The Forbidden Duke

Chapter 2

The morning sun filtered through the grand windows of the Beaumont estate, casting a soft glow over the breakfast table. Lady Seraphina sat quietly, toying with her teacup as her mother prattled on about the success of the previous evening’s masquerade ball.

"You were quite the sight, my dear," her mother said, sipping her tea with a satisfied smile. "Lord Camden was positively enraptured with you. I daresay a proposal could be on the horizon."

Seraphina forced a polite smile, though her thoughts were far from the Viscount. Her mind lingered on the dark, enigmatic figure from the ball—the Duke of Ravenhall, Alexander Blackwood. Even now, hours later, the memory of his touch, his deep voice, and the way his eyes had locked onto hers sent a thrilling shiver down her spine.

"Lord Camden, yes," she replied absently, her voice betraying little of her true emotions. "He was... pleasant."

"Pleasant?" Her mother scoffed. "He's one of the most eligible bachelors in the ton, Seraphina! A solid match with him would secure your future, not to mention elevate our family's standing even further. You must focus, dear."

Seraphina knew her mother was right in a practical sense. Lord Camden was exactly the type of man any respectable woman should want to marry—wealthy, titled, and eager to climb the social ladder. But her heart yearned for something more, something that Camden could never offer. Passion. Adventure. A love that defied the mundane.

And then there was Alexander.

His name was whispered in dark corners of society, an outcast who had returned from the shadows. The Duke of Ravenhall had once been a beloved figure in the ton, until a scandalous betrayal and a rumored duel had exiled him from polite company. The details were vague, and no one dared to speak of them openly, but the mystery surrounding him only added to his dangerous allure.

Seraphina excused herself from breakfast, claiming she needed fresh air, though her thoughts were anything but clear. She found herself drawn to the gardens, hoping the peace and quiet would help her make sense of the whirlwind inside her.

As she walked through the rose bushes, her mind raced with conflicting emotions. What was it about Alexander that made her feel so alive, so reckless? She knew she should stay away from him—his presence alone was enough to invite scandal. But the memory of their brief encounter at the masquerade was intoxicating.

Just then, as if fate were pulling her strings, Seraphina spotted a familiar figure standing at the edge of the garden. Her breath caught in her throat. It was him.

Alexander Blackwood stood tall, his dark coat blending with the shadows of the trees. His sharp gaze met hers, and the world seemed to still. For a moment, neither of them moved. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, with a tension that crackled like a storm about to break.

Seraphina hesitated, her heart hammering in her chest. She knew she should turn back, walk away before this went any further. But something deeper, something primal, urged her forward.

“Lady Seraphina,” Alexander said, his voice a low rumble that sent a thrill down her spine. “Forgive the intrusion. I hadn’t expected to see you here.”

She raised an eyebrow, trying to maintain her composure despite the rush of emotions coursing through her. “Is that so, Your Grace? And what brings you to my family’s estate, if not me?”

His lips curved into a faint smile, but there was no humor in his eyes. “I came to speak with your father on a matter of business. But now that I have found you… I must confess, I’m not displeased by this chance encounter.”

Seraphina's pulse quickened at his words. He took a step closer, his tall frame towering over hers, though he kept a respectable distance.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she said, her voice softer than she intended. “If anyone sees us, they will talk.”

“And if they do?” His gaze held hers, unwavering. “Would it truly matter?”

Her heart skipped a beat. He was right. People would talk. But did she care? Did it matter when all she wanted in this moment was to be near him, to understand the man behind the mask?

Seraphina took a deep breath, steeling herself. “Why are you here, really?”

“I warned you to stay away from me last night,” Alexander said, his voice quieter now, his eyes dark and intense. “You are a lady of status, of high regard. My name would only bring you ruin.”

“Is that all you think of me?” she asked, stepping closer, her defiance rising. “That I am too delicate to handle the truth? Or too weak to choose my own path?”

Alexander’s expression shifted, something flickering in his eyes. Admiration, perhaps, or something more. “No, Lady Seraphina. You are far from weak. It is precisely your strength that draws me to you… but it is also what makes you a danger to yourself.”

A thrill ran through her at his words, but she refused to let fear hold her back. “Then tell me, Your Grace. What is the truth? Why does society fear you so?”

He hesitated, his jaw tightening as if he were weighing the consequences of telling her. For a moment, she thought he might walk away, retreat into the shadows as he had before. But then, his gaze softened, and he spoke, his voice filled with a heavy sorrow.

“I was betrayed,” he began. “By someone I trusted above all others. It led to… events that forever changed the course of my life.”

“A duel,” Seraphina said, remembering the rumors.

Alexander’s eyes darkened. “Yes. A duel that should never have happened. One that I regret every day.”

“But you were exonerated,” Seraphina pressed, searching his face for answers. “Why, then, are you still shunned by society?”

“Because the truth does not matter to those who thrive on scandal,” Alexander replied bitterly. “My name became a stain upon the delicate fabric of the ton, and so I was cast aside.”

Seraphina's heart ached at his words. She could see the pain behind his stoic mask, the weight of the injustice he had endured. But more than that, she felt a growing resolve within her. She did not care for the whispers of society or the judgment of those who knew nothing of the man before her.

“I don’t believe in rumors,” she said softly. “I believe in what I see. And what I see is a man who does not deserve to live in the shadows.”

For a moment, Alexander looked at her as if she were the only light in a world full of darkness. His gaze held hers with an intensity that made her feel both exposed and cherished all at once.

“You are a remarkable woman, Lady Seraphina,” he murmured, his voice filled with something deeper than mere admiration. “But my world is not one you can live in.”

“Perhaps I don’t want to live in the world they’ve created for me,” she replied, her voice barely a whisper.

Before Alexander could respond, the distant sound of footsteps echoed through the garden. They both turned, their moment shattered by reality.

“I must go,” Alexander said, his voice suddenly cold and guarded once more. “For your sake.”

Seraphina watched as he disappeared into the shadows, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that what lay between them was dangerous—both for her reputation and for her heart.

But as she stood alone in the garden, the weight of his words lingering in the air, she realized something.

She didn’t care.

The Duke of Ravenhall had warned her to stay away. But she was far too fascinated now to ever heed that warning.