Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 59827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
‘The Foxes were so amazing with what they did here,’ Lady Hampton signs. ‘We gave them free reins to decorate the place as we were pressed with time, and the result is just...it feels like home.’
I do my best to smile and nod while real-life concerns start crowding my mind. It’s finally beginning to sink on me that Lady Hampton isn’t the only person I’m technically working for. Her only son obviously has veto power as well on whether I get to continue working or not, and here I am, looking like I’ve been crying on a plane for four hours.
Which, unfortunately, was also the truth.
The car drives to a smooth stop, and my heart threatens to gallop out of my chest.
It’s fine. You’re going to be fine. You’ve got this.
The driver opens Lady Hampton’s door first, then comes around to mine, and I’m stepping out onto gravel, and the house is even more impressive up close, and—
Whoa.
There’s someone waiting for us at the top of the stairs, and even though it’s my first time to see him, I know exactly who he is right away.
He’s tall—really tall, maybe six-two?—with dark hair that’s slightly too long, like he can’t be bothered with regular haircuts, and blue eyes that I can see even from here, and a face that’s so perfect it’s almost unreal. Think sharp jaw and high cheekbones, the kind of bone structure that makes you think of princes in fairy tales, except princes in fairy tales don’t usually look like they could destroy you with a glance.
He’s wearing dark jeans and a navy sweater, casual but expensive, and his hands are in his pockets, and he’s looking at the car with an expression that I can’t quite read.
Bored? Amused? Resigned?
Lady Hampton is already heading up the stairs, and I’m scrambling to follow her because I cannot be the person who stands frozen in the driveway staring at her employer’s stupidly attractive son, I cannot—
“Darling,” Lady Hampton says out loud as she reaches him, and he bends down to kiss her cheek.
“Mother.” His voice is deep and smooth and has that British accent that shouldn’t be attractive but absolutely is. “Good flight?”
‘Wonderful.’ She turns to me and switches back to signing. ‘This is Evianne. Evianne, my son, Virgil Hampton, the Duke of Veilcourt.’
I’m halfway up the stairs now, and he’s looking at me, really looking at me, and I’m suddenly very aware that I probably have mascara smudges and my hair is definitely a mess and—
Professional. Be professional.
“Your Grace,” I manage, and my voice comes out steadier than I expected. “It’s lovely to meet you. Thank you for hosting me.”
I offer my hand because that’s what you do, right?
You shake hands with dukes?
Do you shake hands with dukes?
What if you’re supposed to curtsy?
He looks at my hand for a moment—just a moment—before taking it.
His grip is firm. Warm. And he holds my hand just a fraction of a second longer than necessary before letting go.
“Miss Evianne,” he says, and the way he says my name makes me feel like he’s tasting it, testing it. “Welcome to Foxtown.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
His lips quirk slightly, like I’ve said something amusing, and—
“Veil prefers less formality,” Lady Hampton signs to me. “Just Veil is fine.”
I look at him. He’s still watching me with that unreadable expression.
“Veil,” I try, and it feels too intimate, too familiar, but he nods slightly, and—
The driver appears with our luggage, and Lady Hampton is signing something to her son that I’m too far away to catch, and Veil is responding verbally, and I’m just standing here on the stairs trying not to think about how this man is probably the most attractive person I’ve ever seen in real life.
Not helpful, Evianne.
Also, you just broke up with your fiancé approximately six hours ago.
Actually, you didn’t break up with him, you just caught him cheating and haven’t told him yet.
So technically you’re still en—
“Miss Evianne?”
I snap back to attention. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I asked if you needed help with your bag.” He gestures to my carry-on, which the driver has set at the bottom of the stairs.
“Oh! No, I can—” I start to say, already moving to grab it, but Veil is faster.
He picks it up effortlessly, slinging it over his shoulder, and—
“I’ll show you to your room,” he says. “Mother needs to make some calls.”
Lady Hampton is already disappearing into the house with her phone out, and I’m left standing there with the duke, and this is fine, this is totally fine, I’m a professional adult who can absolutely handle being alone with an attractive duke without making it weird.
“Shall we?” Veil gestures toward the door, and I follow him inside, and—
Wow.
The interior is beautiful. High ceilings. Crown molding. Artwork that probably costs more than I’ll make in my entire life. It’s elegant but not stuffy, lived-in but immaculate. I’m starting to understand why Lady Hampton says this place feels like a home.