The Duke's Forbidden Lover (Forbidden #1)

Chapter 34.

Nalini was nervous. Every time she saw the Duke, her heart would skip a beat and her palms would start to sweat incessantly. The worst thing of all was that she found herself wanting to be with him all the time.

It was a problem because she felt like she was being too obvious about her feelings for him that were becoming ever more confusing as each day passed. It was also a problem since whenever she was teaching Richard or playing with him, her mind would wander towards the man that had found a place in her heart somehow.

She couldn't keep the smile off of her face, and by the look that she was being given by Nora at that moment made it all the more obvious that she was smitten.

Clearing her throat, she tried to relax her face and turned back to the book called 'Manual of Etiquette' that was placed in front of Richard.

He couldn't read yet but she was so disoriented about the event that happened last week that she found herself not thinking straight at times.

"Miss? What're we doing?" Richard asked, confused just as Nora placed down the plate of sandwiches in front of him. Nalini cleared her throat and smiled at him, trying to appear as normal as she could.

"We're going to start studying the ways in which we address other people, our actions and our manners too."

Richard pouted, his shoulders sagging in boredom. "Okay, miss," he whispered in dismay.

Nalini almost wanted to scrap the whole idea, but the book was given to her by the head maid of the house. She was told that it was the most important thing that could be taught to the kids of royalty and Nalini couldn't neglect her work.

"Don't worry, Richard, we won't be studying this for long. You can relax and play a little while later, okay?" she advised, immediately feeling a surge of joy as a smile spread across his small face.

"Okay then miss, I'll study hard!" he exclaimed, bouncing in excitement. Nalini laughed but stopped short when the Duke came out of his study, face stern. Even though he looked busy and irritated, Nalini couldn't help but forget about everything else and just focus on him.

His eyes, his lips that were on hers just a week ago. A pleasant shudder ran through her body as she thought back to the moment like she always did. She rolled her bottom lip under her teeth, eyes on the Duke, waiting for him to glance at her.

Nalini didn't want to admit it, but after the kiss that they shared, she thought things would have been different. However, nothing really did. It felt like the moment they had shared only happened in her imagination as everytime the Duke came around, she would be the only one to look in his direction.

He wouldn't even spare her a glance and Nalini was beginning to think the Duke didn't take what happened that day seriously.

Did he...did he even mean what he did that day?

As that thought fluttered around in her head, the smile on her face slowly disappeared as the Duke handed an envelope to the footman, barking some orders at him before walking back into his study. She knew he was busy but it didn't take much to just glance at her.

She wanted to feel as loved as he had made her feel that day. Nalini's stomach wrenched in guilt at how selfish she was being, but she couldn't help it. It felt as if the Duke's behaviour was just a lie. Nalini knew that she was being dramatic, but she couldn't help it.

She couldn't help but feel as if she was the only one feeling love.

To be fair, he never said he liked me. Or loved me.

Her heart sunk at that realisation and as each moment passed with him not even glancing in her direction, she knew it had to be true. It was as if what happened between them was never real. Nalini stared at him despite it though, willing him in her mind and heart to turn to her.