Page 12 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke

“We don’t have time for this.” He rose from the bed and started buttoning his shirt. “As I said yesterday, I wish to leave as soon as possible. So, if you would be so kind, save your tantrum for when we are on the road.”

“Tantrum! I was not throwing a —”

“As I said,” he cut through her. “For when we are on the road. Now is not the time.”

She widened her eyes and glared ruefully at him. Fury enveloped her, paired with a warmth which spread through her body and made her limbs tingle. Still, she could feel the duke’s body pressed against her own, the memory of him in her arms and how comforting it was, and how she hadn’t wanted to wake up ever.I did not know it was him! If I had, I certainly would not have enjoyed myself!

Again, that guilt returned. She had done nothing wrong, she knew. But that did not mean it hadn’t been close. Worse that if it had come to such things, Caroline was not sure she would have had the control to resist...

They readied in silence, Caroline purposefully not looking at the duke as she went to the mirror and checked her hair and makeup. She had fallen asleep in the same clothes she’d been in all day, so there was little to be done regarding her physical appearance. Annoying, as a quick glance at the duke confirmed he looked refreshed in ways which might have suggested he’d bathed and changed and had a better night sleep than she’d admit to.

The silence between them grew and Caroline could feel its weight on her. Those pesky thoughts returned to the previous evening, and this morning, and the fight that had raged inside of her as she had tried to control her amorous thoughts. It was as if the duke could read her mind, and the longer the silence held, the more sure she was that he could see exactly what she was thinking.

“I wish to remind you of what I said yesterday,” Caroline blurted, desperate to fill the silence and distract her mind. “In regards to my family repaying you for all you have done.”

“It is fine,” the duke said. “As I told you, it is not a concern?—”

“It is for me,” she spoke over him, which she saw made him flinch for he was likely not used to being interrupted. “And my family, for that matter. You have done us a great service and our honor demands that it be repaid. It is that simple.”

He scoffed. “And you think that your family is capable of repaying me?”

Her eyes flashed with anger. What he said might have been technically true, for her family had no wealth to speak of, but for the duke to speak down about her family like that was the height of rudeness! A man of his station should have known better.

“How dare you,” she said with more bravery than she thought herself capable. “That is my family whom you dismiss. And for no reason other than… than… than they are not here to defend themselves. Well, I am and I say it again, when we arrive, name your price and they will pay it.”

His brow creased and where she expected anger, what she got instead was curiosity. “Is that so?”

“It is,” she said firmly, feeling like a fool because words were wind in this instance, a promise that neither she nor her family could possibly fulfill.

“Your family cannot repay me,” he said.

“How dare?—”

“I know of their misfortunes. I know their financial worth.” He started across the room, straight for her. “Do not lie to me.”

“I… I was not lying,” she said as the duke came for her. “I merely meant?—”

“I know what you meant.” He was at her, standing over her so that she was forced across the room, her back soon pressed against the door. “And I know you mean it too. I can see it in your eyes.” He held those eyes with such intensity that she was forced to look away. “Which is why you will repay me, only not with financial compensation.”

Again, Caroline glanced about the room, realizing how helpless she was. She wondered if she should cry out, staying that notion because she did not think it would make a difference. Also... she was not nearly as scared as she should have been.

“Wh... what do you... what do you want from me?” she gulped.

“We are to spend this weekend at the Aldworth Estate,” he said, staring right at her. “Across the space of the next several days, I suspect there will be many an eligible lady in attendance. Your task, which you have just told me you will be more than happy to assist in, is to find among these ladies a bride for me.”

Caroline did not understand what he meant. At least not at first. “A... a bride? I do not—what do you mean?”

“I did not stutter.”

“I know that,” she said. “And I understand what you said well enough —”

“Then there is no need for me to explain,” he continued over her. “I wish to marry, and soon. Before this weekend draws to a close, you will have found me a willing bride. Then and only then, will I consider your debt paid off.”

She stared at him blankly, understanding the words but still not comprehending them.He wishes for me to help find him a bride? In the space of a few days? How? And why? Surely, he is toying with me?

“Good.” The duke straightened up, took a step back, leaned forward and popped open the door, forcing Caroline to stumbled forward as he swung it. “Now that we have that sorted, I will meet you downstairs. Do not dally.”

With that, the duke strode from the room, leaving Caroline behind to unpack and determine what to make of this most bizarre request. Not that she was able to do so in the space of a few seconds. Had she an entire day, she still might not have fully realized what was going on.

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