The Devil is The Duke

Emeera went into the study for the weekly meeting, prepared to nod to everything and then leave. After seeing him with De Luca, she did not want to be in his presence. She sat with mutinous thoughts. It was puzzling to her that he sent for her when he was busy. Why oh why, could he not send for her when he was ready to meet with her? Why did she have to wait, playing with her thumb while he busied himself with a damn letter. When he was done scribbling, he sealed the letter and looked up at her.

“I hope you know our little sessions are the most important part of your job.” She nodded without a word. She knew he would notice after three nods but she she did not care. “So why do you have to wait for the butler to remind you of these conferences?” She had to show she was not mute but tried as she may, her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. Fortunately he did not wait for a response. “Before I go into my briefing, I want to ask you if there is any development at all you think I should be made aware of concerning this estate and its staff.” Now he needed an answer. She shook her head slightly but knowing how that could be seen as rude, quickly kept a meek face to show she meant no disrespect. He lifted an eyebrow but did not say anything about her quirky behaviour. A little tug at the table Bell and Lois, the butler opened the door for a maid with tea. The maid set it down on the table and left. Emeera noticed there were two cups. Maybe the duke was expecting another naked guest, she thought. The butler closed the door behind him. The duke spoke as he poured his tea. “Since there is nothing you would like to report, I have to ask if you need anything for the ball.”

Again, Emeera shook her head.

“Damn it Emeera, why don’t you speak?” He struck the table and some tea poured out of his cup. She rushed over to wipe it. The moment her hand touched the table he grabbed her arm and gazed into her eyes, searchingly. “Have I done something?” He did not sound like an employer. He sounded like a lover who wanted to make amends.

Emeera had a great deal to say but all she could blurt out was “who lit my fire?”

“Excuse me?” He asked, befuddled.

“The fire in my room. Someone lit it while I was asleep,” she said.

“Who do you think?” He breathed.

“You? But your grace-”

“It was nothing, trust me. I had a fire and… and someone yet I was so cold. Then I remembered you were also exposed to the cold and probably without a fire or heater so I did the natural thing.”

She held his intense gaze. “Thank you,” she said. He slowly released her arm and cold blew wherever he left. His eyes were still fixed on hers.

“We need to go to the country house. You need to see what you will be working with.”

“But shouldn’t you already have a staff there?”

“I do have a few maids and a housekeeper. But you’re the manager now so you need to see the place.” He rattled on her being manager in name as the housekeeper handled everything there.

“So when are we going?” She asked.

“Today,” he replied.

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Since it was a two hour drive, they started out at noon hoping to get to back to the town house before nightfall. By the time they pulled up at the gate of the country home, it began to rain without warning. The atmosphere darkened instantly and a storm started. The driver honked twice but nobody opened the gates. He took the umbrella and ran through the wicket gate to unlock the main gate but the key was with the gatekeeper. The duke noticed Emeera was shivering uncontrollably.

“Emeera are you okay?” He asked. She nodded but her mouth was clamped shut to reduce the chattering of her teeth. “Do you feel well?” He asked and she nodded again but he was not convinced. He took off his trenchcoat and covered her with it. If not for her aversion to the rain, he would have taken her inside the estate himself. She looked positively unwell. But all he could do while they waited for the gatekeeper was to give her a pat on the back and pray they got into the house. Ten minutes later and she was trembling like a leaf.

“Emeera look at me. Please look at me,” he pleaded. “We’ll get you inside and you will be warm, okay? I would have taken you in but there is no umbrella and you will be drenched which will make your condition worse. We shall soon get in and will be warm.”

“Thank you.” Her eyes searched his for answers to questions he did not know. It made him feel naked. Her lips quivered and all he could think of was pressing his own lips roughly against the softness of her lips.

“You’re welcome.” He looked out of the window to hide how badly he wanted to hold her close and comfort her. It was inappropriate to even think it. She was his estate manager for God’s sake. She was innocent and young. He knew he was going to be stuck with her overnight in that house because of the rain storm and he could not think of how he would avoid looking at her face all that time. He had never felt that amount of desire for the girl. Maybe he was just a man with issues who was attracted to girls in distress.

They stayed in the car in silence. About twenty minutes later, the driver returned with the gatekeeper. He drove into the large estate and managed to park right at the front door, then whipped out the umbrella for them to huddle together into the house. But the Duke bent and carried Emeera in with the driver running after him with the umbrella.