As she exited the room, Phoebe closed the door behind her. She willed herself to catch her breath. Feeling a lump in her throat, Phoebe made her way to the opposite side of the hall and ascended one more flight of stairs to where Adam Rutledge now resided. She couldn’t help considering the dowager’s words. She was brought to Rainswood to cheer the duke up?
This was something that Phoebe had never known. Susan was remarkably warm when Phoebe first arrived, but there was no mention of her deeper intentions for bringing Phoebe on. And since she had been at the estate for two years, she never once thought that her employment had anything to do with the future duke.
As she walked down the hall to the duke’s room, Phoebe felt a flush come to her cheek. Earlier, she thought of how she wished to ask the duke if he needed anything, and now she was actually given the task, Phoebe felt impossibly nervous. Was it too late to go back downstairs and ask Caroline to do it for her? Yes, it was too late. Phoebe was at the point of no return, and she’d do as Susan instructed; be pleasant and dutiful.
Gently knocking on the door, Phoebe heard no reply. She knocked a little louder. Perhaps the duke was already sleeping? Finally, there was a grumble, and the door quickly opened. The duke stood there, his collar unfastened and his hair tousled. Phoebe had a quick inhalation upon seeing him. He was, indeed, one of the most handsome men she had ever laid eyes on. She entirely forgot what the dowager had told her, finding herself unsteady and stuttering.
“I … I … Your Grace?”
“What is it?”
“I was sent by the dowager.”
“Of course, you were.”
“To … enquire …”
“Have out with it.”
“Is there something you would desire to eat, Your Grace?”
Adam’s grey eyes inspected hers. She stood frozen, awaiting his reply. Adam pulled a hand through his black hair and considered the question as Phoebe felt her lips tremble. She could feel his darkness, his despair. He leaned his elbow on the doorframe in much the same way that he had the window while Phoebe was on her walk. She was desperate for his reply, if only so that she could quickly retreat.
Finally, the duke spoke. “Just some bread and cheese.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“And ale.”
“Very well.”
The duke closed the door, and Phoebe walked back down the hall with eyes wide. There was something about Adam’s presence that was unsettling but intriguing at the same time. How was she supposed to be her warm, generous self when the duke’s very presence made her so off-balance? Phoebe would have to find a way to steady herself.
Walking into the kitchen, her hands were still shaking. She approached Niles. “The duke has requested bread, cheese, and ale.”
Niles appeared perplexed. “That’s all?”
“That’s all he requested, yes.”
“Very well.”
Niles quickly went to work, slicing thick cuts of bread and cheese from a large cheese wheel and then pouring a large pint of ale. These were placed on another silver tray as Phoebe couldn’t help boasting, “The dowager thought the soup was divine.”
“I knew that she would. Once you deliver this to the duke, you’re welcome to have a bowl.”
“I will savour it!”
As Phoebe carried the next tray back up to the fourth floor, she tried to focus her mind. Instead of being waylaid by the duke’s presence, she’d merely think of the delightful bowl of soup she was about to enjoy for dinner. As soon as the door to the duke’s suite opened, Phoebe quickly realized that the mind trick would be utterly impossible. Once again, she felt unsteady under his steely gaze.
“Supper, Your Grace.”
“Place it over there.”
As Phoebe walked across the room with the tray, she could feel Adam’s eyes boring into her back. Her hands continued to shake, and a bit of ale came over the top of the glass.
“Bollocks.” She said the word before she had time to think.
“It’s all right.” The duke approached. She could hear his boots behind her. Once the tray was safely on the table, Phoebe turned and discovered the duke standing right behind her.
“Is there … anything else that I can get?”
“This is fine, thank you.”
“Very well.” Phoebe curtsied and tried to remove herself from the room quickly. As soon as she reached the door, she couldn’t help turning, watching the duke as he pulled apart a piece of bread and ate it savagely. Phoebe was transfixed. There was something so foreign about the returning soldier. The duke turned his head, looking at Phoebe as she stood there. She turned once more with a start and walked through the door, closing it behind her.
Once in the hall, Phoebe pressed her back against the door and willed herself to breathe. Had she made a fool of herself once more? The duke had caught her staring. Then again, he had done the very same earlier that day. Phoebe brought a hand to her chest and walked down the hall on shaky legs.
Chapter 4
Adam kept tearing off large chunks of bread, placing the cheese on top and taking hearty sips of his ale. There was much to consider. What his mother had told him over tea kept his head spinning. It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle the responsibility; it just wasn’t how Adam saw his future. It was a moment of reckoning. He would never be able to escape his duty, no matter how hard he tried. Heaving a sigh, Adam looked out the window at the starry night sky.
Although he tried to keep his mind focused, he couldn’t help thinking of that servant girl, walking in the field so light and carefree. The duke remembered the time when he was carefree like that. He missed those days but knew they could never return. There was something about the girl that struck him, and then the way that she entered his room with a flush upon her cheek, her hands shaking. Of course, Adam had thought of women much while he was away. A soldier’s mind could wander to such things, if only for a brief respite. Thinking of pretty ladies with their soft skin, curvy figures, and warm demeanours.
Still, Adam had to admit that there was little warmth to high society ladies. Perhaps that’s why the servant girl struck him. There was something different about her. No, Adam shook his head and tried to refocus. The task at hand was the gauntlet that his mother laid down for him. He heaved a deep sigh and resigned himself to take on the responsibility of being the master of Rainswood. There was no other choice. Perhaps that enormous duty would help him relinquish the past if that were even possible.
Once finished with his meal, the duke undid his shirt and tossed it on the floor. He laid upon his bed with one hand on his chest and looked up at the ceiling. There was silence in the house. It was still early, but the duke felt weary and thought he might as well fall asleep in his trousers. He was used to sleeping in any manner possible. He’d go days on end, sleeping in the same uniform. Adam would often sleep under the starry sky, but now there was a high-ceiling overhead to block him from the stars.
Looking around the room, he noted that he was to sleep that night in more luxury than he had in years. He could feel the soft sheets on his back. For a fleeting moment, he wondered if the sheets were as soft as that servant girl’s porcelain skin. Again, he shook the thought away. The duke had more important matters to consider instead of pining over some servant girl that would be living indefinitely under his roof.
Turning onto his side, Adam recalled the young man he once was. The one that could sleep well at night without a care in the world.
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torical Regency Romance Book
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