“Father!” Aaron perked up, and his eyes sparkled with unbridled excitement.
Octavia’s own eyes widened, and her stomach dropped right through her.
Slowly, she turned, and it took all the control that she had to straighten her face and appear as if the room hadn’t started to spin suddenly. Which, for the record, it had.
“Son.” The Duke strode into the breakfast room. “I hope I am not too late.”
“You’re eating?” Aaron asked eagerly, as if he could not believe it.
“I am,” the Duke said simply as he walked down the length of the table. “I have a rare moment of free time, so I thought Imight join you.” He reached his chair at the head of the table and paused. “If that is fine by you?”
Octavia’s heart was already racing. She worked to control it, her breathing also, only too aware of how nervous she must have looked to anyone who watched.
Worse still, she felt the Duke’s eyes on her, and she could not bring herself to meet them. That kiss… that moment… it rushed through her mind, her lips started to tingle again, and she wished the floor would open so it might swallow her whole.
“Yes,” Aaron said. “Join us.”
“I was asking Miss Finch,” the Duke said.
Her eyes widened again. “Yes!” she said a little too loudly. She grimaced and forced a soft chuckle. “I mean… we would love to have you join us.”
The Duke pulled out his chair and sat down, and not once did he look away from Octavia.
Octavia’s first thought was that he was doing this to make another point. She wondered if that kiss had the same effect on him as it did her, and if he was here now to see how she might react around him. If that was the case, then maybe the kiss was not a power move at all? Maybe it had touched him how it touched her?
Then, she remembered the reason that she had sought the Duke last evening.Of course, that is the reason, Octavia. Obviously!
With that in mind, she gave her head a shake, forced composure, and turned to face the Duke. By that point, he had finished watching her, and his expression was one of boredom.
“This is a surprise,” she said politely. “I did not think to see you this morning.”
“Is it?” he said simply. “You should be the least surprised of everyone. Although… no, that is not true. You, more than anyone, have a rather hard time following rules.”
“That is not –”
“Me, on the other hand.” He shrugged. “When I say I am going to do something, I do it. A lesson you might wish to take note of.”
Octavia smirked to herself. She saw right through his reprimand, just as she saw the real reason that he was here. Despite what he claimed, he obviously agreed with her assessment that he needed to spend more time with his son.
She eyed him curiously, careful not to be noticed doing so. For all his dispassion and emotional dissidence, he cared about his son, just as he cared about their relationship. He wanted to do better, and this right here was proof.
Once again, I am forced to question just how much I know about this man. As soon as I think I have him figured out, he goes and does something to surprise me.
“What are you doing today, Father?” Aaron asked. He fidgeted in his seat, a ball of energy that could not be contained.
“Working,” the Duke said simply.
“Oh…” Aaron hesitated, clearly a little put off by the shortness of the reply. “I thought… do you want to join our lesson?” His eyes brightened.
“Doubtful,” the Duke said. Aaron slumped and pouted. Octavia scowled at the Duke. He saw her do so, sighed, and looked at his son once more. “But thank you for asking, Aaron. Maybe next time.”
It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to Aaron, and his smile, all teeth, was proof of the fact.
“Miss Finch, are you certain you are not too hot?” Thomas interjected. “Your cheeks…”
“Oh…” Octavia looked away, not even aware that she was blushing. And it grew worse when she felt the Duke watching. “I am quite fine…”
“You are that,” Thomas said with a coy smile. “Forgive me for saying.”