To Irene's horror, her father's response was, "You should know by now I don't have control over my daughter, Your Grace. You'll have to ask her yourself."
That was a sure way to sober her up.
Immediately, she regretted not telling her father the truth of her heart. Perhaps he would have agreed to keep her far from the Commander. However, the more rational part of her head knew that it would complicate things down the line when she had to eventually return to the Duke's Tower.
Having no choice but to show him respect, Irene turned herself towards her Commander. She couldn't help that her face communicated shock as the very man—the Duke himself—bowed at his waist and extended towards her a gloved hand.
