Sweet Revenge To The Duke (Book 1)

Chapter Seven

When a maid appeared, Athene rang the bell and asked if breakfast might be brought up.

A moan came from the bed as the girl left. "What's up with all the yelling and slamming of doors?" Is it really time to get up yet? ”

"Don't whine. We can no longer afford breakfast in bed, so we might as well take advantage of the duke's hospitality while we still can."

"Oh, I'm sure we'll both find protection," Elizabeth said as she slid onto the antique bed and looked at Athene.

"Oh, how I wish I had your confidence," Athene murmured as she sat in the window, staring out at the gloomy day beyond.

“Nonsense. Despite our disguise, we've already drawn the notice of two Ton gentlemen. Consider how much more powerful we'll be once our full beauty is unveiled."

A flying maple leaf slammed into the glass pane and stayed there until the next blast of wind blew it away. On the branches, the remaining leaves shivered.

"What a dreadful day," Athene said as she watched a tall person in a coat stride across the front of the house, accompanied by a footman carrying a basket and an umbrella.

She pushed herself away from the window, as if it had been set on fire.

"Can you tell me what it is?"

Elizabeth's slow drawl had vanished. "Can you tell me what's going on?"

"It's someone I'm familiar with." Last night's unpleasant man—you know, the bully I mentioned. "I hope he didn't believe I was watching him," she said, her voice shaky. Why was she terrified at the sight of Rushbourne? She was far too old to be impacted by him at this point.

"Viscount Rushbourne, who will be Earl of Deerfold one day?" Isn't he far too wealthy to be despised? And he's very attractive. I'm curious whether he has a mistress. ”

Her stomach shifted. "Don't even consider it, Elizabeth." He's abhorrent. I wouldn't want him to have anything to do with my greatest enemy. Despite the fact that he is my worst foe. Oh my god, I have no idea what I'm saying."

Elizabeth's brows furrowed. "I proclaim you all tremble, Athene Edwards. Is it true that you're afraid of his brutish nature—of which I've seen no evidence—or are you just a little excited by him now that he's grown up? I envisage a really fine masculinity."

Elizabeth's gravelly voice made Athene's cheeks flush. "Fiddle-faddle and moonshine," she said. "I don't find him appealing in the least."

"You consented to him kissing you."

"What other options did I have?" " Her voice was becoming more resonant. She didn't want to be teased in the least.

Elizabeth slapped her in the face with her hand. "Very well, very well. If that's the case, I'll take Rushbourne and you can have the younger brother. It's obvious that he admires you."

"I'd like to check if anyone else is available." There will be cards and musical entertainments at some point, as well as lots of opportunity to talk with other single gentlemen on a more formal basis than last night."

Elizabeth was gnawing at one of the bed head's worm-eaten posts with her nails. "It's possible that we could both work on Rushbourne." I'll play mistress and warm him up for you, and once he's had enough of me, you may marry him."

Athene slammed her hand against the shutter and said, "Enough." "Don't ever bring up his name again." He makes me nauseous just thinking about him."

The door was tapped. "Come in," she said as she regained her usual voice.

The door swung open, but not to let a servant in with a welcome tray of hot buns and coffee. Instead, it revealed Oliver, who was carrying a basket of fruit and had his hair diamond-speckled with rain.

"All right," he murmured as he entered. "When you let out such an unladylike sneeze and disappeared from breakfast, I assumed you were sick." As I neared your door, I heard you declare as much. "Sit down and pray, and I'll peel and cut one orange for you."

If Athene hadn't been stunned to immobility by Oliver's entry, the smile on Elizabeth's face would have made her burst out laughing. When he realized the other tenant of the room had not yet gotten out of bed, his face was a picture. His face flushed, and his eyes glowed.

"Please accept my apologies, lady." I've woken you up. I'm leaving right now."

"No, Oliver, please don't leave. He can't leave, Athene, after all he's done for you."

She'd never linked the man with the word 'kind.' He'd brought a basket from the orangery of the Duke. It only took a little effort. Elizabeth was gushing despite the fact that there was nothing to gush about. That was fine—if she wanted to support Rushbourne, she may do so. She'd been warned about this.

"How did this philanthropic act come about?"

"She couldn't believe there wasn't a hidden agenda. There was probably a frog or a hidden branch of holly in the basket, waiting to leap out and make her scream, or a hidden branch of holly to prick her fingers.

He sat down, took a seat, and chopped and peeled an orange with a fruit knife.

"At the very least, if you've lost your appetite, you should eat some fruit."

Elizabeth was sitting up in bed, licking her lips and watching with a hungry expression. She wanted to explain that it was only his hateful presence that had caused her to flee the breakfast room.

Another tap on the door signaled the arrival of their breakfast tray, which Oliver immediately assumed responsibility for. Elizabeth signaled Athene to return to her place by the window and began peeling as soon as he had relaxed back against the pillows with a soft-boiled egg and buttered bun.

"Done," he said, grabbing a platter and presenting Athene with the nicely split orange segments. "Can I help you in any way, Miss Elizabeth?" ”

"Do you have any peaches?" After I finish my coffee, I'd like a peach."

"It's most indecent of you to join us like this," Athene said, scoffing at the fruit on her plate.

"At Hedenham House, nothing is deemed improper. Why, the duke could come in right now and find us all naked on the bed, and he'd just laugh. Then you'll most likely join us. Miss Edwards? Do you think you deserve a pat on the back? ”

To stop spluttering, she drank a hefty swallow of coffee. What a heinous thing to say in front of a lady. Should you slap an orange-peeling man or squeeze the juice into his eye? When she discovered the drawstring on Elizabeth's nightdress had come loose, displaying a hint of plump white bosom, she was still debating the suitable punishment. Isn't that something that couldn't have happened by chance?

"Thank you. I'm fine." Do you want to give it a shot? " She offered the dish, hoping to draw his focus away from Elizabeth's pout. Had she no morality, to be honest? Was this how women have to act in order to be protected by men? She'd rather be a nun than follow in her guardian's footsteps.

Athene noticed Oliver had moved his chair closer to where she had sat on the window seat after accepting a bit of the orange. Their knees were so close to meeting that they were practically touching. She walked as far backwards as she could.

He finished the orange, licked his lips, and began carefully rubbing a napkin over a peach before handing it to Elizabeth.

Her throat had a lump in it. Why had her devious mind immediately imagined him caressing a woman's breast as he touched the silky skin of the peach?

Her fingers hurt from clutching the edge of the window seat as the plate rattled ominously in her hand. Then she noticed he was looking directly at her.

"You appear to be quite warm. It's possible that drinking coffee wasn't such a fantastic idea. I'll pour you a glass of water with one of these lemons squeezed into it. If you're sick, perhaps you should go back to bed? It's a dreary day, so there's not much reason to get out of bed."

"No, certainly," Elizabeth agreed. "However, there are many joys to be had without ever having to leave one's bed."

Oliver raised his brows and ran his finger along the inside of his collar.

Athene jumped to her feet with vigor. "Sir, I appreciate you delivering the fruit. "Don't let us detain you any longer," she said, grabbing his elbow and dragging him out of the room and into the passageway.

He wasn't going to let himself get led too far. "This is incredible. I'm more convinced than ever that your guardian is aiming her hat at me. Last night, I had my suspicions."

"Oh no, no, no," please, we can't talk here." The servant who had brought them breakfast hovered near the rear stairs like a kestrel, preparing to clear their tray.

“Quite. Let's choose a more peaceful location."

"I didn't mean to—"

It's too late now. He'd ushered her inside an unused dressing room adjacent to the chamber she shared with Elizabeth. By standing with his back against the door, he effectively blocked her escape.

His grey eyes bore into her as he looked down. "I'd appreciate it if you could explain what's going on here to me."

"Absolutely nothing."

"Your guardian has made an unsubtle play for me," says the narrator.

"Don't worry about it." She makes a lot of noise."

He furrowed his brows. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to be led by a lightskirt."

"You don't have the audacity to call her that." "In the entire time I've lived with her, nothing has gone wrong."

His voice had hardened into, "All of six months."

“Indeed. It's not like who I live with or how they choose to live is any of your concern."

"Six months is scarcely enough time to get to know someone well. I've known you for seven years on and off and have never been able to really comprehend you. Though I'm not ready to give up on the project just yet."

"Why does it matter what Elizabeth thinks of me or what kind of person I am?" Oliver, I don't think you'll be able to meddle in my life again. I'm not going to put up with it."

His brow furrowed and he shook his head. "I haven't meddled with your personal affairs."

"How come you've never gotten in the way?"

" Her indignation had her gasping for air. "How can you say you don't know what's going on?" You not only interfered with my youth, but you also destroyed it."

His voice and eyes had softened. "Athene," he said softly. "You had a tough upbringing because you lost both of your parents when you were young. A vibrant young girl didn't need the presence of an aged great aunt to be happy. You have to be with people your age, and Oscar and I were the closest. We were co-conspirators against the adults when we were three of us together. "Those were the happiest years of my life."

How could somebody be so naive, so gullible? Her eyes welled up with tears. "Oliver, you were a complete beast. I despised you back then, and I despised you even more now."

"No, no, don't say anything like that." I couldn't have been so venomous—I was just a kid. There's a chance I crossed a couple lines—"

"You disobeyed every rule. You pursued me, harmed me, and mocked me. I've done everything I can to put it behind me, and I don't need you to bring it up again."

His fingers bit into her shoulders. "It wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be." I've seen actual bullying...no, I'm not going to say anything about it right now. I beg you, tell me what I did that was so bad. We were kids, so there had to be some roughhousing, a few scrapes, bruises, and tears—"

"It's always been mine." It will never be yours. I wished I'd never been born when you entered my aunt's home over the school vacations to get at me and torment me."

"I can't believe how offended you were by my actions. He was no longer staring at her, and he said, "I'm absolutely shocked." Was he, like her, peering backwards in time, clearing away the mists to rediscover long-forgotten memories?

Only his seemed to be flawless. Hers is the polar opposite of hers.

When she looked up at him, she noticed his eyes were closed, like if he was in pain. If there was a wound, she had every right to exploit it. Wasn't she the one?

His voice was hardly audible as he said, "I remember pulling your hair." "I had no idea that was such a serious offense."

"It was because you did it all the time and it was painful."

"All I was attempting to do was get your attention." It was the most convenient item to take."

"If you wanted my attention, you could have called my name or held my hand in yours."

"Please accept my apologies. You were always so closed off, hesitant or unable to let anyone near to you. When you were enraged, your blue eyes glowed with inner fire, and you were a sight to behold. "I had a hard time resisting temptation."

Sorry for the inconvenience. I like watching you enraged. After all these years, was it the best he could come up with? He'd devalued her and made her feel worthless. He deserved every bit of blame she could heap on him.

She felt his lips on her hair and said, "Please forgive me." "If I had the ability, I would eliminate the suffering."

"With a few words and a kiss, you can't erase years of fear and hatred."

"I know, I know"

"I'm guessing you forgot about the time you chained me to a tree and pelted me with horse chestnuts."

"I'm not sure—been it's a long time." Is it true that I did that? ”

It was so simple for him to deny any information or act as if he'd forgotten. Oscar assumed she had blocked it out as a painful memory. Had Oliver also erased the memory, but this time out of guilt?

He had her hand in his. When did that occur? She should have returned it, but she remained immobile, waiting to see what he'd do next.

He kissed each of her fingers with such tenderness that she was dumbfounded. Of course, it didn't heal any of her previous wounds, but the exciting sensations it awoke in her body served as an excellent diversion from them.

His lips were hot and loving, and his hands were warm and sure. Something in her belly quivered in response to a man bowing to a woman, acknowledging she was worthy of adoration, and committing to be in thrall to her.

She shook the thoughts out of her head. Rushbourne must never be allowed to win. He would just take advantage of the situation. He'd always done so. A leopard's spots did not change.

"You threatened to toss me in the trough as well."

"I should have been whipped then." Please accept my apologies if my recollection is not as sharp as yours. I don't recall the specific incidents—except for the field drain episode, of course—all I remember is the urge to draw your attention to myself. "It was a power I couldn't defeat."

"Everyone has the ability to manage their own behavior."

"Thus talks Miss Athene Heartless," he said, jokingly.

"Thank you for reminding me, ah yes." You also made derogatory remarks about me."

"Then I'll make amends for my sin."

He put his hands on her hips, fingers splayed, dangerously, astonishingly, producing a web of fire that billowed out and captured her. "Beautiful," he whispered as he touched her sides. Talented. Desirable. Fascinating. Entrancing. Overwhelming. A woman's goddess. Those are the names I now refer to you by. Let them erase the bleak recollections of my adolescent misdeeds, my raw folly, pride, and greed."

She looked up at him, searching for the lie, anticipating the ruse, the mocking laughter, and the final blow.

But there was no deception in his expression. His lips were slightly parted, his eyes were black, his skin was flushed, and his entire existence was concentrated on her to the exclusion of anything else.

Thankfully, his hands had come to a halt. She didn't want them to move; she wanted him to take a risk and put himself to the test. She'd play him and gain her vengeance, just as Oscar had said.

Oliver desired her, and she was drawn to him, despite all odds. But it was purely physical—carnal, not spiritual. She may beguile and seduce him, but her heart would remain unbroken.

It'd be the perfect revenge. To make him feel as useless as he had made her feel when she was a motherless child, crying in the dark and believing the world was against her.

"Enough, Oliver," she said, placing her palm on his chest and feeling the quick beat of his heart beneath her fingertips. "With flattery and'make it better' kisses, you cannot atone for your faults." I'll let you know if I think of a method to make amends. Please get out of the way now. "I've got to get back to Elizabeth."

His face was clouded, yet he c****d his head, took a step back, and pushed open the door for her.

The passageway was cool in comparison to the changing room. His presence no longer warmed her, and she shivered as she folded her arms around her chest. Her heart pounded furiously, and she realized she'd come dangerously close to giving up.

That was never going to happen. She would never give in to Oliver again, not in the face of temptation or bullying.

"Goodbye, Oliver," she said, intending to come across as hard and determined.

He blinked, bowed, and went away to the house's other wing. She felt a new surge of curiosity as she watched the beautiful movements of his tall, powerful physique.

It was unwelcome fascination. But, because she'd despised him for so long, just her body, not her heart, was in danger.

That much was clear: he lusted after her. He, like her, had no intention of putting his heart on the line. But if she could play him well—and she might need some professional assistance—she'd be able to enjoy a perfect vengeance that would make her never feel useless again.