Neither A Gentleman Nor A Lady!
"You are going to the market?" Killian looked at her in surprise. Was the woman not hiding here from the criminals? What if they were looking for her in the market? Worse! What if she realize that they were not looking for her and she decided to leave the palace at once. "Why will you do that?"
He looked around when the words left his mouth. He did not want the maids to know that he was attached to his governess. Let them believe that he hated every single soul around him. That way they would be safe.
Elara smiled. Reading the child was the easiest thing to do. She bent to meet his eyes as she patted his head.
"I have to inform my family that I am here. And I need to buy some personal things. I will return soon." The last line sounded like a promise and he finally exhaled the breath he was holding and nodded.
"I have collected a few books for you to start, my lord. You must start one and mark things you are not able to understand. I will explain them to you." a soft smile escaped even when he tried to control it.
When Elara left his room and went to the kitchen, the chef was ready with a fake list of things he needed and a pouch of silver coins.
"I will calculate every single penny personally." he warned her when she rolled her eyes. The duke did not care about funds anymore. She knew that the chef was faking need of a great amount of ingredients and charging for it while putting all the money in his pockets.
The quality of the fresh vegetables and fruits did not suit lower nobles, let alone a ducal family. But it was not her concern. She was not working here for their welfare. They might as well usurp the whole treasure so the fight for the position of duke would end at once.
Nodding, she took the basket from him and the list.
"There is a servant carriage available near stables. You can use it." Perhaps he had a little conscience left. Elara nodded and went to the stable with a smile.
But her smile did not last long…
Cedric was standing in front of stables. He was rubbing the mane of the horse with a brush! For Christ sake, he was a duke now!
Somehow she was hoping that she did not need to meet him so soon. She hesitated for a second before bowing her head.
"Your grace!" the man turned, raised a brow and she contemplated if it was better to leave without wishing him.
He did not dismiss her with a nod or wave his hands. But he was staring at her as if she was a new animal in the zoo. This man was infuriating.
"The new governess of my nephew right?" asked the man as if he did not remember her from last night. As if he had not tied her from his bedpost and tried to rape her until another woman come to take her spot.. Willingly!
"Yes, your grace." She stood up. If he did not ask her to raise her head, she would.
The man raised a brow, laughed. "Are you here to ride a horse with me." and eccentric! She forgot to add that.
"No, your grace. How could I dare to do that." she shook her head, horrified when he titled his head.
"No! What a pity!" pardon? "Then why are you here?"
"I am here to ask for the servant's carriage, your grace. I am going to the market to buy some ingredients." She waved the list and empty basket in front of him and hoped, prayed that he would dismiss her but the man only frowned as if she was holding his death warrant.
"You are not a kitchen maid or a regular maid. You are a governess. Why would you take that petty job?" his voice showed dismissal but she would not accept it.
"I have a habit of volunteering for other's jobs, your grace. I thought you learned it last night." the man's eyes flickered and it brought an arrogant smile on her face. Did he think only he knew how to press the nerves?
"Ah! So you have volunteered. And here I thought you were forced so I let you go. If i had known." he let go of the brush and took a step toward her when she flinched.
She reminded herself that it was broad daylight and they were in the stables. Surely, a duke would not misbehave even when he was debauched. Surely, he would not touch her. Oh, she had never been this wrong in her life.
He covered the distance with only two steps and hovered over her. She had realized last night that he was large. His hands were strong and firm like a warrior. The calluses come from hard labor but he looked like he had held the hilt of a sword all his life.
The hands did not feel like a noble. Should she be thinking about it when he was molesting her?
He cornered her near the wall of the stable. One hand was firmly placed near her neck on the wall. Another hand moved closer to her face. He placed his thumb on her lower lip, then made a firm, hard stroke. She tasted the bitter liquid and lemon on it.
"Your grace, it did not suit the image of a gentleman to molest a woman in public." she warned through a calm voice when he chuckled.
He withdrew his thumb. Lifted it to his own mouth. Tasting her. Their eyes met, his impossibly blue, not a speck of hazel or gold to break their electric intensity. A curious prickle spread through her.
"But neither I am a gentleman nor you are a woman, little girl. Then should we still follow the rules?"