Duke In Love

Chapter Ten

GARRICK

Though a footman stood by the carriage door, ready and waiting to help the women get on, Garrick insisted on doing the task himself once Estelle was left. Ordinarily, the duke would go before her due to the woman's standing. He wanted to do the task, however. Garrick stood in front of the footman, blocking his way and ignoring the man's questions, then extended his hand towards the lady's maid. Estelle looked at his hand, then squinted up at the man with scrunched brows.

"Your Grace?" She asked, clearly confused.

The duke jutted his hand out, more forcefully than intended. He took a deep breath before he offered Estelle a smile this time. "Allow me."

She eyed him carefully, not seeming to trust the man's intentions, but took his hand anyway before stepping into the carriage. Heat shot up his arm at the touch, and Garrick thought he heard her gasp. When he glanced up to her face, however, her expression was as calm as still water, making him wonder if he imagined the reaction. Estelle lifted her skirt to allow for more mobility, and Garrick put his other hand around her elbow while she climbed in. Though he intended for his focus to remain towards her face to make sure she did not need additional assistance, Garrick found his eyes drifting toward her leg that stepped out from underneath her skirt.

Her left leg stepped forward, and time almost seemed to slow down as Garrick watched her lean and toned calf, and the elegant way her heeled foot pointed forward before it touched down in the carriage. Such a simple sight, yet it... Excited him. More than the simple sight of her stocking-covered leg, being able to touch her skin, so soft and impossibly smooth despite the work Garrick was sure she did on a daily basis.

"Are you alright, Your Grace?"

The question shook Garrick out of his daze, and he looked up to find Estelle watching him. She did not look concerned, but annoyed, and that irritated him as he was sure that came from their earlier interaction. He let her go, "Fine, thank you."

They both settled into their seats across from one another as the footman closed the door, and Garrick hit the roof of the carriage twice to signal the driver to take off. The carriage jostled to a start, shaking everyone inside a bit as they started moving. Victoria and Seong-Min carried on in conversation, not paying much mind to the other two in the carriage beside them.

Homes and people dressed in their day outfits whirred by Garrick's vision, and he tried to focus on them to keep from looking at the woman in front of him. The ring on his middle finger dug into the skin of his palm from how hard he clenched his fist. Garrick opened his legs, then crossed his right over his left, then his left over his right, and flexed his jaw. Damn everything, he did not usually fidget that much, but he felt he could not help himself. Anything to keep him from giving in to...

"Ahem..."

The sound of Estelle clearing her throat brought Garrick back, and he immediately turned to look at her. She was staring out of the carriage as well, her fingers playing with her gold necklace, a diamond surrounded by leaves on a thin, gold plate being twirled in her hand. That hand that sat right above her breasts, modestly pushed up in her dress. Garrick's gaze wandered towards the soft skin there, and his mind drifted in wonderment over how it might feel in his hands.

"I forget how busy the city is until I am in it, and it has been a while. There are people everywhere." The viscount let out a short laugh, then looked at his brother-in-law. "I am truly surprised you come every year, considering how you are with people."

Garrick recoiled and narrowed his eyes at Seong-Min, "How am I with people?"

"Well..." Seong-Min laughed, but looked away from Garrick like he had stumbled into this part of their conversation unintentionally. "You do not particularly like them, though your charm can make people believe otherwise. I can't recall the last time you expressed excitement about a social event."