“Not anymore.” Gloucester drew her closer and kissed her forehead, letting out what sounded like a relieved sigh. “I can’t go through with it.”
“What?”
He couldn’t go through with the wedding? Why was he telling her this? Juliana’s hands tightened in his coat, not willing to let him move away.
“I don’t love Lady Edith. I don’t think I ever did. She just had what I thought was perfect for me.” Gloucester kissed her head again before brushing another kiss across her mouth. “It took a special person to open my eyes to how I really feel about her. And, if I’m honest, I don’t really like her at all.”
“What are you saying?”
“That my heart belongs with someone else.” Gloucester brushed his thumb across her lips. “With you.”
“Me?” Juliana squeaked. “But…”
Her protests were swallowed by another kiss. Juliana inwardly cursed herself at letting him distract her, holding her close against his chest. She didn’t want him to stop.
“I fell in love with you, Juliana.” Gloucester ran his hands through her loose curls. “I love your spirit, the fire you have inside you. Talking to you was frustrating but fun. Enjoyable. You’re not pretentious. Unconventional, always, but that’s what makes you the woman you are. I wouldn’t want to change that about you at all.”
Juliana was, for the first time in her life, at a loss for words. He was in love with her? This felt like a very strange dream. She was expecting to wake up and find this was all a dream. But this was very real and Gloucester—Oliver—was holding her in his arms. Juliana could feel his heart pounding against her fingertips.
“I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Just say that you’ll marry me. I’m not walking away until I have an answer.”
It was so outrageous that Juliana couldn’t help but throw back her head and laugh.
“Say that I’ll marry you? Aren’t you supposed to give a woman a choice?”
“Not really.” Gloucester gave her a wicked grin. “I don’t give women many choices.”
“I’ve noticed.” Juliana touched his jaw, Gloucester turning his head to kiss her fingers. If she got past that arrogant state, he was something else entirely. She didn’t want to let go of that. “Is being married to you going to be like this all the time?”
“What?”
“Unpredictable.”
Gloucester laughed.
“I like to keep things interesting.”
“You’re lucky that I do, too.” Juliana reached up and gave him a kiss of her own. “And you’re lucky I love you, too, or I would have slapped you now.”
“I think I’d prefer you shot me again.”
Juliana giggled and tugged his head down.
“The way things are going right now, I just might.”
*** The End ***
The Duke
& The Troubled
Heiress
Regency Romance
Grace Fletcher
Chapter 1
Rescuing the Damsel
Caroline needed to get out of there. She had been far too trusting. When her cousin had reached out to her and suggested they have dinner, Caroline had thought Viscount Thomas Carlton was trying to make amends for being a mean cad when they were children. He had never asked her to dinner before.
But it was a trap. She should have known it from the start. Carlton had never done anything without an ulterior motive. Before Caroline had even sat down to dinner, Carlton was practically jumping her with a proposal. That had Caroline almost missing the chair and sitting on the floor. He wanted to marry her?
It was because of the money. Caroline knew it was. Carlton had never shown her any interest before. She had been a poor young lady, taking care of their mutual aunt Agnes White. What neither of them had realized was Agnes was actually a wealthy woman, despite living very frugally with Caroline. When she died, everything had gone to Caroline.
She guessed Carlton didn’t like that and wanted the money. He was a gambler and would do anything to get money into his pockets. Caroline wasn’t a fool, and she didn’t care for Carlton at all.
She shouldn’t have been so trusting. Now Carlton was backing her into a corner about marrying him. Her appetite was now gone and Caroline could only think about getting out of there.
As soon as the opportunity arose, when Carlton went to the drinks cabinet to pour out a large whisky, Caroline ran into the hall. The viscount’s butler was in the hall holding onto Caroline’s cloak. It was as if he knew Caroline needed to run. Gratefully taking her cloak, Caroline was throwing it on when Carlton came storming out of the dining room.
“Where do you think you’re going, Caroline?” he drawled, finishing his whisky and tossing the empty glass at the butler. “We haven’t finished talking.”
“Yes, we have,” Caroline snapped. Her hands were still shaking. “I don’t know why I didn’t refuse to come here in the first place. That was a bad decision on my part.”
“You know you must give in to me, Caroline.” Carlton was advancing on her, his expression leering at her. “No one else is going to want you.”
“You don’t want me, either. All you want is the money.”
“Don’t be like that.”
Carlton reached for her but Caroline slapped his hands away, backing towards the door.
“How else do you expect me to take it?” she shot back. “I know you want the money. How do I know you’re not going to do something to me once we’re married? Besides, I don’t think any bishop in the country would agree to it, considering we’re related.”
“We’re second cousins. It’s perfectly legal.”
“Not in my eyes.” The thought of marrying someone who had a speck of blood related to hers made Caroline nauseous. She backed away as Carlton advanced on her. “Also, there’s the fact that I hate you. I thought we were here to patch things over and become friends and now I know it’s a lie. Aunt Agnes left me that money and I have no intention of marrying if men like you are going to try to get your hands on me.”
She was at the door now. She turned and fumbled with the handle. Carlton grabbed her from behind and Caroline screamed, reacting with jabbing an elbow back. She hit something hard that made her elbow jolt and Carlton let go with a yell. Caroline managed to get the door open and ran out into the street. Dusk was starting to fall, the shadows slowly lengthening. There were fewer people out in the streets now but Regent’s Park was directly opposite. She could escape into there and double-back. Carlton was not very good when it came to where he was geographically whereas Caroline had grown up in the country and knew her way around like it was the back of her hand.
She was halfway across the street when she realized she was running out in front of a coach and horses. The horses were startled and reared up on their hind legs, their hooves almost hitting Caroline in the face. She cried out and staggered back, falling onto her behind on the cobbles.
Then Carlton was there, blood running down his face, grabbing her off the ground and hauling her upright. His grip tightened on her arms and Caroline cried out as his fingers dug into her skin.
“I will ruin you, Caroline,” he snarled, hauling her close to his bloody face. “You know I will. All you need to do is say yes.”
“I will never say yes!” Caroline hissed.
She tried to pull away but Carlton hauled her closer.
“Then I can ruin you.”
“Are you hurt, miss?”
Caroline looked around and saw a tall, fair-haired man dressed in the finest silks hurrying towards them from the coach. He was carrying a cane, the silver head glinting in the setting sun. Caroline felt her breath catch. Whoa. She had never seen such a handsome man. Not classically so, but he reminded her of the statues in the museum with the strong jaw, soft-looking lips and high cheekbones. And those blue eyes…they were piercing, practically glowing.
She couldn’t stop herself from staring. It was a moment before she realized th
at Carlton was still holding onto her and she tried to step away.
“I…I’m fine.”
“I disagree.” Carlton hauled her back, glaring at the newcomer. “Are you trying to kill her? She was nearly run down.”
“It would be a lesser evil,” Caroline muttered.
The fair-haired man raised an eyebrow. Carlton snorted and tucked Caroline into his side.
“She’s just tired and confused,” he said with a pointed look at the man. “It’s been a long day.”
“Get your hands off me!”
Caroline jabbed her elbow back again and caught him in the stomach. Momentary thoughts that she was brawling in the streets like she was a woman of ill repute but Caroline pushed them away. She didn’t care as long as Carlton wasn’t holding her. Carlton grunted and loosened his hold. Caroline used that to break away from him and practically ran into the other man’s arms, burying her face into his chest. His arms went around her and Caroline realized what she was doing. He must think she was mad.
But he was better than Carlton and Caroline clung onto that.
“What’s going on here?”
“Nothing,” Carlton snapped. “It’s none of your business.”
“I wasn’t talking to you,” the newcomer snapped. He put his fingers under Caroline’s chin and lifted her head. “Miss?”
Caroline could feel her heart pounding in her chest. His fingers were very warm, his eyes softening as he looked at her. Any woman could fall for him if he so much as smiled. She swallowed.
“My cousin was trying to force himself on me.”
“I did nothing of the sort!” Carlton bellowed.
The man’s expression hardened, his eyes flashing. Then he looked up at Carlton, his arms seeming to tighten around her.
“From what I’ve just seen, I’m more inclined to believe the young lady.”
“I didn’t touch her!” Carlton gestured at his face. “She attacked me!”
“And I suggest you get inside, sir, before I have my coachman call for the constable.”
Carlton’s face was bright red. Caroline almost cowered as she saw the temper she knew he possessed coming out.
“You can’t tell me what to do!”
Her rescuer pushed Caroline behind him and faced him down.
“Do you have any idea who I am?”
“I am Viscount Carlton.” Carlton puffed his chest out. “Beat that.”
Caroline heard the man chuckle.
“Well, seeing as we’re going down that route. I am Albert Forster, Duke of Brandon.” Caroline saw Carlton’s face pale. “Care to try again, Viscount Carlton? Or would you like to carry on in conduct unbecoming of a man of your status?”
Carlton’s mouth opened and closed. Caroline saw him backing down. She was just as stunned. A duke had come to her rescue? It felt like a very strange dream. Duke Brandon turned to her and indicated the coach.
“Get into the coach, miss. I’ll take you home.”
Caroline couldn’t say anything. She was still too stunned. But she did as she was bid and walked towards the coach.
“Caroline!”
Carlton started after her but Brandon blocked his way. His voice was barely a growl.
“I’ll be taking the young lady home, Lord Carlton. Do not try to follow us.”
Caroline turned to see Carlton trying to face The Duke down but he wouldn’t back away. Most men would cower before Carlton; he was a bully who loved to dominate. But Brandon was clearly not one of these people. Finally, Carlton backed down and glowered at Caroline over the duke’s shoulder.
“We’re going to talk about this another time, Caroline.”
Caroline didn’t say anything. She opened the door and bundled herself into the coach, hauling herself over to the far side so she didn’t have to see Carlton’s face.
Chapter 2
Captivating the Knight
Brandon had been bracing himself for a boring evening at the theatre. But this was a welcome distraction. If anything, he got to play the dashing hero to a damsel in distress. And it meant he got to make a fiend like Thomas Carlton slink off back to the hole he crawled out of.
Brandon admittedly called himself a cad but Carlton was on another level.
However, the moment he saw Caroline and felt her pressed against him, Brandon couldn’t bring himself to walk away. She was lovely. Young, rosy cheeks with a complexion that said she spent a lot of time in the sun. Tall and slim with waves of pale brown hair. Her dark eyes were big and wide and seemed to suck him in.
Brandon had been one of those people who thought he couldn’t be captivated by a woman, and there were plenty of beautiful women in Society that paraded around in front of him. Now he had found someone who caught his attention.
That had to stop. Once he got the girl away from Carlton, Brandon was going to forget about her. Having her around him was dangerous and Brandon didn’t want to fall into the trap of showing interest. He was just being a gentleman. And it got him away from a play he didn’t want to see.
He jumped into the carriage after her, slamming the door shut as his coachman set the horses going again. Brandon looked out the window and saw Carlton standing on the pavement, staring after them with a furious scowl. He couldn't care less what the man thought.
The woman was huddled on her seat across from him. She was breathing heavily, her face flushed. Brandon sat back and surveyed her.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m not hurt.” She took a deep breath and straightened up, brushing her hair out of her eyes before checking her curls were in place. She gave him a small smile that hit Brandon in the chest. “Thank you for rescuing me, Your Grace.”
“It was a pleasure,” Brandon drawled. He winked. “Although saving damsels would have been the job of my ancestors, not myself.”
She blushed. Brandon wondered where she had come from. She was clearly a lady of wealth but he had never seen her before. And Brandon thought he knew everyone in London. From what he remembered of the Carlton family, he didn’t have a sister. Maybe she was a cousin? A family friend? Either way, she had fallen into some bad company.
“You need to choose your friends more carefully, Miss.”
“I wish I could choose my family instead of what I’ve got.”
“You mean he’s family?”
“Sadly. We’re cousins.” She took a breath and bowed her head. “My name’s Caroline White, Your Grace.”
Brandon sat forward and managed to snag her hand, brushing a kiss across her knuckles. He watched as Caroline blushed even deeper. Why did that give him some pleasure that he could do that?
“Delighted to meet you, Miss White. Although I do regret that it’s under circumstances I wouldn’t have planned for.”
“Likewise.” Caroline bit her lip and her eyes seemed to darken. She glanced towards the open window as the scenery went by. “Forgive me for my spectacle. I do not normally do that.”
“Considering what was happening to you, I’m not going to blame you for anything.” Then Brandon realized he was still holding onto her hand. He lowered it and sat back. “Is there anywhere you would like to be taken?”
“If you could just take me home, please. I live just off Park Lane.” Caroline placed her hands in her lap. “I don’t want to detain you any further.”
“Of course. And don’t worry about deterring me from my evening frivolities: it wasn’t that interesting.”
“Where were you going?”
“To see a play at the theatre with some of my mother’s friends.” Brandon made a face. “I’m not enthusiastic about plays. They bore me.”
“They bore me as well. I prefer anything with music.”
“So you have something to listen to if everything else gets tiresome?”
Caroline’s mouth quirked in a slight smile.
“Exactly.”
They rode in silence for a while longer, Caroline looking everywhere but at Brandon. He couldn’t stop himself from staring at
her. There was an innocence about her, a timid demeanor that should have him going in the other direction. Innocent girls who were destined to be wallflowers were the ones Brandon had no business with. But there was something about her, something that kept his attention. Brandon didn’t think that was possible. The women he liked conversing with had some fire, knew how to work a room and could talk more than simple fashions.
From an initial look, Caroline White didn’t look like any of that. But Brandon couldn’t bring himself to pull away.
And he had to. He could get into trouble being in the company of someone like Caroline. She didn’t need him making her reputation awful before it was established. Brandon was not the best of company and he knew it.
It’s just a shame he was very reluctant to let her go anywhere.
“What happened with you and Viscount Carlton, Miss White?”
Caroline jumped. Her eyes widened as she looked up at him.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Why was he hassling you?”
Caroline’s mouth closed. She squared her shoulders and straightened up, switching to a cool demeanor that sent a shiver down Brandon’s spine. Whoa. He had not expected anything like that. She could switch emotions very easily when needed.
“That is my business, Your Grace,” Caroline said stiffly. “And I do not wish to discuss it.”
Brandon was speechless. This was someone else entirely. Caroline White was an enigma.
“Very well.” He coughed and straightened up. “But if you need someone to turn to for help in this town, let me know. I can be very useful.”
Caroline arched an eyebrow but her flushing cheeks gave her away.
“That’s very kind of you, sir, but I can handle this myself.”
***
Brandon tried to forget her. He dropped her off at her home near Park Lane and went home, deciding the play was not worth it anymore. He tried to think about anything else other than Caroline White, the timid woman who had a grace that had surprised him. She captured his thoughts and Brandon couldn’t think of much else.
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