6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

T he sounds of barely contained chaos echoed within the Duke of Somerton's townhouse, shattering the weary silence that had settled over the halls. Muffled footsteps and half-shouted, half-whispered words carried down the hall. Alex, his mind still preoccupied with the challenges that lay ahead, had just rung for his valet.

He was weary and hoped for an early night, having barely tasted dinner and no desire for brandy and cigars. He'd only managed to slip from his jacket. The valet's fingers still grasping the buttons of his waistcoat, when a sharp knock at the door echoed through his dressing room.

With a mighty sigh from deep in his bones, Alex nodded at the valet, who opened the door. A servant stepped into the room, his face etched with confusion and concern. The man bowed respectfully, his eyes darting nervously as he delivered the unexpected news.

"Your Grace," the servant began, his voice low and urgent, "there is a visitor who has arrived at the manor, demanding to speak with you in utmost secrecy, despite the late hour."

Alex's brow furrowed, his mind already racing with possibilities. Who could possibly be calling at such an hour, and with such insistence on secrecy?

He fixed his gaze upon the servant, his voice steady as he inquired, "And who might this visitor be?"

The servant hesitated for a moment, as if weighing the impact of his next words. "It is Lady Rosalind, Your Grace. She is alone and unchaperoned."

Alex's eyes widened in shock, his breath catching in his throat. Lady Rosalind was here at his manor, without a chaperone, in the dead of night. The implications of her presence sent a shiver down his spine, his mind grappling with the potential scandal that could unfold.

"Lady Rosalind insists on the urgency and importance of the matter at hand," the servant added, his voice laced with a hint of trepidation.

Alex drew in a deep breath, his thoughts swirling with a myriad of emotions. What could have driven Rosalind to take such a bold and reckless step? Was she in trouble, or was there something more sinister at play? He knew that he had to handle this situation with the utmost care and discretion, lest it fuel the already raging fires of scandal that threatened to engulf his family.

"Has anyone else seen her?" Alex demanded.

The footman hesitated, shooting a glance to the valet. "One of the scullery maids, and the hallboy...others possibly as well. She arrived at the servants' entrance, Your Grace," he added hurriedly.

With a curt nod, Alex dismissed the servant. "Very well. Show Lady Rosalind to the drawing room and ensure that no one else is aware of her presence. Inform everyone downstairs that if I hear even a whiff of talk about this, then they shall be dismissed without notice and without a character reference. I shall be there shortly."

Quickly, Alex let the valet slide his jacket back up onto his shoulders, brushing it down in hurried sweeps. Steeling himself for the encounter, Alex straightened his shoulders and strode out of his dressing room. Despite his sleeping quarters, his footsteps echoing through the silent halls of the manor.

Alex's mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts as he made his way towards the drawing room where Lady Rosalind awaited his presence. His steps were as heavy as his mind as he passed through the dimly lit corridors, a testament to the weight of the impending conversation. His heart thrummed with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, wondering what could have possibly driven the fiery and unconventional young woman to seek him out at such an unseemly hour. Despite his apprehension, there was an undeniable hint of thrill about the whole escapade that made his skin tingle.

As Alex entered the drawing room, his gaze fell upon Rosalind. He found himself immediately captivated by her presence. She stood tall and defiant, her scarlet hair threatening to escape its moorings, her emerald eyes glittering with a fierce determination that seemed to fill the entire room with an electrifying energy. She stood near the fireplace, her back initially turned to him, but she turned when he entered the room.

The flickering flames cast a warm glow upon her fiery red hair, setting it alight. Rosalind met his gaze unflinchingly, uncowed by the strange circumstances of their meeting. There was no hint of fear or hesitation in her demeanour, only a resolute determination that radiated from every fibre of her being.

Alex found himself momentarily taken aback by the intensity of her presence, but he quickly composed himself, his voice steady despite the conflict that swirled within him. "Lady Rosalind," he greeted, his tone a mixture of formality and curiosity. "I must admit, your presence here at such an hour is most unexpected."

He raised an eyebrow in silent question, his mind racing with possibilities as to what could have brought her to his doorstep in the dead of night. The impropriety of the situation was not lost on him, but the urgency and determination in Rosalind's eyes suggested that there was more to her visit than mere social niceties. As he regarded her, Alex found himself drawn to the fire in her eyes, the strength of her spirit that seemed to fill the room with a palpable energy. Despite the unconventional nature of their meeting, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for the young woman who stood before him, her courage and resolve evident in the way she proudly tossed her head.

"What brings you here, Lady Rosalind?" he asked, his voice gentle yet probing, his curiosity getting the better of him. "What matter could be so pressing that it warrants such a clandestine meeting?"

He waited for her response, his heart beating a little faster in anticipation of the words that would fall from her lips. Whatever the reason for her visit, Alex knew that it would be a moment that would forever change the course of their lives; a turning point in the intricate dance of fate that had brought them together on this fateful night.