The Duke's Beloved

2. On Second Thoughts

Nicolas was taken aback by Evelyn's sudden proposal. He had never thought of her in that way before, but he couldn't deny the allure of her offer. He looked at her for a moment, taking in her plain features and sturdy figure. She wasn't conventionally beautiful, but there was something intriguing about her boldness.

"Are you serious, Lady Evelyn?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Evelyn nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "I am. I know I'm not what you're used to, but I promise to be a good companion. And discreet, of course."

Nicolas let out a chuckle of sheer disbelief. He couldn't believe what he had just heard from the prim and proper Lady Evelyn. 

'Lady Evelyn, I will excuse this moment of tomfoolery on your part and for the sake of your honor, vow to forget that this ever happened. I believe your mama must be looking for you  by this time and you should not make it hard for her to find you.' With that, Nicolas turned swiftly and marched into the ballroom, his head still reeling from what had just happened. 

Evelyn felt embarrassed and humiliated as she watched the Duke of Ashford disappear into the ballroom. She realized that she had made a fool of herself by offering to be his mistress, and it was clear that he did not take her seriously. She wondered what he thought of her now and whether he would gossip about her behind her back. Feeling self-conscious, she straightened her dress and took a deep breath before walking back into the ballroom. 

As she looked around, she saw Charlotte dancing with a handsome gentleman, and for a moment, she envied her friend's beauty and charm. She felt like she would never be able to compete with her. Feeling a little defeated, she walked over to the refreshments table and poured herself a glass of wine. She looked around the room and saw the Duke of Ashford talking to a group of eligible ladies, all of whom were vying for his attention. Evelyn felt a pang of jealousy, but she knew that she was not in the running. Feeling downhearted, she decided to leave the ball early and head back to her mother's house. As she walked out of the ballroom, she couldn't help but wonder if she would ever find love and happiness.

Nicolas couldn't take his eyes off Evelyn as she moved around the ballroom, conversing with various guests. He was captivated by the way she carried herself, the way she spoke, and the way she moved. He couldn't help but glance over at her every few moments, his eyes following her every movement. The girl he was dancing with noticed this and raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong, Your Grace?" she asked. 

Nicolas quickly looked away from Evelyn and forced a smile. "No, no, nothing's wrong," he replied. "I was just...admiring the decorations."The girl looked unconvinced, but she didn't press the matter further. Instead, she smiled and continued dancing with him, but Nicolas couldn't help but sneak glances at Evelyn every chance he got. He noticed the way she laughed, the way she gestured with her hands, and the way she had moved her hips when she had danced in the dim-lit hallway. The other guests at the ballroom were unaware of Nicolas's fixation on Evelyn, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she was the only woman in the room worth his attention. Despite her plain looks, there was something about her that drew him in and he felt regret bubbling up inside him for saying no. 

~

The Duke of Ashford sat alone in his study, swirling the amber liquid in his glass as he contemplated the events of the evening. He couldn't help but think about Lady Evelyn, the plain girl who had offered to be his mistress. His initial reaction had been to reject her offer outright, but now he found himself second-guessing his decision. Was it truly because he didn't want to ruin an unmarried girl? He knew that wasn't the case. He had dallied with plenty of young ladies before, and he knew that many of them were not as pure as they pretended to be. 

No, it wasn't that. Perhaps it was because he suspected it was a trap. Lady Evelyn was known for being plain and unremarkable, so why would she suddenly offer herself to him? It seemed too convenient, too easy. But then again, she didn't seem like the type to play games. And then there was the fact that she was just plain. 

He couldn't deny that he was drawn to beautiful women, and Lady Evelyn was not beautiful. Her features were plain, her hair was dull, and she lacked the grace and elegance that he usually looked for in a mistress. But then, as he sipped his drink and looked out the window, he remembered the way she had danced in the hallway earlier that evening. She had been carefree and joyful, her body swaying to the music in a way that was almost hypnotic. And for a brief moment, he had been mesmerized by her. The Duke sighed and set his glass down on the desk. He knew that he couldn't pursue Lady Evelyn, no matter how intriguing he found her. 

It would only lead to trouble and scandal, and he had a reputation to uphold. But still, he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have her in his bed. Nicolas found himself standing on the balcony overlooking the gardens, deep in thought. He had always known that love and passion were not for him. 

His parent's marriage had been an unhappy one, with his father constantly cheating on his young wife, and his mother turning to infidelity out of heartbreak. The Duke had grown up in a loveless and cold environment, and he knew that he was not made for love. As he gazed up at the stars, he thought back to his childhood, the loneliness he had felt, and the way he had always kept his emotions tightly controlled. 

The Duke had never been one to show his feelings, and he had always been afraid of becoming like his parents. Nicolas took a deep breath, letting out a sigh as he admitted to himself that he had made the right decision in rejecting Lady Evelyn. He knew that he would never be able to give her the kind of love and passion she deserved, and he did not want to risk hurting her. With a sense of resignation, he turned back to his bedroom, hoping sleep would calm the storm of thoughts in his head.