Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

N ora knocked on the door nervously, wrapping her cloak tighter around herself as she waited for someone to open the door. She looked around her worriedly, much like she had done from the moment she left her house.

She knew what the rumors would do to her if she were seen. With the already terrible rumors surrounding her, it would be so easy for her to end up completely ruined with no chance at redemption.

The door immediately opened, the sound startling her. She looked at the butler who opened the door, her eyes wide.

"This way, My Lady. His Grace awaits you," he said, leading her inside.

None of the staff who walked around had stopped to stare at her in surprise. She scoffed inwardly. He had done this so many times that they had already come to expect it. She frowned at the jealousy she felt towards the women who came before her, surprised by her feelings.

It was the kind of man that he was. His entire household already knew that he was loose and had multiple women coming in at various times of the night to be with him. She had become one of those women.

It hadn't bothered her before now, knowing that there had been lovers before her and would be many more after, and it shouldn't bother her now, considering she was here only for a short time before she got what she needed and found a way out of it.

Focus, Nora. Remember why you're here.

She focused on the butler, following his quiet steps as he led her down the hallway, a torch burning bright in his hand.

She breathed in deeply, suddenly so nervous as she waited, uncertain of how to proceed. Nora looked behind her at the long, dimly lit hallway she had come through and shuddered. She had come so far already, doing things she would never do just so she could be there. She could not allow her heart to fail her now.

Nora held her breath and raised her hand to knock on the door, wincing when the sound was amplified by the quietness of everything else. The doors opened before she could think much further on it, and she looked up to see Samuel staring down at her in amusement.

She shut off her expression, maintaining a stoic mask to hide the irritation she felt.

Why are you always so amused when you see me?

He made her feel like a silly schoolgirl as opposed to the lady of three-and-twenty that she was, long gone from the schoolrooms and the guidance of an overprotective mama.

"I had begun to wonder how long you planned to stand out here," he said with a grin.

Nora blushed, partly in embarrassment and partly in awe. It was the first time she had seen anything other than his half-smile, and he was beautiful. His perfectly square jawline softened, and his cheekbones lifted, softening the harsh lines of his face that made him so scary. For once, she was standing before a man much her equal.

"How did you know I was there?" she asked.

She thought she had been quiet as she stood there. The butler had certainly been quiet, and he hadn't knocked on the door, choosing instead to let her do so.

"The torch." Samuel stood up and picked up a candle that sat on one of the tables, moving closer to her. Her breath caught in her throat as he stood in front of her.

Is it time for that already?

She steeled herself, although a part of her screamed at her to run. Nora was curious. She wanted to know what he tasted like. To feel what the woman felt as he touched her. To know what other places he would touch her, other than underneath her skirts.

Her eyes widened at the direction of her thoughts, and she stepped back, causing him to chuckle.

"You need not back away from me. I have—" He paused, staring at her outfit.

Nora stared at him in shock as he laughed, his body shaking from the force of it. She frowned, looking around the room and down at herself.

"Would you mind telling me what it is you find so amusing, Your Grace?"

He pointed at her, his hand gesturing up and down.

She stared down at herself in confusion. "I do apologize, Your Grace, but I simply cannot see what is so funny."

"Your attire, Lady Nora. One would think you were a spy if they saw you," he said when his laughter died down.he had finally calmed himself.

Nora rolled her eyes at him. She had expected something else, and yet here he was, laughing like a child.

"I suppose I cannot expect you to understand why I need to dress this way," she said, still irritated.

"I apologize, Lady Nora. I was merely jesting. I assure you that I understand the risks on your end. To be honest, I was surprised to see that you were not deterred and managed to make it here," he said.

"Should I thank you?" she asked him, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Samuel laughed in amusement, and she glared at him.

"Please, allow me to take your cloak," he said, helping her remove it.

Her breath caught in her throat as he closed the distance between them. She bit her lip, relieved when he finally moved away, her cloak in his hand.

"You have a beautiful home," she said as she looked around his dimly lit halls.

Samuel had taken her around. She had never seen a garden that rivaled his. It was lovely how a man who was known to be so cold and cruel could cultivate a garden so beautiful and inviting. They were the perfect contrast. The Duke was a very wealthy man and clearly wanted for nothing, as his home indicated.

"I believe the table must have been prepared for us. I certainly hope you have the appetite. It is your first time here, after all," he said, offering her his hand.

Nora placed her hand in his, allowing him to lead her towards the room. She bit her lip as her heart pounded heavily in her chest and her neck tingled. thrummed.

Can he hear my heart beating?

It was the first time she was alone with a man like this, and she was nervous. Was she safe with him? The rumors that surrounded him hadn't been dispelled quite yet, and she wasn't entirely sure that she thought him innocent.

Surely, there are certain truths to the rumors.this.

Nora choked in surprise when they arrived at the room. The table had been set with lots of wine and light foods for them to nibble on. She looked at Samuel, who was hanging up her cloak.

"You don't expect us to finish all of this, do you?"

"The wine or the food?" he asked her without turning to look at the table.

She squinted as she stared at him. "Both."

"We don't have to. However, it is better to have too much than too little,

"We don't you think?" he asked.

She shrugged. She supposed he was right. He pulled out her chair for her and then sat opposite her, staring straight at her.

Nora sat uncomfortably as he stared at her. Her hands grew clammy underneath his gaze, and her eyes looked everywhere but at him. She had never been so blatantly stared at before, not even by the members of the ton who gossiped about her after the rumors about her began to surface.

"I propose we play a game," he said finally.

"A game?" she asked, confused. She had not realized they would be playing games when she joined him.

"Yes. For us to be comfortable with each other, we will need to get to know one another first," he explained. "I care about your comfort, Lady Nora."

Nora was surprised. She did not know what she had been expecting, but it was certainly not any of this. Considering they only had seven nights, she thought he would prefer to get straight to the point of things.

"All right. What is this game you wish to play?" she asked, giving in.

Samuel perked up, his eyes brightening as he regarded her. "It's quite simple. It's a game of questions. We take turns to ask each other questions, but every time we don't want to answer, the person who asks is allowed to touch the other."

Nora grimaced. She had been too quick to think that he was being a gentleman. She was grateful that he was trying to get to know her. However, she wasn't surprised at his method. It was exactly what she expected of him.

"What sort of game is that? These rules are more for your benefit than mine," she said, affronted and taken aback by the rules of the game.

"I will not insult you by denying that it is indeed for my benefit. I suppose you will simply have to answer the question if you do not want to be touched." He smiled at her.

"What if I do not wish to play this game?" She swallowed, maintaining her composure, although she wished to run all the way back home until she was within the safety of her room.

"I suppose I cannot force you to play a game if you do not wish to," he said, and her anxiety ebbed. Nora calmed.

"I certainly understand if you are scared, little rabbit. Not everyone has to play this game, after all." He gave a mocking smile.

Nora bristled. She balled her hands into fists underneath the table.

Calm yourself, Nora. This is exactly the response he hopes to get from you. You cannot allow yourself to fall into his trap.

"I assure you, Your Grace, I am not scared," she said, glaring at him.

As his smile turned victorious and his eyes glinted, Nora knew she had done exactly what she said she wouldn't do. She had played into his hands and given him exactly what he wanted.

How wonderful.

"Lovely, Lady Nora. I was hoping that you wouldn't be and we could have a civil game between two adults."

"What is your question?" she snapped, already dreading the game before it even began.

"I suppose we should start simple. What is your favorite snack?"

Her eyebrows rose at the question. Despite saying that he wanted them to start with simple questions, that was not what she had expected him to ask her.

"It would be a mighty surprise if you didn't know the answer to that, My Lady." He chuckled.

"Apple slices. My favorite snacks are apple slices," she said quickly, worried that he would touch her if she did not answer sooner.

She blushed and looked away, making him laugh.

"If you do not wish to answer and would rather go straight to being touched, I could work with that."

His voice lowered, and he stared at her with eyes that told her exactly what he meant to do if she simply agreed. Images of the mystery lady flashed in her mind once again. Her loud moans as he pleasured her and the way that she clung to him like he was her lifeline.

Nora blushed. "N-no. I can answer your questions."

He smiled again. "Very well then. I believe it's your turn to ask a question."

"What's your favorite flower?" she asked him, feeling silly when he raised an eyebrow in amusement once again.

She hated that he made her feel silly. She looked at her cloak, which he'd hung up. Perhaps it would be for the best if she ended things here before they even began and found her way back home before anyone found out where she had gone.

"No one has ever asked me that before," he said, smiling.

Her lips clamped shut before she could retort. This time, his smile was genuine. She did not think she would ever see that.

"I don't think I have a favorite flower. However, I have always liked foxgloves. They are very unforgiving flowers. Touching one can be so terrible for you. It's like a person with so many defenses to protect itself from danger."

Nora stared at him with her mouth open wide. She hadn't expected an answer so profound and with reasons.

"Your turn," she said simply, unsure how to respond to that.

"Hmmm… I have a good one. What is your favorite pastime?"

Nora's lips turned up in a smile. It was the one topic she wouldn't get tired of speaking about if she had the opportunity to do so.

"Horse riding. I have a horse named Mindy. I have had her since I was a little girl, and she is simply the most perfect horse. Taking her for a ride is always my favorite activity."

"I would love to meet Mindy one day. It would be great to see this horse that makes you so excited," he said. His eyes showed his sincerity.

As the game progressed, Nora relaxed into her chair. He had been right when he said that asking questions and getting to know one another was the best way to begin. She felt better now that she had talked to him and found out certain things about him. It wasn't just about the answers he gave but how he reacted to her answers also.

"All right. I have one more question," he said, pouring each of them another glass of wine.

A buzzing sensation coursed through her, calming her as the drink settled in her belly.

"What's your question?"

"Have you ever been touched by a man before?"

Nora blinked slowly as she struggled to understand what he was asking her. Her lips slowly dropped. He had betrayed her. Of course, he had. She should have known that he would pull a mean trick like that.

Picking up her glass, Nora sipped from it slowly, allowing the taste to linger on her tongue.

No, what am I thinking? There's no way I am being too unreasonable.

She glared at him. He'd begun with simple questions she would have no problem answering. She should have known not to fall for the innocent act he had put on. She couldn't believe she had talked herself into thinking that he truly cared for the innocent answers.

He does not care that my horse is named Mindy.

"I haven't," she said, not looking at him. "How many women have you touched?"

Samuel's short laugh caused her to look up. He had gone back to looking at her like she amused him.

"I'm afraid I cannot tell you that," he said.

"You cannot or just won't?"

Samuel swirled the wine in his glass, rubbing his jaw. "I suppose it is both. There are certain things a gentleman should never speak of, and that includes the number of women he has been with."

Nora stared at him in annoyance. She had answered his question, even though she did not wish to. "Are you a gentleman?"

Once again, he laughed.

She frowned. He had been doing more of that since they started to drink the wine, and yet she found it difficult to believe that he was drunk.

"I suppose I am whatever the lady wants me to be." He fixed her with his blue-eyed stare.

Nora's stomach twisted. Did he do that on purpose, knowing that it affected her?

She looked at the grape stalk on her plate just as his voice cut through her thoughts once again.

"I suppose you will have to touch me, since I am unable to answer your question."

Nora's hand froze on her lap. She tightened her fist around the skirt of her dress. There was no reason why his saying that had to affect her so much. She had touched him already before when she danced with him. This was not so much different from that.

She let out a breath and reached across the table, keeping her eyes below his chin. He watched her. She did not have to look up at him to know that, not when her body thrummed with tension.

Nora placed her hand on his cheek in a gentle caress, feeling his prickly stubble against her palm. She rubbed her hand across his cheek, fascinated by the feeling before she pulled away from him.her.

Samuel laughed once again. "I don't believe I have ever been caressed on the cheek when there's a possibility to do much more."

She blushed. She wasn't used to the idea of touching a man. It was her first time touching a man's cheek, other than her father's when she was younger.

"I guess it is my turn now. Have you ever touched yourself?"

Her eyes shot up to his before faltering just as quickly. She gulped down what was left of her wine to cover the blush rising to her cheeks.

"I-I cannot tell you that."

Her answer was greeted with the loud scrape of a chair as Samuel got up. He walked towards her, his steps tentative and his eyes boring holes into her head.

"You do remember the penalty for not answering a question."

He turned her chair towards him and knelt in front of her until his face was level with hers. His gaze lowered to her neck, and his hand followed, his thumb caressing her skin..

She gasped softly, her breath coming out in puffs. "I have."

Samuel smiled at her quick response. "Where have you touched yourself?"?"

She shook her head. "It's my turn to ask a question."

"Ask me anything," he said softly, his eyes focused on her lips.

Her mouth went dry. "I-I don't know."

"Then you can skip your turn," he said. "Where have you touched yourself, little rabbit?"

She shook her head once again, her head light from the wine and his closeness.

"I get to touch you, then." He lowered his lips to hers.

Nora gasped as shock ran through her. She had never felt anything like this before. Her hands clenched in her skirts as she began to swoon. She pulled back, gasping as she stared back at him with wide eyes.

"I-I heard about it from one of my friends a-and I tried it once, but it felt so weird, so I never tried it again," she said, her eyes lowering to her tightly clasped tightly. She hoped he did not make her explain it in detail to him.

Samuel hummed. "Thank you for telling me."

He took her hands in his, rubbing his thumb on her palm. His other hand returned to her neck, caressing her gently as her eyes remained fixed on his, unable to pull away. Nora's eyes widened as his lips began to lower to hers once again. She wanted to taste his lips again and get lost in the feeling of his hands on her bare skin.

She gasped, standing up. She looked at him as her eyes filled with panic. She looked out the window and stifled a scream. She hadn't realized how much time had passed since she was here. The sky had begun to lighten, and soon, the sun would be up. She couldn't be caught outside by then. There was no excuse she could give to her stepfather if she was caught. Not when there were already rumors about her.

Her stepfather would send her off to his sister before even receiving a letter from her if he found out what she had done. Then there would be no hope for rescuing her mother.

"Are you all right, Lady Nora?" the Duke asked, pulling her out of her panic-induced thoughts.

Her head jerked in his direction, and she shook her head.

"I did not realize just how much time had gone by. I need to leave immediately, otherwise I will be found out. That cannot happen," she said.

Samuel looked out the window and sighed. "I apologize for keeping you out so late. I hadn't realized either."

His brow furrowed as he stared at her, but then he walked off to retrieve her cloak and wrapped it around her until it covered her much like it had when she arrived.

His hands lingered on her neck where he'd just tied the knot. He ran a thumb across the throbbing vein in her neck, tracing all the way to the end of her collarbone and back.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she stared up at him with parted lips, her breath coming out in sharp pants.

"There, you are a spy again. I will have the coachman drop you off wherever you wish so that you can be home early enough," he whispered before stepping away from her.

She let out a nervous laugh and cleared her throat noisily as Samuel rang for his butler.

"For our next meetingsmeeting, from now on, I will have a servant wedge a letter in the gate of your family estate, so you will have to check every day to make sure you do not miss it," he teased, swallowing back a chuckle when she grunted in annoyance just as the butler walked into the room.