The Duke’s Sinful Bride (Vows of Sin #5)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

“ D uchess! Duchess, are you awake?” The faint sound of a small voice stirred Yvette from her restless sleep.

The urgency in the tone was unmistakable, and Yvette rubbed her eyes groggily before registering the familiar voice.

Maisie .

She bolted upright, reaching for the robe draped over the chair beside her bed. Wrapping it tightly around her nightdress, she hurried to the door and swung it open.

Outside, Maisie stood, her tiny face lit with excitement, while Daisy crouched beside her, gently chiding, “Her Grace is still asleep, my lady. Perhaps we should let her rest a bit?—”

“Duchess!” Maisie exclaimed as she spotted Yvette, her face broke into a delighted grin.

She darted forward, her riding boots clattering against the wooden floor.

“Good morning, Duchess!” Maisie exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Yvette’s waist in a tight embrace.

“Good morning, darling.” Yvette chuckled softly, running her fingers through Maisie’s curls.

“Pardon me, Your Grace,” Daisy curtsied, “I thought you were still asleep.”

“That’s all right, Daisy. I am awake now,” Yvette told the maid as she took a step back.

She also noticed Maisie’s attire—complete riding gear, from her neatly buttoned jacket to her polished boots.

Yvette raised a brow, a question forming on her lips.

Yvette crouched to the child’s eye level, smiling despite the lingering exhaustion tugging at her.

“Maisie, you know your riding instructor isn’t due to arrive until the day after tomorrow. Why are you dressed for riding?”

Maisie pouted, clutching her little gloved hands together.

“I don’t want him to instruct me anymore. I want you. You’re so much fun!”

The earnest declaration tugged at Yvette’s heart. She let out a soft sigh, brushing a stray curl from Maisie’s cheek.

“How about this?” she said, her tone conspiratorial. “I have a better idea. Why don’t you wait for me in the living room, and I’ll join you shortly?”

Maisie’s face lit up as she clapped her hands together. “Really?”

“Really.”

Without hesitation, Maisie spun on her heel and dashed off, her delighted giggles echoing down the hallway.

As soon as the child disappeared, Yvette straightened and turned toward Daisy, who had risen to her feet.

“Come in, Daisy,” Yvette instructed, retreating into her room.

Daisy entered with quick precision, moving to Yvette’s wardrobe and pulling out her riding habit. As she helped Yvette dress, Daisy’s eyes drifted to her mistress’s reflection in the mirror.

“Pardon me, Your Grace, but it seems you barely slept last night.”

Yvette froze, her gaze locking on her reflection. Dark shadows circled her eyes, marring her otherwise pale complexion. She looked exhausted, a woman haunted by her own thoughts.

“I’m fine,” Yvette replied briskly, blinking away the heaviness in her eyes. She forced a smile. “It’s nothing of any concern.”

But deep down, she knew it was far from the truth.

She had told Killian not to worry about her, but how could she not think of him? All night, she had burned for him, the memory of his closeness tormenting her. Her body had ached, craving his touch in ways she’d never anticipated.

She’d taken a cold bath, desperate to douse the fire he’d ignited in her, but it hadn’t worked. Even then, she could feel the phantom press of his hands, his lips… Yvette’s cheeks burned at the thought. She had paced her room like a caged animal, the weight of unspoken desires leaving her restless and frustrated.

It wasn’t until the faint light of dawn that she had finally succumbed to sleep, though it had been far from restful.

“Are you sure, Your Grace?” Daisy pressed gently, still eyeing the shadows beneath Yvette’s eyes. “You look like you could use a bit more sleep. Would you like me to explain to Lady Maisie that you’ll need to rest longer?”

“No,” Yvette said quickly, shaking her head. “There’s no need for that. I wouldn’t be able to fall back to sleep now, not with Maisie waiting for me.” She adjusted the collar of her riding habit and gave Daisy a faint smile. “Besides, a ride might do me some good.”

Daisy hesitated but eventually nodded. “As you wish, Your Grace.”

Once dressed, Yvette glanced at herself in the mirror. The fabric of her riding habit did little to mask the weariness in her eyes, but she straightened her shoulders, determined not to let her fatigue show.

With a deep breath, she turned to Daisy. “Thank you, Daisy. That will be all for now.”

The maid curtsied and left the room, leaving Yvette alone with her thoughts once more. She smoothed down the front of her jacket, forcing her mind to focus on the promise she’d made to Maisie.

Her lips twitched into a small smile. At least the little girl’s enthusiasm was something she could rely on.

Taking one final look in the mirror, Yvette squared her shoulders and headed for the door, ready to face the day—even if her heart still felt heavy from the night before.

Yvette’s idea was to take Maisie out for a ride on one horse, something she hoped the little girl would find thrilling. After all, a shared adventure might be a more memorable experience than simply riding around the estate. The thought also comforted her, as she herself longed for a moment of escape from the castle’s imposing walls.

When Yvette suggested they ride together, Maisie’s entire face lit up, her small body wriggling with excitement.

“We’re really going to ride outside the estate, Duchess?” Maisie asked, her voice practically trembling with glee.

Yvette smiled warmly and crouched to meet the little girl’s sparkling eyes. “Yes, we are, but only because I trust you’ll be on your best behavior, young lady.”

“I promise! Oh, I promise!” Maisie clapped her hands together, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Satisfied, Yvette chuckled softly, her own spirits lifting at the sight of Maisie’s uncontainable joy. She instructed the stable boys to prepare a horse, specifying one that was gentle and reliable for the ride.

As they led a beautiful bay mare out of the stables, the little girl squealed in delight, her eyes sparkling at the sight of it.

The stable hands assisted Maisie into the saddle first, ensuring she was comfortably seated before Yvette followed shortly afterwards, gracefully mounting behind Maisie and wrapping her arm securely around the child’s waist.

“Are you comfortable, darling?” Yvette asked.

Maisie leaned back slightly, grinning. “Yes, Duchess! Let’s go!”

With a gentle nudge, Yvette guided the horse out of the stables and towards the castle gates. Maisie squealed softly as the horse moved, the child’s excitement only growing as they passed through the gates and onto the cobbled streets beyond the estate.

As they rode further from Braemore Castle, Yvette felt a sense of liberation. The fresh air kissed her cheeks, and the rhythmic gait of the horse beneath them was soothing.

“It’s so pretty out here!” Maisie exclaimed.

“It is,” Yvette agreed, her voice soft as she took in the gentle slope of the hills and the golden sunlight spreading across the horizon. “The countryside has its charm, doesn’t it?”

Maisie nodded vigorously.

“Duchess,” Maisie called after a short while, tilting her head back to look at Yvette, “Do you think I’ll ever be able to ride as well as you?”

“I don’t see why not,” Yvette replied, smiling down at her. “You just need a little more practice. One day, you’ll be riding out here all on your own.”

Maisie gasped dramatically. “All by myself? Do you think Papa will let me?”

Yvette laughed. “I think he will. But first, you’ll need to convince your riding instructor that you’re ready.”

Maisie giggled, her small hands gripping the saddle more tightly as the horse trotted into a lush green field. “I’ll work very hard, I promise!”

“But for now, let’s enjoy this ride together, shall we?”

Maisie nodded, giggling as she did.

They continued onward, the cool morning breeze brushing against their faces. Maisie chattered about her lessons and how she couldn’t wait to tell her riding instructor that she had ridden outside the estate. Yvette listened, laughing at Maisie’s dramatic gestures and wide-eyed tales.

When they finally returned to the gates of Braemore Castle, Maisie twisted around in the saddle to beam up at Yvette.

“That was the best ride ever! I can’t wait until I can do this by myself.”

Yvette chuckled, her chest warming at the girl’s uncontainable enthusiasm.

“And I can’t wait to see you ride on your own. You’ll be magnificent, Maisie.”

As they approached the stables, Yvette’s gaze caught sight of Killian standing with a group of stable boys. His commanding presence was unmistakable, and the men around him seemed eager to execute his instructions. Yvette frowned slightly as one of the boys pointed in her direction, and Killian immediately turned, his eyes locking onto them.

Yvette’s heart skipped a beat. She instinctively braced herself for a scolding. Surely, Killian would reprimand her for taking Maisie out without his express permission. She tightened her grip on the reins as they drew closer, her nerves prickling with anticipation.

To her surprise, when the horse came to a stop, Killian stepped forward without a word of reproach. Instead, he reached out his hand to her, his gaze never leaving hers.

“Here,” he said, his voice low but steady.

Yvette hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his. The instant their skin touched, a current seemed to spark between them. Her pulse quickened, and she swallowed hard as his firm grip steadied her. The tingling sensation traveled up her arm and down her spine, making her acutely aware of how close they were.

Killian didn’t look away, his gaze holding hers as if trying to convey something unspoken. For a fleeting moment, she forgot where they were, her breath catching at the intensity in his eyes.

The spell was broken when a stable boy helped Maisie down from the horse. The little girl immediately ran to Killian, throwing her arms around his leg.

“Papa!” Maisie exclaimed, her voice bursting with happiness.

Killian’s attention shifted to his daughter, a rare softness crossing his features as he placed a hand on her head. Yvette exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly as the tension eased.

“How was your ride?” Killian asked, his voice light, though his eyes were filled with genuine curiosity as he watched his daughter.

“It was wonderful, Papa! Duchess is such a good rider! She taught me how to make the horse go faster, and we went all the way through the village! It was so much fun! I want to be as good as Duchess when I grow up!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration.

Killian chuckled, looking from his daughter to Yvette.

“Oh? I’m hurt, Maisie,” he teased, a playful smile tugging at his lips. “Just last week, you said you wanted to be as good a rider as me.”

Maisie giggled and shook her head. “No, Papa. Duchess is much better than you!”

Yvette smiled at the lighthearted exchange, feeling the warmth in her chest at the sight of the little girl’s happiness. Maisie’s laughter was infectious, and for a moment, Yvette felt at ease. But that peace was fleeting. The tension from last night still loomed, making her uneasy in his presence.

Using the opportunity, Yvette quietly slipped away from the stables, retreating towards the castle. She needed space—she needed time to think.

Her mind raced as she walked through the grand hallways. She felt like a hypocrite. Just the night before, she had told Killian that his attraction to her was not reason enough for avoiding her, but now, in the quiet of her thoughts, she understood why he had acted that way.

The way he looked at her—how she felt drawn to him despite everything—made it difficult for either of them to resist the pull between them. And yet, that desire was complicated.

She could no longer pretend it didn’t affect her. The truth was, she wanted him, wanted to be near him, but she could sense the distance in his eyes.

As Yvette entered the castle, she peeled her gloves off her fingers, the sensation of her skin against the cool air only reminding her of the tension that clung to her. However, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. She turned to find Mrs. Calloway approaching, the older woman’s face softening into a knowing smile.

“Your ride with the little lady must have been lovely,” Mrs. Calloway said, her tone light but sharp with a touch of curiosity.

Yvette gave a small sigh, trying to push her thoughts aside as she forced a smile.

“It was just what both Maisie and I needed. A change of scenery does wonders for the soul.”

The older woman nodded in agreement, her gaze briefly flickering to where Maisie’s laughter echoed from the stables. Then Yvette clicked her fingers, remembering something from her ride.

“Oh, Mrs. Calloway,” Yvette began, her tone shifting as a thought suddenly formed in her mind.

“While we were out riding, I couldn’t help but notice the preparations in the town square. The residents were busy setting up something. It seems they’re setting up stalls and decorations..”

Mrs. Calloway’s eyes brightened.

“Ah, yes, the Braemore Annual Fair. It is to be held in two days. The town always looks forward to it. A bit of a celebration for the people and there’s usually a market, games, and dancing. Quite the event, if you ask me.”

Yvette smiled, nodding thoughtfully. A plan was already beginning to form in her mind. She needed something—something to shift the attention away from her personal matters, something that could help restore a sense of normalcy in the face of everything that had transpired recently. The fair, with its hustle and bustle, could be the perfect distraction.

“I see,” Yvette said, her voice quiet, but determination brewing behind her words.

“It sounds like it could be a good opportunity for Maisie to experience something new.” Her gaze flickered upward before she focused back on Mrs. Calloway. Perhaps we should plan to attend.”

Mrs. Calloway smiled, sensing the undercurrent of Yvette’s thoughts. “That’s a splendid idea, Your Grace. The fair will certainly take your mind off things. And it’s an event that will allow Maisie to socialize with others, as well.”

Yvette’s thoughts began to move at a faster pace now. She wasn’t just thinking about Maisie. She was thinking about the fair as a way to open doors, to put forth a more public face for her and Killian.

“I’ll speak with Killian about it,” Yvette said, her tone taking on a more purposeful edge.

Mrs. Calloway, ever perceptive, gave her a nod. “I’m sure he’ll agree, Your Grace.”

With that, Yvette gave a final smile to the older woman and moved towards the stairs. As her footsteps echoed in the hall, she felt the weight of her decision—no longer just a fleeting thought but something real, something she could act on. The fair would give her a chance to meet the people of Braemore, and experience it in a way that was not simply riding around on a horse.