AN AMATEURISH TRICK

For the next month, the Duke of Stonehill would appear in Claire's bedroom at night. In the beginning, she was afraid that he would regret his decision to marry her.

Her stepmother had become more insistent than ever on finding her a 'good' match after she refused to help Lucia.

The choices ranged from poor widows with seven children to rakes with wasting diseases and even an old man who could have been her grandfather.

However, she realised the Duke was quite serious.

During those evenings, he would chat with her about her life in Cloveshire. She would regale him with the small albeit mischievous things she had done to avenge herself on occasion like sprinkling pepper powder on Nellie's handkerchief.

In turn, the Duke told her about the world abroad and the pleasures of a life beyond the Ton. She became enthralled by the prospect of seeing what was outside the small existence she had.

The only strange thing about their meetings was their end. Every time, before Haider left her chamber, he would suck a little blood from her.

For the first few days, he was content with just her fingers. However, he had moved on to her arms. He pricked her fair skin with his sharp fangs and sucked on her skin, leaving prominent love bites.

While she was afraid that he would lose his mind and suck her dry, she also began to feel pleasure at this strange interaction.

On one cold morning, the Duke of Stonehill appeared at the Cloveshire Manor. He had naturally sent a calling card with one of his men to inform them of his visit. However, the members of the Hudson family had not informed Claire.

The baron felt honoured at the appearance of the most powerful Duke in his humble abode while his wife looked at the handsome man with satisfaction.

The calling card had said that the Duke wanted to discuss marriage with the daughter of the Baron of Cloveshire. She did not doubt that the one who had caught his eye was her daughter Lucia.

Lucia showed an unusual sparkle in her eyes as she looked at her future husband. She was not interested in any man originally. However, her mother had praised the Duke endlessly, making him seem like the best man in the world.

Her heart was moved.

"Your Grace." The three greeted with excitement.

The Duke of Stonehill's face became a little sullen.

"Where is Miss Claire?" He asked.

The three were surprised. Was he dissatisfied because the entire family was not there to receive him?

"We apologise, Your Highness. My stepdaughter loves sleeping in. I will have the servants awaken her. Meanwhile, we can discuss your marriage with Lucia." Nellie smiled ingratiatingly.

The Duke frowned even more.

"What do you mean? I do not know who Lucia is. I intend to marry Claire Hudson." His words were cold.

He felt a little angry at the situation. It seemed that his future wife was overlooked in the Cloveshire Manor more than she let on.

"What?" Nellie shouted in a shrill voice.

Her husband felt embarrassed by the shrewish display.

"Your Grace, why don't we step into the lounge and wait for my daughter? I am sure that my wife will help her get ready in a jiff." He said.

As the two men walked away, the mother and daughter had ugly faces.

"Mom, you told me that he would be my husband. How could you have lied to me?" Lucia cried.

Nellie Hudson placed a comforting hand on her daughter's back. Her eyes darkened with malice.

"Don't worry, my girl. I will make sure he is your husband." She said. "This is what you will do."

The calculating mother instructed her daughter on how to create a perfect scandal with the Duke. If he was caught with Lucia in a compromising position by the father, even the King might not choose to defend him.

As they plotted, they were unaware that the vampire duke could hear their plot. His eyes twinkled in amusement at the amateurish trick that they intended to pull on him.

However, he would teach them a lesson on behalf of his future wife.

After a few minutes of mindless chatter with the baron, there was a light knock on the door. Lucia entered with a blushing face.

"Father, Mom asked me to call you. She needs your help. Claire is refusing to come down." She said while glancing at the Duke.

The baron cursed softly. "Please entertain the Duke while I deal with that girl."

As an experienced man, how could he not know the plot brewing? He would also prefer it if his daughter Lucia were with the powerful man.

After all, Claire did not have a sense of kinship with him even though he was her father. If she was annoyed, she might even encourage the Duke to stand against them.

As he stepped outside of the room, he made sure to close the door.

"Your Grace," Lucia said coyly.

The Duke looked contemplatively at the young woman before him.

"Your sister thinks that you are a bit dull, but do not have an evil heart. Therefore, she is quite forgiving toward you." Haider said with a smile.

"Your Grace, why are we talking about my stepsister while we could be…" She reached for the bodice of her pretty yellow gown.

"I, on the other hand, think you are the most calculating of all. You choose to look away while she is bullied, and you present yourself as a pitiful girl to ensure that she looks like a hoyden. Moreover, I bet some of those strange incidents were your doing." He continued as if he had heard her.

The simple coy light in Lucia's eyes changed into a clear malicious one. She decided to tear the bodice of her gown. As long as she was exposed, the scene would be scandalous enough.

However, before she could do what she wanted, the air in the room changed. The Duke's face seemed to contort into that of a monster. Red eyes glowed like the embers of hell, and bloodlust suffused the air.

Lucia's legs lost strength as fear encompassed her, and she fell to the ground in a faint while losing control of her bowels.

'How could a simple girl like this compare to his wife?' The Duke thought with disgust.

When the baron opened the door with his daughter and wife, he was ready to throw accusations. However, what he found was his precious daughter in a pool of her own waste while the Duke stood at an open window with a look of revulsion on his face.