he would not be able to navigate easily without a source of light. It was then, just ahead, that he saw what he believed to be the back of Laura’s dress disappear around the corner.
The closer Laura got to her room, the more furious she was becoming. This was supposed to be her night to talk to the Duke, and instead, a drunken Earl had been there and made her feel uncomfortable.
It’s probably for the best. Laura couldn’t even imagine why she was so upset by this.
She walked more quickly and almost thought that she heard someone walking behind her, but as she turned, she couldn’t see down the dark hallway, so she kept walking.
Laura was almost to the door to her bedroom when suddenly she felt a strong hand around the top of her arm. As she turned her body around quickly, she could tell that it was a man who grabbed her, and at first, she thought that the Earl had followed her upstairs. However, as her eyes focused in, and thanks to the dim light from the moon shining through a window, she could tell that it was the Duke.
“Your Grace, you frightened me!” Laura said in a loud whisper. “What are you doing?”
“Please,” the Duke said, loosening his grip, yet not letting go of Laura’s arm. “I’m sorry about Lord Kirkwall. He lost his sister a few years ago, and he is not dealing with it well.”
“I can see that,” Laura replied, looking directly into the eyes of her employer.
“Are you all right?” the Duke asked.
Laura noticed that his face had softened, and his grip was almost non-existent, yet he still held her arm in his hand. His touch was electrifying to her, and she could feel the heat throughout her entire body.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I am fine.”
Laura couldn’t stop looking into his eyes, and it seemed as if time was standing still. He turned his head to look down the hallway, and then turned the other way. He once again turned toward Laura, and pulled her body close to his.
Laura could feel him trembling, and she was downright shaking. Her heart was beating so loudly, she was sure he could hear it. She could also feel a throbbing feeling between her legs, and her hips moved toward his as if pulled by an unseen force.
The Duke’s lips were covering her own before she even realized what was happening, and she felt the tip of his tongue slip into her mouth and begin to massage her own. He wrapped his strong arms around her small body, and her breasts were smashed against his hard chest. His arms, which were holding her around the waist, pulled her even closer, and she could feel his manhood stiffening against her.
The Duke pulled away as quickly as he had moved to kiss her, but at the same time, it felt as if a thousand years had passed. She was thinking of nothing else in the world but this man in front of her, and she wasn’t even sure she was breathing.
“Laura,” the Duke whispered as he pulled his body away from hers. “I…I shouldn’t have done that.” He said my name again. I can’t believe this.
“It’s all right,” she whispered, still longing to feel his body pressed against hers. She didn’t want this moment to end.
The Duke took a full step back from her and let go of her body. “We can talk tomorrow,” he said, and he turned and quickly walked down the hallway into the darkness.
Laura watched him until he disappeared. Her body was on fire with desire for him, and she still couldn’t believe that he had kissed her like that, with so much longing and passion. She never knew that another person could make her feel like this. And I loved it.
She turned around and opened the door to the schoolroom. She still had lessons to plan, which she had forgotten to do earlier since she was so focused on meeting with the Duke, but all she could think about was what had just happened.
Laura walked into the dark room and suddenly and sense of dread fell completely over her. She knew, then that she was falling in love with the Duke. However, she also knew that she was only here because she had a mission from the mysterious man who had threatened her family. Her mission, of course, was to kill the Duke, lest her entire family be killed instead.
Though Laura was strong, she was filled with emotion at this moment, and she could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She could never kill him. She was developing feelings for him.
Alexander made his way back down to the sitting room. He walked slowly, allowing every moment that had passed to engrave itself into his memory. He probably shouldn’t have kissed her, and that hadn’t been his plan, but she had looked so desirable that his lust for her simply overcame him. There was nothing else he could do but take her into his arms and kiss her.
As he walked toward the door of the sitting room, he could hear Graham inside, presumably rambling on to a footman. Robert was waiting for him to come back, and he opened the door as Alexander stepped toward him. “Welcome back, Your Grace.”
“Thank you,” Alexander said while nodding at his butler. He then turned his attention to the other man in the sitting room. Graham was sitting on a chair holding another almost-full glass of scotch. His attention quickly moved from the footman, who was engaging him in polite conversation, to Alexander.
“Alexander!” Graham shouted. “Where did you go?”
“I went to make sure Emily’s governess was all right,” Alexander replied. “You shook her up a bit.”
“When I see a beautiful lady, I lose all control,” slurred Graham. “Wait, I thought you had to work tonight?”
“I would much prefer that you avoid flirting with my staff, friend,” Alexander said sternly. He wasn’t sure that Graham would remember this in the morning but wanted to at least feel good about saying it.
“Yes, yes, of course,” said Graham, waving his hands around as if they had minds of their own. He then started laughing. “Wait a moment,” Graham exclaimed. “Do you have feelings for this woman?”
“Of course not!” snapped Alexander. “How dare you say that.”
“Oh, it seems like I have hit a nerve,” replied Gr
aham, seemingly less intoxicated.
“No,” said Alexander calmly. “I’m sorry, Graham. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I have just had a rough day today, and I am tired and overworked.”
“No need to apologize,” said Graham, standing up, but wavering slightly as he stood. “I wouldn’t blame you if you did have feelings for her. She is a minx.”
Alexander cleared his throat. “I am going to head to my chambers, Again, you are more than welcome to stay here tonight.”
“No need, friend,” Graham waved him off as he made his way toward the door of the sitting room. “I think I will head out, instead.”
“Please don’t leave on my account,” said Alexander. “I didn’t intend for you to feel like you must leave.”
“Please don’t take offense,” said Graham. “I just remembered that I, too, have business to take care of this evening. I will speak to you soon.”
Alexander watched as his oldest friend walked out of the sitting room, still looking a bit uneasy on his feet thanks to the scotch.
Alexander woke up refreshed and the happiest he had been in years. Every time he thought of Laura’s face, he smiled. He was walking toward the brewery in the cool morning sun, and he couldn’t get his mind off of her. Not only was she beautiful and sensual, he certainly could admit that he had feelings for her. He desired her greatly, in an almost animalistic way, yet he also wanted to care for her.
As he walked, he knew that he had to find a time to speak with her today, and the sooner, the better, though he also had some pressing matters to handle at the brewery. So, he had decided that it was best to head over to the brewery early, take care of his business, and then speak with Laura after her lesson with Emily.
Alexander walked through the door of the brewery and greeted his staff with a smile. It felt as if he was walking on air as he took steps toward his office. He opened the door and stepped inside, and even the pile of papers that greeted him on his desk was not enough to dampen his mood.
Seduced by the Brooding Duke Page 8
