Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

" I hope I tied this on properly."

Nora Wilson struggled to set her mask properly on her nose to cover her face. She traced the knot on the back, loosening it so she could tie it again. The last thing she wanted was for her mask to come undone in a masquerade ball.

She dropped her hands to her sides, satisfied with the result as she looked around her. The ballroom was decorated to match the theme of the ball. It was adorned with red and gold draperies, with elaborate chandeliers hanging from them and the soft glow of candlelight glancing off the silk fabrics covering the walls.

Men in well-tailored suits and women in pretty dresses milled around excitedly, chattering amongst themselves, their elaborate masks creating a charged atmosphere.

Nora heaved a deep sigh as she stared at the large crowd of guests socializing and flirting discreetly. Her dress was blue, with its intricate lace detail that circled her waist, creating an illusion of a smaller waist. Her mask, much like the blue of her dress was made of silk fabric.

Nora scanned the ballroom once again. She was at the masquerade ball of the Duke and Duchess of Thorne. It was the most important ball of the Season, even more so for her.

Everyone who was of importance was at the ball, and those who weren't invited were often filled with envy.

"You better not mess this up."

Timothy Swinton, the Viscount of Worlington, walked up to his stepdaughter. The black mask that covered half of his face, much like hers did, wasn't enough to hide the unmistakable sneer on his lips.

She refrained from speaking and suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. His lips opened, and his legs spread, signifying that he was nowhere near done speaking with her and making sure that she knew where she stood—not that she could ever forget it.

"Your reputation is in shambles, and this is your last?—"

She frowned, looking around to make sure that no one was listening in.

"Fix your face, girl. There's already so little you have to offer, I will not allow you to go around and act like a fool, chasing off whatever man might find you interesting enough to choose as a wife."

Nora hid her balled fists behind her full skirt. It would only be reason for him to chastise her more.

"My sister was right. Perhaps I have been so terribly lenient with you. I should've been more strict. Then you would not bring such shame upon my name."

Nora held back the scoff that threatened to escape her lips. She surreptitiously glanced at her mother before quickly looking away. Timothy had been nothing but strict with her ever since he married her mother.

She had only met his sister once, and yet her first words to her had been jarring. She'd looked Nora up and down, her lips curled into what Nora would soon realize was a permanent sneer.downward tilt.

"Hmm… this one will bring you shame. You must not let that happen, Timothy. Punishment is the only way to ensure that a girl grows up disciplined, and she does not seem to have much of either."

Nora pursed her lips now. "I will try my best, but I cannot help my reputation."

"Your best hasn't been good enough until now." He barked out a short bark that made her jump. There was nothing humorous about it. "Moreover, you should have thought about your reputation before you ended in such ruin. It cannot be so difficult to do so if many ladies have been able to manage that task."

"Maybe if they were in my position, they would do the same."

"What, girl?" he asked. She hadn't realized that she had spoken out loud. "Don't just stand there with your eyes wide. Open your mouth and speak."

She remained silent. There was no way she could say something like that to him. He would kill her.

She stumbled backwards, but his hand tightened around her arm, stopping her retreat. He gave a nasty smile and leaned in, whispering in her ears for her alone to hear.

"You do not want to provoke me, do you, Nora? I was certain that we had established all that could happen if you do."did."

His hand squeezed harder as she blinked, the only sign of her pain. She struggled to keep her face straight and her body steady. He would not let anyone see the monster that he was.

He stepped away from her and smiled, straightening the lapels of his coat. "I'm sure we have reached an understanding."

She allowed herself to relax as his cold eyes finally turned away from her. But she had relaxed too soon.

"Just so you know what's at stake, you will go live with Mathilda if you don't find yourself a husband."

"What? No, please, I can't—" She stopped her desperate plea to not be parted from her mother. He would only use that against her. Besides, he was not the sort of man one pleaded with.

It'd been weeks since he uttered the threat of sending her to live with his sister, a threat he knew was often effective, by the look she usually had on her face.

"I always knew you would bring me shame. Mathilda said that much the first time you met. Still, I thought to train you right, but you have spat on my generosity and proven her right."

He affected an air of deep grievance she knew he did not feel. "Now that you've been labeled a loose woman, there are only a handful of men who could want you. I do not care what choice you make. Simply choose one, or I will make the choice for you."

"Remember what will happen if you don't," he warned.said.

Lady Mathilda had a ghoulish behavior, a scowl forever present on her thin lips and a growl ever ready to escape those lips whenever she didn't get her way. She did not like Nora and doubted there would ever be a scenario that would make that happen. The feeling was mutual.

Yet, despite Lady Mathilda's antics, Nora would rather live with her than be married to a man like her stepfather. The only thing stopping her was the fear of leaving her mother with this monster.

She shook her head. She couldn't leave. Not yet, anyway. "I understand, Lord Worlington."Swinton."

He grunted, his lips curling inwards. She held her breath as he walked away, only allowing herself to breathe when he had disappeared from sight.

She adjusted her mask once again and pressed her back to the wall. In the days since her reputation was ruined, she had become somewhat of a wallflower, in a bid to avoid the stares she constantly got.

With members of the ton thinking that she was a woman of easy virtue, the only men who did not go out of their way to avoid her were those who wished to have her as a mistress. Nora wasn't particularly bothered about it, as she had premeditated all of it.

She turned when she felt eyes on her and struggled to hide her smile as a group of women who had been near her when her stepfather spoke hurriedly averted their gazes.

That was something else that she had needed to get used to—the looks she received whenever she arrived at an event or went out in public, and the conversations that started up, sometimes in hushed tones and other times in barely contained whispers whenever they wished to make her as uncomfortable as her presence made them.

Nora would gladly subject herself to the ton's reproach if it meant she did not have to be married to a man like her stepfather. Now, she no longer had to worry about having to marry anyone, much to her stepfather's displeasure.

She slunk out of the hall, careful to avoid being seen, not that there were any eyes on her. Ever since her reputation was tarnished, she found it easier to avoid people's watchful glances. It helped that people did not know who she was beneath the mask.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she walked down the dark and empty halls of Thorne House, glad to not have to put up with the whispers and stares whenever people realized who she was. With light steps, she looked around as her eyes slowly began to adjust to the dim lighting.

Nora paused, startled, and turned around quickly. Her brow furrowed when she was met with the sight of the empty hall.

"What was that?" she whispered to herself.

She squinted to see beyond just a few feet in front of her. Perhaps there was something that she had missed because she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings, lost in her thoughts.

The sound came again, this time louder and raspier. It was a woman's voice, although it sounded different from anything she had ever heard.

Is she hurt? Has someone harmed her?

The sounds spilling from the woman's lips were lewd. Nora's steps quickened as a sense of urgency gripped her, pulling her towards the darkness, when another voice reached her ears, stronger and more controlled.

Her heels ground to a halt, and her eyes widened in shock. Although Nora did not consider herself worldly, she was not so innocent that she did not know what it meant when a man and a woman were dallying in the dark like this with no chance of being found.

She rounded the corner slowly, peeking in from behind a pillar at the pair. She hid between the wall and the pillar, careful to remain concealed in case they suddenly chose to put an end to their meeting and she did not have enough time to get away.

She was greeted with the outline of a man and a woman. Their bodies were pressed together in a pose that signified intimacy.

The candlelight above their heads made it possible for her to see them despite the darkness that otherwise shrouded the hallway. She could not make out the woman's face, not that she cared much about that. She only wished to confirm that she was indeed not hurt, and now that she had done so, she could care less what they did.

Unlike the woman, who was facing away from her, the man was facing her. All Nora could see was dark hair. Her eyes flicked from the woman's frame to the man's face, and her breath caught in her throat. The light shone brightly on his face, making his features as clear as day for her to see.

Nora gasped as she saw who it was pressed against the woman. It was Samuel Gale, the Duke of Bancroft. She frowned. It was shocking seeing him in such a position, as the Duke was supposed to be someone who was never involved in anything like this.

Although the men did not face a scandal like the one she was currently embroiled in, the Duke had managed to keep a spotless reputation all over the ton when it involved women, yet here he was, dallying with a woman who was clearly not his wife in the dark, since she knew he did not have one.

Despite his spotless reputation when it came to women, Nora was aware of his reputation as a cruel man. She'd never been curious enough to investigate the Duke. However, her new status as a wallflower provided her with the means to listen in on the rumors said about him, however unfounded they were.

Nora had heard that he never stayed with a woman for long and that it was never for emotional attachment. He only sought out women as mistresses and nothing more.

She had also heard that he had a hot temper, much like his father before him, and that it was the reason he refused to seek a wife. He did not wish to continue his bloodline.

None of that seemed to matter now as she stared at him. Nora didn't know what to do as her face heated up.

I should turn away from them and continue my walk like I saw nothing.

"How perverted are they to do such a thing outside?" she said, her eyes widening when she realized she had voiced her thoughts out loud.

Her eyes lowered to his hand, and she blushed when it disappeared up the lady's skirt. She quickly looked back up to his face, only to be met with dark blue eyes that stared straight at her. Her blush deepened, her skin heating up as she struggled to look away from him. His eyelids lowered, taking those eyes off her for a moment, before they were back on her again, this time more intense.

‘ Look away.

She was unsure whether she was speaking to herself or him. His eyes roamed down the length of her body even as his hand trailed up the side of the strange woman's neck, pulling up her long, black hair to expose her nape.

Nora's breath caught in her throat, her neck tingling in the same spot he touched the woman.

What is this?

Something primal zinged through her.

Her eyes were glued to his face. She had never met a man as handsome as him. Something about him called to her, rooted her to the spot, beckoning her to stay and watch.

She panicked, tearing her eyes away from him to look around. She did not want to be caught, and certainly not by him. She did not think he would take too kindly to having his private moment watched like this, not even if she had happened upon them by accident.

His lips lifted from the lady's and parted as he whispered something Nora wished she could hear in her ear. The woman groaned, pressing against him even further, her hands tightening on his as she moved with him, blissfully unaware of the audience they were performing for.

Run away.

Nora was desperate. The Duke had seen her, there was no doubt about that, but she could still forget all about this and continue on like she had seen nothing if she could just get her legs to cooperate with her.

Yet, despite everything, her legs remained rooted to the spot, and her eyes stayed fixed on him like he was the most important thing in the world and she couldn't bear to look away for a moment.

"Do you like that?"

His voice carried on to her this time, a raspy, rich timbre that rushed through her like cool water on a hot summer afternoon. Her eyes closed, soothed by his voice. She hadn't realized how much she needed to hear his voice until she finally did.

"Yes…" the lady said, her words mixing with her moans and coming out in a shaky breath.

"Good… Open your eyes," he said and Nora's eyes snapped open.

She gasped quietly. Although the mystery lady had been the one to answer him, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was the one he was speaking to.

Snap out of it, Nora. There's no way he's speaking to you.

Her eyes remained on him as he chuckled.

"Do you like what you see?"

"Yes, Your Grace. You have always been a very handsome man. I'm awed that you chose me."

Nora gasped once again. She hadn't been certain the first time he spoke, but now she knew it was her he spoke to. His eyes remained on hers, saying nothing to his companion even as his hands moved expertly across the woman's body, pleasuring her in ways Nora couldn't dare to imagine.

A war was raging within her. This man whom she knew of but had never had the pleasure of having an encounter with until this very moment, if she could even call whatever situation they were locked in that.

She wished to be far away from there, that she had remained in the ballroom and been the recipient of so many awkward looks instead of being subjected to what she was seeing, and yet a part of her couldn't bear not having his eyes fixed on her in that way that made it seem like she was the one he was ravishing.

She shook her head, shocked by the direction of her thoughts.

What has gotten into me? Perhaps it was a terrible idea to ruin my reputation. I have begun to have wanton thoughts as well.

The Duke cooed, pulling her out of her thoughts once again and shutting off whatever voice of reason she'd begun to develop.

"You are a very naughty girl."

"Yes, Your Grace," the lady moaned. "But only for you."

They paid her no mind, stuck in a weird dance Nora couldn't break free from.

His voice teased her, a glint in his eyes showing that he was once again speaking to her and not to the lady he was with.

She blushed heavily. Had he figured out what it was she was thinking about? Were her thoughts very obvious on her face?

She'd been told she had a very expressive face when she did not have her guard up, and if there was one thing that was very clear in the situation in which she had found herself, it was that she didn't have her guard up. The Duke had managed to disarm her without her knowing about it.

Nora frowned. He was trying to make her blush and burn with shame for watching them in such an intimate position, when it should be the other way around. Although she had caught them, he had not reacted as one would when caught fooling around with a woman who wasn't his wife. If there was anyone who should feel shame, it should be him and not her.

She turned away, finally managing to get her body to cooperate with her, her face burning with shame. She rushed off as quietly as she had come, careful not to startle the woman, who remained unaware of what had been going on around her, wrapped up in the Duke's embrace.

Don't turn around… cheeks burned bright red as she rushed off, but despite her chants, Nora turned around and watched the knowing smirk on his face, as though he could read her thoughts and knew the turmoil he had wrought on her mind.

Nora seethed as she made her way back to the ballroom, welcoming the darkness of the barely lit hallways as she struggled to calm her mind and put up the walls that he had brought down with a few words and actions she wasn't meant to see.

She paused just before she entered the ballroom. Perhaps this could work in her favor. Her mind went over the information that had been thrust upon her. Perhaps there was a way that she could use this to her advantage, after all.

Nora grinned, satisfied. She walked into the ballroom and, much like before, stood behind the guests, her back pressed against the wall as she allowed the music to wash over her and soothe her while the wheels began spinning in her mind.