Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Isee you’re still upset over the little argument from two days ago.”
Nora’s gaze slid to Penelope, the look on her face depicting her irritation and disbelief.
“You make it sound as though there is no reason for me to acknowledge my upset.” She said, exhaling deeply. “However, I have deemed his actions to be an act of war, for which there will be fitting retribution.”
Penelope sighed, tilting her head in Jane’s direction to whisper,
“Perhaps we should have not put her on this path. She has grown rather… fixated on the matters concerning the Duke.”
“I have not!” Nora snapped indignantly. “If anything — he is fixated on my own affairs! Why else would he follow me so closely and embroil himself in matters that do not have anything to do with him?”
“I am sure he only meant well at the modiste —” Jane tried, but her words fell short when Nora held up her hand.
“He humiliated me, with no just cause. He had no right to determine what I can or cannot wear and I refuse to let him believe that he can get away with such an atrocious behavior.”
“What will you even do?” Penelope questioned, looked exasperated as she picked a glass of punch from the platter of a nearby server. “He isn’t even here. You should simply forget about him for the moment and enjoy the evening.”
Nora tutted with a stubborn shake of her head. “He is not here — yet. If there is one thing I know for certain is that he cannot stand to have me out of sight. Sooner or later, he will show up. And I will make him wish he did not.”
Jane and Penelope exchanged a look of concern, then Penelope seemed to have volunteered to do the difficult task of voicing the notion they had shared silently.
“I understand that you are upset. But I implore you to do what you can to remain as civilized as you possibly can. If you disrupt this dinner party, Jane’s poor mother will have a heart attack — but not before she wrings your neck —”
“Penelope!” Jane chided, eyes wide with horror. “That’s quite unnecessary. My mother’s efforts being at risk would not result in her falling so gravely ill, neither will she attack Nora. Do not harbor such disturbing thoughts.”
Penelope nodded wordlessly, taking a sip of her punch as Jane faced Nora.
“I understand your reasons for being upset, Nora. You know that we would always love nothing more than to support you, in all your ventures. However, we must admit that this is quite… bothersome — for yourself, more than anyone else. We know that the duke’s presence has hindered your chances of finding a husband, but you are letting him take even more from you by choosing to be so absorbed in his games.
You have not spoken to a single gentleman all evening and there is no better time than right now, while he is not here. ”
Nora started at her friend, feeling a little overwhelmed. She had been utterly consumed by thoughts of him and all the emotions he evoked within her. It was odd, how easily he could rile her up.
Even more so because she could not understand why.
He was eating into her mind, images of him slipping into her dreams and taking away her ability to focus on much else. And she did not know why he was doing thing — going through all this trouble to ‘protect’ her, while also driving her utterly mad.
But perhaps that was part of the game he wished to play. Perhaps he fully intended to ruin her life simply for sport, under the guise of looking after her.
Whatever his reason was, Nora had no intention to play into his game.
“Perhaps, you’re right, Jane,” Nora exhaled heavily. “I should not let his silly games stop me from achieving my goal. If he’s not here tonight, then I should take full advantage of his absence to fulfil my objective.”
Jane’s expression looked uncertain, but she still managed a small smile while Penelope clapped sharply.
“That’s the spirit. And we will be here to offer you any sort of assistance you might require,” Penelope assured with a grin, turning Nora around by her shoulders and gesturing to a man whose eyes locked with hers.
“You might want to get started before we settle down for dinner. That gentleman has been glancing at you for the last ten minutes — he seems as though he could use some lessons on subtlety. But tonight, that works in your favor. Why don’t you go and introduce yourself, Miss Nora? ”
Before Nora could speak, Penelope gave a slight shove forward, sending Nora stumbling towards the man.
Quickly, he caught her by the arm, his eyes apologetic as he flashed her a charming smile.
“Oh dear, are you all right, Miss? Please, do be careful. We wouldn’t want a single scratch on that lovely face of yours.” He said as he helped her regain her balance.
Nora smiles politely, instinctively pulling her hand out of his. Something about his touch felt utterly wrong — sort of clammy and cold.
And suddenly she missed the heat of Godric’s touch and even his disinterested manner of speech.
I must be mad, Nora thought. How is it that I want to cause him immense pain and anger for all he has put me through one moment, and in the next I long for him?
Scarcely had that thought settled when the masters of ceremony appeared by the entrance to the ballroom and announced,
“Introducing, His Grace, the Duke of Ironwell.”
It was as though the world around her had fallen silent and still as Godric walked through the doors. He looked infuriatingly handsome and a little too pleased as he made his way towards her, stopping when there was a single foot of distance between them.
“Good evening, Miss Nora. My apologies for my tardiness. I had personal matters to attend to.” He told her in a voice that was far too innocent to mean well.
“I do not even know why you bothered to come at all,” Nora said, seething. “No one wants you here. I cannot fathom why you consistently refuse to understand that.”
“That is simply not true. I did receive an invitation to this gathering. And if I were absent, then I wouldn’t be able to monitor you close enough.
We both know you tend to get yourself embroiled in trouble.
It really is best to ensure that you are looked after.
” Godric leaned forward to whisper in her ear.
“Constantly. Otherwise, how am I to expect you to behave when it that you cannot be trusted to dress appropriately?”
Nora stepped back, her eyes flashing angrily.
“I still fail to see how my clothing choices concern you, Your Grace.”
Godric’s gaze swept over her slowly, the glance seemingly going on for eons until his eyes met hers again and he said,
“I can promise you, Miss Nora, you will soon discover why everything you do is my concern. For now, I implore you to enjoy your evening — whilst keeping in mind that you are not to do anything that I would not approve of. If you can manage that, I will keep my interference at a minimum.”
The duke glanced at the man she had been speaking to and when he scrambled forward, likely to greet him, Godric simply walked past him without even a nod of acknowledgement.
“I’m — I am sorry,” Nora apologized, unsure what for as she curtsied and walked back to her friends.
As soon as she was close enough, she asked Jane,
“Why is he here? He said he was invited. Previously he had escorted me according to the invitations I had graciously — and begrudgingly — extended. I did no such thing this time and yet here he is! He even says he has an invitation!”
It was all she could do to keep her voice lowered and her tone even, and she hated how easily the duke riled her up, how quickly she lost the battle of reason when he was around.
“I-I did not know – my mother had mentioned wanting to invite him, due to the recent public sightings of his attendance at other social gatherings! And I did not think she would go ahead to do that much because she sounded unsure. If I knew, I would have told you as much. I promise.”
Nora inhaled shakily, taking her eyes off her friend momentarily to follow Godric’s confident steps across the ballroom, making up her mind instantly.
“No matter,” she said, straightening her posture. “I will just revert to my original plan. I will make him regret trifling with my affairs. I had promised to give wrath that is akin to war. I must ensure that I remain a woman of my word.”
It was time he understood the same class of anger he had given her.
The evening progressed smoothly and just as Nora had expected, Godric had stayed as close to her as possible, which put him in the most ideal place for her ire.
When Jane’s parents; Mr. Robert Fenwell and Mrs. Beatrice Fenwell walked up to them to appreciate the duke’s presence at their dinner party, she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, prepared to do what she needed to.
“Your Grace, it is an honor to have you in our humble abode.” Robert greeted with barely restrained glee, as he and his wife bowed slightly.
“The honor is mine. I appreciate your invitation greatly.” Godric nodded curtly.
“You are certainly a welcome sight among us simple folk. I believe that we have used up whatever good fortune we were meant to have for the rest of the year,” Beatrice smiled.
“I would not count my chickens just yet, Mrs. Fenwell. The duke carries something of a dark cloud with him wherever he goes, so if I were you, I would prepare for an unexpectedly underwhelming evening. His presence might sparkle, but he makes for boring company.” Nora scoffed, daintily fluttering her eyelashes in Godric’s direction.
“That is not a nice thing to say, Nora,” Beatrice scolded. “Do not insult our guest in such an uncouth manner.”
“I am afraid she is quite right,” Godric admitted calmly, much to Nora’s surprise and dismay.
“My social skills are quite… disappointing. Which is why I am thankful to have been given the honor of chaperoning Miss Nora for her season. She has taught me a thing or two on relating with others, though I still have much to learn.”