Chapter 28
Marks clearly remained on Julia’s neck where the Duke had sucked the day before. The chafed inner thighs also vividly called yesterday’s violent acts to mind. Yet Mary behaved as if she saw none of it at all.
‘Did she not notice?’
Julia kept stealing glances at Mary, watching her reaction.
“Rather than staring at me, please get into the tub.”
Mary spoke in a slightly curt tone. Julia quickly slid into the bathtub.
Soaking her body in the warm water made her feel languid. Julia tilted her head to one side, exposing the pale line of her neck.
“Oh, this is nice…”
The exclamation that slipped out sounded like that of a girl in her late teens. Mary, standing behind Julia, smiled faintly, but Julia did not see it.
Without unnecessary chatter, Mary focused on washing Julia. Washing alone was fine, but it could not compare to the comfort and thoroughness of a skilled maid’s attendance. As Mary’s hands carefully scrubbed even between her fingers with a soft sponge, Julia’s expression softened, completely unguarded.
Fifteen years ago, when she used to visit this place, Julia often wore that same expression.
With her emotional defenses lowered by the warm water, she spoke to Mary first.
“Why are you washing me today? I’m in the same position as a servant. You really don’t need to do this.”
“I have orders from His Grace.”
At the sudden mention of Duke Drexton, Julia’s body stiffened in surprise. Shame washed over her, and her whole body flushed red. It was fortunate she was in warm water. Even if her skin reddened, it would not seem strange.
“The Duke… why?”
“He said he will be going out with you today, Missus Devel.”
At Mary’s dry yet courteous answer, Julia nearly fainted.
* * *
After being attended to by Mary, Julia looked far less gaunt than usual.
Her long-brushed hair shone with luster, and her skin, well hydrated, looked smooth and pleasing.
Seeing herself in the mirror made Julia uneasy rather than happy. A widow should not look lively. Appearing haggard and almost emaciated was a weapon Julia used to protect herself.
It showed that she was mourning sufficiently, that she was fulfilling the duty of a noblewoman who had lost her husband.
And was Duke Drexton even in his right mind? Going out together with the private tutor who conducted first night lessons with him… was not something a man of marriageable age, in the midst of seeking a bride, should do.
Julia, above all, did not want to block Duke Drexton’s future.
Surely the Duke knew that too.
Julia recalled her first day here. Hadn’t Mary asked then whether anyone else knew Julia had come? When Julia said no, Mary had replied that it was good.
‘What on earth is he thinking?’
It was absurd, yet Julia even felt a light flicker of anger.
“Why are you trying to diminish your own worth?”
Even while doing things like this, Julia still cared for him all the same. He was the one who had given her the most beautiful memories of her life.
After putting on the clothes Mary brought her, Julia waited until the Duke came to fetch her.
She did not have to wait long. Not even ten minutes after Julia finished preparing, Duke Drexton knocked.
“It’s me.”
Julia looked at the door with curious eyes. Why knock at all? This was his domain.
“Come in.”
Having spoken as if she were the owner of the house, Julia let out an embarrassed sigh.
The door clicked open.
Standing in the doorway, Duke Drexton gazed at Julia silently for several seconds. Sunlight filtering through the translucent curtains made her hair and the outline of her cheeks glimmer.
The Duke held his breath and stepped inside. Just as he took a step forward.
“Your Grace.”
Julia turned to face him.
Mary’s repeated insistence that she be washed well and made flawless had paid off. Color had returned even to her unadorned face. Duke Drexton’s heartbeat quickened slightly.
“You said you wanted to go out with me.”
“I did.”
“What are you thinking?”
Her low, reproachful voice stopped his advancing steps. He stood awkwardly in place, staring straight at Julia, his gaze tinged with a slightly different mood than before.
“Is it not allowed?”
He had thrown out the question expecting her to get flustered and be talked into it if she answered back. Because Julia, being passive and timid, was bad at refusing when someone pushed confidently.
But this time, the Duke’s expectations were wrong.
“It’s not allowed. Of course not.”
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