Chapter 8 #2
He seemed to realize moments later that he had made a grave mistake with his response, and he cleared his throat, attempting to feign innocence.
“I mean – I do not know what you mean.” Lord Carter stated.
The duke nodded. “Neither does she. I do not mind turning this fateful meeting into an educational gathering.”
Lord Carter shot a glare at the duke, visibly disturbed when the duke simply stared back blankly.
Clearing his throat, the baron rose to his feet, mumbling flustered apologies before he left the drawing room.
He was in such a hurry, he did not even close the door all the way, and the steward poked his head through to ask.
“Shall I send the next one in, Miss?”
Nora gritted her teeth, willing herself not to even look in the duke’s direction as she said, “Yes, please.”
The next visitor was the son of an earl, and he lasted about six minutes before the duke drove him away. The suitor that came after him had been sent right back as he walked through the door. The duke did not even seem to be trying!
He was putting no visible effort into driving the suitors away, yet their panic and embarrassment were always clear each time they left, as though their very lives had been threatened.
She did not understand why the duke was doing this, why he was intent on sticking to some idea that none of them were worthy enough to keep her company.
All she had wanted was a few hours to converse with a few men, to receive some hope that she might one day find another man willing to commit to her. A man she can rely on and love. And it was all falling apart again.
After the sixth suitor had fled, Nora snapped angrily. Her voice caused the steward who had pushed the ajar door open to ask if he could send in the suitor to pause, before he pulled it completely shut, excusing himself from what he knew would soon be an explosion of rage.
“What is wrong with you?”
The duke put down his teacup and faced her at a leisurely pace.
“I do not know what you mean –”
“What are you doing? Why have you been chasing away my suitors?”
Godric looked vaguely confused by her accusation. “Did I outright demand that any of them leave? I do not believe any such action took place.”
“Do you think me a fool?” Nora questioned, irritated and frustrated. “You kept interrupting and saying strange things to them. Your interference has cost me so many potential matches!”
“Hardly,” Godric scoffed. “I doubt those were ideal matches you would want.”
“That is not for you to decide!” Nora exclaimed. “I thought we had an agreement. You said you would be present, only close enough to observe and look after me – a task I am still adamant is not needed – and yet, here you are; speaking to my suitors.”
“If a few words were all it took to unnerve them, perhaps they were not worthy of you. Try as you might to dismiss my efforts – the truth remains that you owe me your gratitude.”
“Gratitude? For ruining my chances? Those men are never going to want to see me again! All because of you! You claim that you want to help, that you are only here to ensure that nothing goes wrong! Has it escaped your notice that everything that has gone wrong today has been because of you? Are you purposely trying to sabotage my season?”
Nora was breathing heavily at that point, her nerves frayed from the frustration and the urge to stop herself before she went too far.
It hardly ever mattered, because at the end of the day, she would look as though she were the offender, and he would wear his calm demeanor like a crown and use it to make her appear even more pathetic.
She despised how she could never seem to keep herself still around him, forced into an argument or riled up because he simply could not resist the urge to get under her skin. He was already on her mind and infiltrating her dreams. What more did this man want?
“I do.”
Nora blinked at him, the wind in her sails fluttering to silence.
“You – what?”
“I do want to help. All my efforts today were because none of those men were suitable for you.”
Nora could not help but roll her eyes. “And how would you know that?”
“You really must learn to understand men if you are to get one to bend to your will. Men value their conquests and trysts more than their lives sometimes. Without much thought, they spill their secrets to their friends, who also tell others who will listen. Half the things I know now, I heard in passing because many of them do not know how to shut up.” He explained patiently.
“All right, but what does that have to do with me?” Nora asked, exasperated.
Godric sighed and stepped towards her, his sudden approach causing her body to freeze in its spot.
“Mr Rogers has a mistress in Bath, likely with a child born for him. His ‘trips’ to Greece were just an excuse for him to sow his seeds elsewhere and live out some of his promiscuous ways with women who would not get word back to his father. Lord Carter is saddled with debts that will take his family at least two generations to pay off – unless he marries someone incredibly wealthy. Your fourth visitor is well known for fixating his attention on wealthy or affluential damsels.”
“But I do not –”
“You have two older sisters who are duchesses. You are fated to live a comfortable life. The others are simply interested in taking you to their beds, rather than planning to wed you. Do you believe you can see through men and their sweet words and impressive stories for what they truly are? Because I can. That is why I am here.”
He was so close now, nearly as close as he had been that night before he pulled her even closer to kiss her. Nora’s heart was beating so fast, her mind weakened by the conversation, and she surmised it was all due to her anger, and nothing to do with the rapidly diminishing distance between them.
In a bid to make him feel an ounce of the frustration she felt, she blurted out,
“Yes. I can see through the lies and fanciful tales. I just preferred to entertain them, rather than make it known so early that I am onto their ruse. You think so little of me, Your Grace. And I do not like that.”
Godric was silent for a moment, then he nodded curtly, his expression open and disinterested.
“If that is what you believe, then I will allow you to hold onto such thoughts. And I will no longer intervene – not unless the situation poses a threat to you. Other than that, I will not try to help you again.” He said.
Nora heard his words and expected to feel some sort of relief. But there was an uneasy feeling lodged within her chest, and she did not understand why.
Before she could derive some sort of explanation, he leaned in suddenly, his eyes dark as he told her, his voice husky and deep.
“However, keep this in mind. As long as I am here, no man will lay a hand on you.”