Page 4 of When the Duke Met His Match

All meaning was lost from the joke the moment his mother’s face dropped at his words, her lips deepening into a frown. Her eyes seemed to turn a shade darker while she stared at him. He felt every shred of sorrow and anger in his mother then. He wished he hadn’t said anything at all.

“You worked so hard in the army, yet you threw it all away for the cheap thrill of women and alcohol,” she uttered, her eyes a mix of pain and disappointment. “Your father is furious with you, Theophilus, and I can no longer defend your behavior. You can’t afford to continue down this path much longer." She sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping with the weight of her concern.

“Can’t this wait until morning?”

“There will be no time left from how you burn it so carelessly!” she exclaimed, disbelieving her son’s apathy. “Your father and I aren’t getting any younger, and with your brother gone, the dukedom falls on your shoulders. It is in your best interest to take this responsibility seriously.”

Theophilus wanted to ignore his mother's words, to brush off her concerns as the ramblings of a nagging parent. But something in the way she looked at him, a mix of disappointment and genuine worry, ate away at his resolve and planted a seed of guilt deep within him. He shifted uncomfortably, unable to meet her gaze as another wave of shame washed over him. He was at a loss for words, trapped in yet another tense stare-off with her. His mind raced, searching for something to say, some way to defend himself. But he knew, deep down, that there was no defense for his actions.

He took a long drag from his coffee and scrubbed a hand down his face. “I’m too tired for this.”

With a dejected gleam in her eyes, his mother sat back once more, face hardening like stone. Her pitiful look seemed to burn his skin, but Theophilus couldn’t find it within himself to act more becoming in that moment.

She shook her head. “I expect more from you, Theophilus.”

Without anything left to say, he simply blinked back at her in the silence that fell between them.

Ignoring her coffee, his mother pushed up from her chair and turned swiftly on her heel. She stalked out of the room before Theophilus could say anything to try and ease the sting of his insolence.

With a drawn-out sigh, Theophilus forgot about his coffee and stood to the best of his ability. His head thrummed as darkness shaded his vision for a moment, and he headed toward the doorway with uncertain steps.

The merriment he had felt earlier that night completely simmered to nothing, and the mention of his deceased brother perturbed Theophilus.

Harold’s face flashed within the dark space of his mind, and Theophilus fought against the strike it made to his heart. He didn’t want to think about his brother then, not when he always came up whenever their parents needed to compare their actions and accomplishments and remind him he was very unlike his brother.

His boots shuffled against the floor with each slow and careful step he took out of the kitchen. He moved little by little until he reached the wide staircase that led to his bedroom. He wanted nothing more than to be tucked in his bed to let his drunken stupor fade away.

Yet, the stairs appeared even taller than usual. With the ache of his limbs and the dizziness in his head, Theophilus decided against it. He imagined himself tumbling down the stairs and winding up as a heap of limbs at the very bottom. Saving himself the trouble, he staggered toward the sitting room.

The hearth housed an impressive fire, and Theophilus approached it like a moth drawn to a flame. Its warmth soothed his aches and pains, and he thought it was as good a place as any to settle.

Dropping himself onto the tan chaise lounge before the fire, Theophilus tucked his legs up and curled into the cushion, unfazed by its meager comparison to his bed. He dropped his head and let his eyes close for the night.

At least then, he could shut out the world and his mother’s disappointment for a few hours.

Chapter Three

ODETTE

The night was long and dreary while Odette remained inside the cell. The place was cold enough to make her shiver while the dampness cut down to her bones. She clutched onto what she could of her dress for warmth, but it seemed fruitless.

Only a handful of people were there with her, chained up and cast away from the rest of the world. But she kept to herself, unwilling to engage in conversation with the motley crew of misfits who shared her fate. The silence hung heavy around them, broken only by the occasional shuffle of chains or the sound of someone coughing.

Hours ticked by, yet she had no way of keeping track. Even if she had been captured and her hope seemed to burn away little by little, her determination remained as a kernel inside her chest. It was small yet still alive.

Eventually, boots padded into the dank room and echoed against the walls. One of the soldiers peered through the bars at her as he unlocked the door.

“Toussaint, get up. You’re coming with me.”

Peeling herself from the floor, Odette struggled to her aching feet and followed the officer with her hands bound. He pushed against her back to usher her forward and through the door, to which another guard quickly secured the cell once more.

Her eyes struggled to adjust to the light of an oil lamp that lit up the small room she was directed to. The guard gestured toward the table and chairs before he left the room and closed the door behind him.

Sat in silence, a hundred different thoughts ran through her mind. She was left alone in the room, yet surely it was done on purpose. The light flickered, and the silence was deafening.

It didn’t take long for the door to open again, and a familiar face greeted her. It was the man who declared her arrest in the alley. He was dressed as before in his pristine coat and shining boots.

The man before her stood with his arms crossed behind his back, his expression neutral. "I'm Lieutenant Wright," he said, his voice steady and commanding. "And it seems you've landed yourself in quite a bit of trouble." He stepped closer, studying her with a piercing gaze that made her feel uneasy. "But if you're willing to cooperate, I may be able to help you get out of this mess."