by Amelia Grey
“Contrary to what you must be thinking, it doesn’t surprise me at all that you use such language in the presence of a lady.”
“It looks as if we both have a lot of understanding to come to, but there’s one thing that will not change. I’m in charge, Miss Fast, not you. I know you find me unsuitable to be your guardian, but I would have never thought you one to flee from a good challenge.”
“Flee?” She huffed as her fighting spirit rose up within her. If she had to accept the duke as her guardian, so be it. She would, but she would do it on her terms. “I wouldn’t run away from you, a wasp, or the ghost haunting the darkened hallways of a manor house. It would take a far bigger ogre than you to set me on my heels. I will agree to attend the upcoming Season to satisfy your responsibility. However, I will insist on a husband of my choice, and I want to continue to live here. I’ve been in this house for almost three years now and don’t want to be uprooted. I know all my neighbors. They are good people. Besides, I have a special friend who lives next door. I’d be heartbroken to leave.”
His eyes narrowed in displeasure. “You have a beau?”
“Of course not. Yet I’m not surprised that’s where your mind immediately went. Eugenia Everard has been a good companion, and our friendship is important to me. Her mother died when she was young and her father passed on a few years ago so she lives with her sister, Veronica, and her husband. Veronica is important to me, too. I don’t want to move away from them.”
“All right,” he grumbled impatiently. “Since that is all you ask of me. You may continue to live here. Perhaps it will be for the best anyway, as I reside only a street away. It will be convenient for me to stop by often and check in with you.”
“You live in St. James?” That wasn’t what she wanted to hear. “I assumed you lived in Mayfair.”
“We were called the Rakes of St. James, Miss Fast, not the Rakes of Mayfair. I prefer residing in my smaller town home closer to the clubs. Though my guests usually stay at my Mayfair house when in London.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” she said quietly. “I should have known a duke would have more than one home.”
Without another word, the duke closed the scant distance between them. The toes of his boots brushed the hem of her dress. Heat from his powerful body reached out to her.
Before she could scream, move, or even draw a breath, she felt the duke’s fingers touching her bare skin. She couldn’t have been more surprised, more intrigued, more fully engaged if his lips had actually been on hers instead of his warm touch under her chin. He wasn’t looking at her face but on his task at her neck.
She should have been frightened, but it wasn’t fear she felt. It was something else.
Something far more worrisome.
It was attraction.
Inexplicable sensations stirred restlessly inside her. She didn’t know exactly what was happening. He wasn’t choking her, but she couldn’t breathe. He wasn’t hurting her, but she trembled. She wasn’t in pain, yet she had the most intense yearning and urgency inside herself for something she couldn’t describe.
“What are you doing?” she whispered, unable to look up at him.
“Kissing you deeply, madly, and thoroughly,” he mumbled and continued with his undertaking.
“What?” Her gaze flew up to his face.
He smiled down so innocently at her that for a spark of a second she thought he might be serious.
“That’s ridiculous,” she said, reclaiming her good sense. “How can you say something like that? It’s so outrageously untrue. You’re doing no such thing and you know it. You aren’t kissing me. You’re untying the knot in my ribbon, which is highly inappropriate.”
He centered his attention on his job at hand again. “If you knew what I was doing, then why did you ask?”
She didn’t know. How could she think properly when the duke was this close to her? The tips of his fingers touching her. She had to say something. How could she not react to him in some way? The sensations she was having with him so near were completely new to her.
“I suppose I meant why you are doing it?” she managed to say without flinching.
He worked intensely. “So you won’t strangle yourself further with all your fretting.”
“Oh, you are impossible. I’m not fretting.”
“You are, but perhaps you had reason to.”
“I believe I did, but I refrained from doing so.”
“I suppose it could have been all your talking that caused the knot to tighten.”
“You make unbelievable statements, Your Grace. My talking didn’t cause the knot to worsen, either. In fact, it hasn’t.” Her last statement was probably an exaggeration, but she’d said it and wasn’t going to take it back.
“All I know, Miss Fast, is that you keep pulling on it and it’s chafing a red mark on your skin.”
She tried to lean away.
“Hold still,” he insisted. “And quiet for now would be appreciated, too. I almost have it, and then you’ll be able to breathe properly.”
Marlena lowered her eyes. She didn’t know if she’d ever be able to breathe properly again after his touch. She kept her eyes cast downward, onto his wide chest and the brown quilted waistcoat he wore. The buttons were covered in the same velvet fabric. Unlike the tailored garment on most gentlemen, there were no puckers or wrinkles showing around the buttons. The seams were flat and tight, proving there wasn’t an ounce of extra weight around his middle.
She tried to be still, but it was impossible. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, held her arms by her side, put them in front of her, behind her, and across her chest. The duke was just asking too much of her to be still. Didn’t he know she’d never had a man stand so close to her? And certainly not for such a lengthy time. If he took much longer she’d probably find herself doing something as dreadfully inappropriate as he was doing such as trying to refashion the rumpled bow in his neckcloth.
When at last his hands stilled, Marlena lifted her lashes again. Their eyes met. An unnatural hush settled between them, but she didn’t know what to say. It was as if suddenly words weren’t necessary.
Her hat dropped to the floor behind her but his fingers remained still, warm, and pleasant against her skin. She didn’t know why he wasn’t moving away.
Why she wasn’t.
As when he’d touched her cheek with his handkerchief, a now familiar prickle of awareness shuddered through her. It was intriguing, welcoming. And for reasons she didn’t begin to understand she wanted to savor it. She wanted more of it. Though he was a danger to her because of her writings, something about him fascinated her. Reason and common sense were nowhere to be found. Anticipation for something she couldn’t define with words ran rampant inside her. She couldn’t stop whatever it was happening between them.
The duke’s warm fingers slid around her neck and cupped her nape. His face moved closer to hers. His lashes lowered over his eyes. A shiver tingled over her. Instinctively, her gaze dropped to his lips, and she lifted her chin a little higher.
“Marlena, look what I just picked up for us to enjoy.”
Whirling, Marlena saw Eugenia walking into the room carrying an armload of books. Her friend stumbled to a halt at the entrance when she saw the two of them standing so close together.
Tut came barking and running into the room. He stopped and jumped up on Eugenia’s skirt, begging for attention.
Wide-eyed with confusion, Eugenia ignored the yelping dog and said, “Oh, I’m sorry. Am I interrupting something?”
Marlena’s cheeks flamed hot as she swung back to the duke. Even though Eugenia clutched the bountiful stack of books to her chest, Marlena knew the duke could clearly read the titles of some of them if he chose to. By the saints! Why did Eugenia have to arrive at this very moment?
Was fate not through torturing her yet?
What was Marlena to do? Eugenia had their copies of Miss Honora Truth’s Words of Wisdom and Warning About Rakes, Sco
undrels, Rogues, and Libertines. The Duke of Rathburne was staring at them, and Marlena was in need of a miracle.
Chapter 3
He could be a rake if you think he only wishes to touch your hand but tries to touch your heart as well.
MISS HONORA TRUTH’S WORDS OF WISDOM AND WARNING ABOUT RAKES, SCOUNDRELS, ROGUES, AND LIBERTINES
“No, Eugenia, no,” Marlena said hurriedly. “Of course you aren’t interrupting anything. Don’t be silly. The duke was helping me with, with my hat.” As soon as she spoke the words she looked around and saw, to her horror, that the hat was on the floor quite a distance from where she and the duke were standing.
What she told Eugenia was true but, somehow, she felt she was guilty of much more than just allowing the duke to help her with the ribbon. She had to thank her lucky stars, if she had any above, it was her petite friend from next door and not her cousin who had caught her standing so close to the duke their noses were almost touching.
How had she let that happen anyway?
Because he’s a scoundrel and knows all about seducing innocent young ladies!
She should have been outraged that he’d been so bold, so free with her. Yet despite reason and common sense, she had stood like a spineless ninny and let him help her.
Because the feelings he created inside me are so new and exciting, I want them.
“Did you say he’s a duke?” Eugenia questioned softly, her anxious, light-blue gaze shifting from Marlena to the handsome man standing so quietly, watching her grip the evidence of Marlena’s secret writings increasingly closer to her bosom.
As if realizing he wasn’t going to get a pat on the head from Eugenia, Tut ran over to the duke and landed his front paws on the duke’s shiny boots, his nails scraping the fine leather. The duke didn’t seem to notice Marlena’s furry friend, either.
“Yes,” Marlena said, her hand going to the base of her throat and rubbing the place the duke had touched her so intimately she thought her heart might race out of her chest. “You see there was a problem with the ribbon on my hat. It became tangled, knotted really, around my neck, and I couldn’t untie it. I tried countless times, pulling this way and that to no avail. You would think it would be such a simple thing, I know, but it was getting tighter and tighter. It was irritating my skin right here, and I was unable to pull it loose, and—”
“Miss Fast,” the duke interjected when she paused for a quick and much-needed breath.
Marlena swung around to him, hoping he would have the prudence to help her and not make this matter worse. He bent down, picked up the straw headpiece, and laid it on the table beside the unopened envelope from Mr. Olingworth. “Why don’t you save the long explanation for a later time and introduce us?”
Thankful for the respite, she gave the duke a grateful smile and answered, “Of course, Your Grace, may I present Miss Eugenia Everard, my neighbor and close friend. Eugenia, the Duke of Rathburne.”
Eugenia managed a very slight, wobbly curtsy, and took a step back before dropping all the books to the floor with a series of plops, thuds, and thumps. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she quietly crumpled to the floor.
Tut barked and scampered toward her.
Marlena gulped.
The duke hissed an oath.
They exchanged shocked glances and then bumped elbows and shoulders in their haste to get to her stricken friend. Tut made it there before both of them and stood near Eugenia’s head alternating between a bark and a whimper.
“Eugenia!” Marlena exclaimed, dropping to her knees on one side of Eugenia while the duke knelt on the other.
“Miss Everard,” he said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and giving it a little shake. “Are you all right?”
“Quiet, Tut,” Marlena scolded. “You are making matters worse. We are trying to help her. Sit.”
Tut obeyed after giving another whimper.
Marlena looked down at her pale confidante. With her head moving, her lashes fluttering, Eugenia mumbled something that sounded very much like, “He finally came for us. Please don’t let him take us away.”
At that moment Marlena realized that, as she had first thought, Eugenia must be assuming the duke was there to confront them about the identity of Miss Honora Truth and the scandal sheet. Convinced the duke knew nothing about that part of their lives, Marlena had to do something quickly to make sure Eugenia didn’t unintentionally give away their secret.
“You are fine, Eugenia,” Marlena said softly. “Can you hear me? Everything is all right. Nothing is wrong and there is no need to worry. The duke’s not here to harm you.”
The duke’s head jerked up. He scowled in displeasure. “What did you say? Of course I won’t harm her.”
“I know,” Marlena insisted, making it a point to meet his stare as steadily as she was capable of doing at the moment. “I’m sure of that, but it appeared to me that hearing your name frightened her and I wanted to reassure her.”
“Well, it shouldn’t have done anything to her,” he objected. “Why would she have cause to think I’d harm her?”
“Perhaps I’m being overly cautious. I didn’t want to cause her more anxiety should that be the case.”
“She needs a sachet or smelling salts,” he offered, looking around the room as if he expected to spot some sitting on a table. “That usually brings most ladies around to their senses after they’ve fainted.”
“I’m afraid we don’t have any. If you can help me get her to the settee, I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
He nodded.
Marlena thought the duke would help Eugenia to stand up and then walk her over to the settee. But no. Instead of assisting her to her feet, he gently slid one arm under Eugenia’s slim shoulders and scooped the other under her knees. He then rose to his full height as if he were lifting nothing more than an empty wicker flower basket.
Eugenia’s lashes fluttered again. Her eyes opened. She looked around before her muddled gaze settled on the duke’s handsome face. Obviously realizing she was being carried in the man’s strong arms, she promptly fainted again.
“By the devil,” he rasped, gently placing her on the small settee.
Tut immediately jumped up beside her, curled near her hip, and barked once.
Marlena was worried. Eugenia was taking the duke’s presence hard. Thank goodness her friend wasn’t coherent enough to be asking questions about the duke or saying anything that might give away the fact that Marlena was Miss Honora Truth.
“What’s wrong with her?” His Grace asked, after straightening. “Does she faint often?”
“No, of course not. I mean, I don’t think so. She may not be as strong as some young ladies I’m acquainted with, but I’ve never known her to be this overcome by anything.”
Eugenia mumbled again. Dreading what her friend might say when she came fully awake, Marlena moved to stand between the settee and the duke. Squaring her shoulders, and with as much aplomb as she could muster, she said, “Perhaps it would be best if you left me to attend to her, Your Grace.”
He peered around Marlena and looked down at Eugenia with concern again. “No matter what she thinks, I’m not going to do anything that will hurt her.”
“Of course not. Her fainting may not have had anything to do with you at all. I shouldn’t have even suggested it.”
“I don’t want to leave you alone with her, Miss Fast. If she’s unwell, I should stay.”
“Nonsense,” Marlena insisted, trying not to sound rushed but wanting to hurry him on his way. “Mrs. Doddle is here to help me should I need it, and surely my cousin will be down shortly. Really, I can handle Eugenia quite ably on my own now that she’s off the floor. Thank you for that. I’m quite grateful to you.”
“Then perhaps it would be best if I go so she can recover. She does seem uncommonly fragile. I’ve never seen a young lady faint twice in the same minute.”
Marlena hadn’t, either, but she understood fully why Eugenia had. Her friend had never had a s
trong constitution. The possibility that the duke had come for her was more than she could accept.
“I’m sure it’s just that she’s never met a duke before and she is still quite young. Just passed her eighteenth year. I don’t fear for her well-being. If I did, of course, I’d ask you to remain here with her until I could summon someone.”
He seemed to study Marlena’s face for a moment or two. She thought he was going to refuse her yet again, but finally he said, “In that case, please tell your cousin I’m sorry I couldn’t stay any longer and meet her. I’ll return another afternoon to do that.”
“Yes, that would be best. I’ll walk you out.”
“No, Miss Fast. Don’t leave your friend unattended. I’d rather you stay with her.” He nodded.
Marlena watched the duke walk along the settee and turn to leave, but he stopped abruptly. She followed his gaze and saw he was staring at the pile of books scattered on the floor before him. Marlena’s books. He strode over, bent down, and started picking them up.
“No, please, Your Grace.” She rushed over and knelt much closer to his side than she should have, but she felt too awkward to move once she realized it. “It’s not your place to do this. I can take care of them.”
She reached for the books already in his hands, and her fingers covered his. A wave of something delicious washed over her. Their eyes met. Her heartbeat surged. Marlena jerked her hand away, held it to her stomach, and covered it with her other hand as if she could hide the delicious but unsettling feelings that rushed through her. A flush of heat crept into her cheeks and slid warmly down to her neck.
“I don’t mind doing it, Miss Fast. My father would say that I was seldom a gentleman, and he was right. On this occasion I will be and pick up the books.”
The duke gave her the few he had in his hands and continued to gather the rest. “Did Miss Everard have to buy so many,” he groused, piling more onto the stack in Marlena’s hands.
“Ah—for our reading society,” she said, thinking quickly. But in truth, she had no idea why Eugenia’s arms had been full. She knew Mr. Trout, the owner of the publishing company, was going to give them free copies of the book but she’d thought it would be two or three at the most. Not more than half a dozen.