AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ah, I see.” That would explain why she did not recognize him. For some reason, she’d expected to see the same butler she’d come to know when she would visit William in the past, even though he no longer lived in that location.
Harold nodded to her, then took a step to the side. Without looking, he reached for the door handle and pulled it open, gesturing for her to enter. Elizabeth nodded gratefully to him before facing the open door. Her heart began to race, her mouth going dry. On suddenly unsteady legs, she entered the drawing room, sweeping her gaze throughout the ornately furnished expanse.
Despite what she’d overheard at the ball, it appeared, when faced with this beautiful drawing room, that the Brandon Dukedom was not lacking in wealth. A cream-colored marble fireplace dominated one end of the room, accentuated the purple drapes that hung over sash windows. Lavender-colored furniture occupied the center of the room, from arm chairs to sofas to chaise lounges. To the other end was a small round table with three chairs surrounding it, laden with food. Elizabeth’s heart jumped when she spotted William sitting in one of the chairs, his face turned towards the window. The manor was large enough that she had not expected to have breakfast in the drawing room, but she didn’t question it.
It was hard to believe how much he’d grown, despite the proof being right before her eyes. The hard edge of his jaw was made even sharper with the scowl he wore, his eyes narrowed to slits. He seemed to be thinking hard on something, and whatever it was clearly upset him. But butterflies filled her belly nonetheless. Heat sparked in the pit of her stomach, spreading throughout her body as she took in the midnight black of his hair, cut short and styled differently than the usual Brutus fashion. Though she could not see them, she knew his eyes glowed a brilliant green in the sun. And though he was fully dressed, she could not stop her gaze from wandering down the slope of his neck, to the muscular arms he boasted despite the layers. She’d felt that hardness of his body last night, when she’d grabbed at his sleeve. Elizabeth suddenly wished she’d had the courage to hug him outright, the way she’d so badly wanted to.
Suddenly, he looked at her. “Do you plan on standing there the entire day?”
“N-no,” she responded quickly, then mentally cursed herself. She shouldn’t be so skittish around him. Yes, he was far more frightening than he used to be, but this was still William. Deep down, she was sure the boy she’d once known was inside. And he wouldn’t hurt her.
Steeling herself, she made her way over to the table and sat across from him, praying that he wouldn’t sense her anxiousness. Without looking at her, he picked up a piece of toast and proceed to coat it in preserves.
What should I say?
Needing to do something with her hands, she poured herself a cup of tea, trying to keep from looking at him. That act proved more difficult than anything else.
“How did you find me?”
The question was so sudden, she didn’t know how to respond. She paused in the act of lifting the teacup to her lips, blinking at him.
William leaned back, chewing slowly. His eyes never left her face for a second and each leisurely movement of his jaw making her stomach tighten.
“I…” Getting her thoughts together was proving difficult watching him do something so simple as eating. Elizabeth quickly averted her eyes, but it didn’t help much.
“I have gone through quite a lot to ensure my whereabouts were a secret,” he went on. “I am quite curious to see what led you to me.”
“You have been trying to keep your whereabouts a secret?” she blurted out. “But why?”
“Answer me first,” he ordered gruffly. He moved with ease and comfort, with clear authority that had her submitting to him without hesitation.
“It came as a surprise to me as well,” Elizabeth murmured. “I did leave home that night after learning a clue as to where you resided, but that was all I knew.”
“Where I resided? How did you find that out?”
“A ball,” she explained. “There were two ladies who were talking with each other about your father and…and his passing.”
As impossible as it seemed, William’s eyes grew dark. A shadow seemed to come over him, and the room was suddenly filled with tension. He said nothing, only continued to eat, but Elizabeth had lost all her appetite.
“My condolences,” she said after a moment. It was difficult meeting his eyes, but she wanted him to see her sincerity. It didn’t help that he looked back at her with no sliver of warmth.
“I did not know the late Duke well. At all, in fact. But I had always hoped to meet him one day.”
