Chapter 3

"Iam grateful for the timely intervention," the handsome man said hesitantly.

"You are very welcome," Esther declared with pride. "See? Not that hard to drive these desperate debutantes away."

She could feel his hazel eyes on her, and it made her feel hot against the chilly evening breeze. She couldn't tell if he was judging her for being so improper, but she also didn't care much. Perhaps it was the alcohol making her so unashamed in her approach, and keeping her eyes from wandering was quite a task because he was truly such a handsome man.

He was more than a head taller than herself, towering over her to shield her from the moonlight with his broad, sturdy shoulders. His brown hair was windswept, revealing soft waves that were cut neatly. He had a guarded and serious look about him, the kind that would make someone think twice before saying something inappropriate.

Well, unless that someone was either a lustful maiden. Or a drunkard like herself.

The man's footsteps clicked softly against the cold stone floor as he neared her. With a cautious expression, he extended his hand in greeting.

"Good evening." His voice was uncertain. "I don't believe we've had the pleasure of meeting before. My name is William Barton, the Duke of Harcourt."

Esther admired his manners despite being sure that she'd bewildered him. She met his gaze with an easy smile and took his hand, bobbing a curtsy.

"Ah, so the mysterious gentleman finally introduces himself to me," she teased.

William blinked at her, and it was hard to read his expression. "It's not often that I find myself at a loss for words, but I must confess, your presence seems to have that effect on me."

Esther burst into giggles at his confession, and she strangely found pleasure in his admission because he looked like someone difficult to rattle. To have caught someone of his status off guard was quite an accomplishment.

"Well, in that case, I shall consider it a compliment," she replied mischievously. "After all, it's not every day that one encounters such a charmingly tongue-tied gentleman."

He still looked at her silently with an unreadable expression, and she felt she was overstepping. Though drunk, his intense gaze sobered her up. She cleared her throat and attempted to pull herself together.

"Never mind that, Your Grace," she murmured, her tone still more familiar than propriety dictated, thanks to alcohol. She attempted to curtsy. "I'm Esther Arnold. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

William's eyebrows rose in surprise, indicating to her that her attempt to be more formal had failed. It should have made Esther nervous, but she didn't seem to care what anyone perceived her as, not even the Duke.

"Pleasure to meet you, Lady Esther," he replied.

Before Esther could respond, the effects of the alcohol began to overtake her, causing her to stumble unsteadily as she rose from her curtsy. With a gasp, she lost her footing, her body tilting forward dangerously.

William's arms shot out in a heartbeat to catch her.

"Careful there," he murmured softly in her ear, the sternness in his voice making her shudder as he steadied her with a gentle hand on her arm. "Are you all right?"

Esther blinked up at him, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as the shell of her ear tingled. "I-I'm fine," she stammered out, mortified. "Just a bit… um…"

His hands felt so firm on her waist, and she was taken back by how safe and secure she felt in his strong hold. She steadied herself by holding onto his muscular arm, which strained against the sleeve of his coat. He was toned and strong, and she was sure she was barely heavier than a feather compared to him.

As Esther attempted to extricate herself from the unexpected embrace, she felt a tug in her hair. Confused, she glanced down to find that her curls had become entangled in one of the buttons of William's coat, trapping her in a most awkward position.

"Oh dear," she murmured sheepishly, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment as she attempted to free herself from the unexpected predicament. "It seems I've gotten in a bit of a tangle."

With gentle hands, he began to carefully disentangle her hair from the button, his touch tentative yet reassuring. She watched the focused expression on his face as he worked, feeling strangely attracted to him.

"It's all right," he reassured her, though his voice did not display much concern. It was curt, straightforward, and reserved. He was making it rather awkward to communicate at this point.

Esther couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude towards him as he attempted to free her from the mess, his closeness sending a shiver down her spine as his warmth radiated off him in the chilly night. Despite her best efforts to maintain her composure, the intoxicating scent of his cologne entranced her. She felt herself getting drunker on the scent than the alcohol in her system, and had to resist stepping closer to him.

With a final tug, William successfully disentangled her hair from the button, freeing her from the awkward embrace. She stepped back in relief mingled with a lingering sense of unease at the intensity of their prior closeness.

"Thank you," she murmured softly. "I-I appreciate your help."

William's hazel eyes softened. "Of course."

Something about the way he scanned her face made her breath hitch.

As Esther opened her mouth to speak, hoping to shoo away the awkwardness, a familiar voice cut through the air, causing her to freeze mid-sentence. Her mother's voice echoed somewhere from within the residence and out of the nearby open windows, calling out her name with a sense of urgency that sent a chill down her spine.

Esther's heart raced in her chest as she became aware of the gravity of the situation. It would not do for her mother to find them, especially considering the rumors that were already swirling about her reputation.

Another voice joined the call from what seemed like the other end of the residence—calling out for William.

"That's my mother," William said exasperatedly.

Esther grabbed his hand and pulled him alongside her. "Quickly, there's no time to waste," she urged. "There's a secret compartment inside the room. We can hide there until they leave."

He followed her back into the bedroom and towards a concealed alcove. She could tell from his stiff hand beneath her own that he wasn't entirely comfortable and convinced, but she ignored it.

As they entered the compartment, Esther's heart raced, her senses heightened by the thrill of their clandestine escape. With a silent prayer, she pushed William further into the alcove before slipping in herself, the darkness enveloping them like a cloak.

"Stay quiet," she whispered urgently to him. "We can't risk them finding us."

William nodded in understanding, his breathing slow and deep as they waited in tense silence. With each inhale, his chest expanded against her bosom, sending a surge of heat and embarrassment through her body. His hand rested on the wall behind her, by her waist, his warmth seeping through the fabric of her bodice. His breath fanned her cheek and collarbone, and his nose brushed her temple thanks to the cramped space.

Oh my. This is quite a predicament.

They both held their breaths, her heart pounding in her chest as she listened intently for the women's voices. Minutes felt like hours as they waited in the darkness, the tension mounting with each passing moment. The compartment was small. Too small. As they shuffled around to release the cramps in their joints, it only made their situation worse.

Esther was practically flush against him.

The two, very obviously flustered, listened intently as the voices of their mothers grew closer, accompanied by the telltale sound of footsteps. With bated breaths, they waited, hearts pounding in their chests so hard that they could hear them through each other. Esther felt embarrassed about how they were squished against each other so much.

The door of the bedroom creaked open loudly, followed by a pair of footsteps.

"Hmm," came a woman's soft voice. "He's not here either."

"Well, well, if it isn't the Dowager Duchess of Harcourt," Esther's mother drawled as her footsteps followed. "You seem lost. The funeral parlor is a few streets down."

"Manners, Lady Seymour," the Dowager Duchess replied with a mockingly sweet tone. "I'm still a duchess. And I must say, age has not been kind to you either. You're looking positively haggard."

Esther and William exchanged incredulous glances despite the darkness of their hiding place. Her eyes widened in disbelief at the exchange unfolding not far away from them. She had never heard her mother speak with such open hostility, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at the animosity.

Both their mothers' squabbling was only making her more uncomfortable. However, William seemed strangely unnerved. She noticed his eyes flick down to her bosom before he averted his gaze.

The nerve of him!

"We… need to put some distance between us," he murmured in her ear.

"Well, would you rather go out there and explain why you came out of a closet with a woman?" Esther raised an eyebrow.

"Goodness, no," William breathed.

"Well," they heard Lady Seymour say sarcastically, "I see you've managed to make it to the ball without tripping over your skirts this time."

The Dowager Duchess scoffed at the barb. "And I see you've managed to drag your hermit of a daughter out of hiding since her first Season. Quite the accomplishment, I must say."

"She's not a hermit! Just shy!"

They continued taunting each other as they started to walk out of the room, but they still sounded too close for Esther and William to leave just yet.

As Esther attempted to shift around in the cramped compartment, she inadvertently pressed even closer to William, her hips brushing against his with each movement.

"Would you stop that?" he growled in her ear.

"Stop what?" she whispered.

"This." William grabbed her by the hips. "Stop moving."

Esther almost gasped out loud and bit her bottom lip. She tried to brush it off, but her cheeks were red, and she just didn't want him to see her face. His touch sent a spark down her body to a place that she felt too embarrassed to think about.

"Apologies… wait, I'll just—" She shifted again, turning her back to him.

William groaned softly with what sounded like frustration right in her ear.

"This… this is worse," he muttered.

Esther was mortified as she registered the discomfort in his voice. She huffed helplessly, her heart racing with nerves and… arousal.

"I know," she whispered. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it more awkward."

As the women outside continued their bickering, the air in the hidden compartment seemed to grow even more stifling. Esther exchanged an uneasy glance with William over her shoulder, silently willing their mothers to end their squabble and leave the room. She tried her best to ignore the way his strong thigh pressed against her bottom, but there was something else accompanying his leg that confused her.

"Despite your insults, Marina and the twins have been receiving much attention from eligible suitors this Season," the Dowager Duchess boasted, her voice tinged with pride. "Your daughter, on the other hand, is still a laughing stock!"

"She is not! And she's had plenty of options herself," Lady Seymour replied with determination.

With a haughty laugh, the Dowager Duchess said mockingly, "Oh, I'm sure she does, Lady Seymour. But pray tell, which one of these respectable gentlemen do you intend to marry Esther off to? Surely not one as old as Lord Morton?"

"Oh, please, we are not that desperate! Can't say the same thing about you, however," Lady Seymour bit back. "You married a man nearly thirty years older!"

"He was a duke!"

"Well… true. I can't fault you for that."

Esther winced, wondering if William would ever forgive her and her mother for such disrespect. Despite her best efforts to maintain her composure, she couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration at her mother's lack of tact.

William, however, shot her an almost sympathetic glance.

As their mothers' conversation continued to spiral into increasingly uncomfortable territory, Esther couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation wash over her. No matter how hard she tried to escape her mother's shadow, it seemed that she was always destined to be caught in the crossfire of her schemes and ambitions.

She was acutely aware of William's presence behind her. The air between them seemed to crackle with electricity, charged with an unspoken tension that neither of them dared to acknowledge.

With each passing second, every subtle movement that William made felt heightened, every shift of his body sending a shiver down her spine. She could hear the soft sound of his breaths that brushed against her neck, adding to the buzz under her skin that bloomed around her torso and settled under her bosom.

His hands shifted from her waist to the wall near her face as he caged her in. Esther could tell he was trying not to move, and that he was starting to get nervous.

"Are you all right?" he murmured, his breath warm on her skin.

Esther's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice so deep and so close to her ear. Despite her best efforts to remain composed, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves at his velvety voice. He had the kind of voice that sounded hoarse, and there was always some kind of command in it, like he wasn't used to asking for things.

"I'm… I'm all right," she replied, her voice trembling slightly despite her efforts to maintain her composure. "This could have gone a lot worse, though."

"I do not want to imagine right now," he whispered back, his breath tickling her ear.

"Imagine what, Your Grace?" She tilted her head back slightly. She knew this wasn't the appropriate time, but she couldn't help herself.

She felt him breathe in sharply. "You are testing me."

The frustration in his voice was apparent. The alcohol had made her very daring, and she really wanted to get under his skin. She pressed a little more against him. If he was going to complain, then she might as well give him a reason.

That was possibly not her brightest move because his hand immediately gripped her waist, halting her movement.

"Esther…" he warned.

As the voices of their mothers finally faded away, the tension in the hidden compartment finally dissipated and was replaced by relief. Esther pushed the door and cautiously peered out into the dimly lit room, her senses on high alert for the women or any new intruders.

After a moment of tense silence, she gave William a subtle nod to signal that the coast was clear. With a sigh of relief, they stepped out of the cramped compartment and into the open space of the room, relaxing visibly.

Satisfied that they were finally alone, Esther turned to him uncertainly, not knowing how to feel or act. She reprimanded herself inwardly for her careless behavior with him.

"We survived the ordeal," she whispered.

"Just what were you thinking?" He looked at her sharply with reddened cheeks, turning away from her as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Esther, feeling defensive, tilted her head in faux innocence. "Your Grace, the way I see it, I just saved you again, so…"

He huffed and marched past her, but his wrist caught in something before he could put some real distance between them.

Esther yelped, and she felt embarrassed once more when she realized that her long hair had caught in William's coat once again. With a soft curse under her breath, she attempted to extricate herself from the tangled mess, her cheeks flushing.

William sighed tiredly and reached out to help her disentangle her hair from his coat. His fingers deftly worked their way through the strands, his touch gentle and reassuring as he carefully loosened the knots.

"Seems like you don't want to stay away from me," he remarked quietly.

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please."

"Quite the attitude," he chided, detangling a lock of hair, his touch lingering on it.

"The attitude rescued you from someone more shameless than I, Your Grace."

"You think I couldn't have handled myself?" he scoffed, though she could swear she almost glimpsed a small smirk of amusement on his lips, but it disappeared. Perhaps she'd imagined it.

"You were losing your composure earlier, Your Grace. In the balcony and the compartment," she teased.

"No matter, I was more concerned for your honor than my own," he said somberly. "You're a woman, and you'll always have more to lose. I'd rather you try your best to not test your luck. And… please tie up your hair. You shouldn't be in public with it down."

She scoffed softly and looked away, finally leaving the room with him closely behind. As they walked, Esther couldn't shake the feeling of their closeness in the alcove, and the warmth of his presence beside her making heat bloom within her chest.

"Thank you, regardless," he added. "I don't know what I would have done without you. You saved me twice now."

"Yes, I've got a quick mind," she replied humorously.

"Not really, you're just very impulsive." William shrugged.

Esther scoffed again. "I should have just dragged you out of the closet in front of your mother."

"And your mother as well?" William retorted almost playfully.

She grumbled under her breath, and they exchanged a knowing glance in the shadow of the hallway, with the ballroom just around the corner.

"However, I do want to repay you for your kindness," he said. "I doubt anyone would've done what you did for me. Name your price."

Esther looked at their feet hesitantly, feeling warm from the acknowledgment. What she thought to say next made her feel like she was truly testing his boundaries.

"There… there might be a way you could help me," she suggested hesitantly.

"What is it?" he asked.

Esther took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to say.

I truly have no shame.

She met his gaze head-on despite the embarrassment she felt. "It's not something I can easily ask of you."

William's eyes darkened at her words, a shadow crossing his features as he processed what she was saying. Esther felt a pang of regret at his reaction, wondering if she had made a mistake in speaking up. But then she remembered her resolve, and she knew that she couldn't back down now.

"I think you should court me," she blurted out, her words tumbling over each other in her haste to get them out. "And maybe I'll get some respite from my mother's shoving me into people's faces."

The air stilled as her words hung between them, the weight of their implications sinking in with each passing moment. She held her breath, waiting for his response, her heart pounding in her chest as she braced herself for his reaction.

The Duke seemed to be processing her words, his expression unreadable as he stared at her intently. Then, to her surprise, a slow, cocky grin spread across his face.

This was the most expressive he'd been all evening, and it frightened her.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, she opened her mouth to take back her words, turning around to retreat. But before she could utter a single syllable, William's hand shot out, catching her wrist in a firm grip.

"Wait," he said, his voice cutting through the bustle and music nearby like a knife. "Don't run away."

Esther froze at his touch, her heart pounding in her chest as she turned to face him with her cheeks ablaze. She tried to pull away, to escape the intensity of his gaze, but William held her fast, his grip surprisingly gentle yet unyielding.

"Explain yourself," he demanded, his eyes boring into hers with an intensity that made her breath catch in her throat. "You've been pretty forward so far. What happened to you now?"

Esther swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his scrutiny bearing down on her. She knew that she couldn't avoid the truth any longer, that she owed him an explanation for her impulsive request.

"I… I'm sorry," she stammered out quickly. "That was far too bold compared to everything else that happened. I don't know what came over me. It was a foolish suggestion, and I understand if you want to forget it."

"Oh, not at all. I want to know what prompted such a request."

Esther was practically screaming inside, wondering if he was suddenly possessed by something. But even then, a part of her couldn't help but hope that he wouldn't let her go so easily. And now, with the Duke's steady gaze fixed on her, she knew that she couldn't take her words back.

"I just… I thought that maybe… perhaps…" she trailed off, as she struggled to find the right words.

"Ah, can't find your words now, can you?" He didn't let go of her wrist. "You were twittering as incessantly as a baby bird back on the balcony."

Esther blinked as he stared at her.

What on God's green earth has gotten into him?

"I-I'm not a bird!"

"Regardless, that's certainly a proposition I wasn't expecting," he remarked curiously.

She struggled to find the right words to explain herself as her face flushed a deep shade of red. She had never been one to wear her heart on her sleeve, and her request left her feeling exposed and vulnerable.

"Speak your mind now," he urged quietly, reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from her face. "You've been so bold so far, haven't you?"

"Well… my mother wants to marry me off to an older man," she answered awfully quietly.

"That would be a tragedy," he agreed.

Esther nodded, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment. "Yes," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't want you to think that I'm asking for anything more than… than a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"Oh?" His brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I mean…" Esther hesitated, searching for the right words to explain herself. "I mean that I wouldn't expect you to have feelings for me. I just thought that… that maybe we could help each other, you know? Ease each other's struggles. We wouldn't have to deal with being constantly under pressure. Well, unless you're already courting someone else, of course."

William rubbed his chin, and she wished she could tell what he was thinking. "I've heard plenty of confessions and myriad of propositions. Why would I consider yours?"

Esther took a deep breath and decided she wouldn't let herself be pushed around. "Because you owe me a favor."

The Duke's smirk grew wider, as if there was something he knew that she didn't. "I see how it is. I'll give it a thought."

Esther nodded, her eyes downcast as she processed his words. She knew that she had taken a risk in speaking up, but she also knew that it was a risk worth taking. Her mother wouldn't be able to refuse.

With that, William turned and left, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

As she watched him go, Esther couldn't help but wonder what the future held in store for them. Would he agree to her proposal, or would he reject it?