Page 2 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke

He was tall, well over six feet, and taller than any man she knew. His shoulders were as wide as a horse’s chest, with a back that looked strong enough to support the weight of one. His hair was as black as onyx, as if somehow absorbing the light, while his eyes... she found herself trapped by them. Dark green, fierce and menacing. Again, the wordpowercame to mind as here stood a man who she had no doubt was used to getting his way.

“I... I... I...” Caroline stammered stupidly.

“Is something the matter” the dark stranger asked. “Did you hit your head?” He looked to Mr. Gulliver for explanation. “Did she take a fall?”

“She may well have,” Mr. Gulliver answered. “I very nearly ran her down.”

The dark stranger somehow managed to look both concerned and frustrated at the same time. “Wonderful. This is just what I need.” He looked to the sky, taking note of the time, before turning his fierce gaze back upon Caroline. “I am afraid that time is not something I have a great deal of, Miss. So please, whatever this is, I would appreciate a straight answer. Tell me, who are you and what are you doing in the middle of the...” He trailed off and his brow furrowed tight.

His head snapped up, and his gaze looked beyond where Caroline stood frozen. His expression, already one of sheer brutality, turned as cold as ice and rueful in ways that was it fixed on Caroline might have made her scream.

“’Ello ‘ello ‘ello,” a raspy voice cooed from behind Caroline. “What have we got ‘ere then?”

Caroline’s heart leapt through her open mouth. She recognized the voice without having to turn around, for she had heard it once before. Ten minutes ago, by her estimation, as she had been walking along the empty road while wondering to herself how she had ended up in such a deplorable situation to begin with. It had come from the trees, first from behind, then the sides, until its owner had appeared right in front of her.

“No!” Caroline cried out. Without thinking, she leapt at the dark stranger, grabbing him by the coat and then scuffling behind him. One hand was on his coat, the other grabbed his thick arm, forcing it before herself as if it was a shield of protection.

The owner of the raspy voice was as detestable a sort as Caroline had ever seen. Tall and willowy in frame, his skin was blotched with dirt and grime, his hair oily and hanging by his shoulders, his nose bent and broken, and the few teeth he had stained yellow. His clothes were rags, and he walked with more confidence than one of his ilk should have, perhaps because he wasn’t alone.

Two more men stood with him. One was big and fat, the other short and stout. Grubby like their leader, both deranged in temperament, their eyes like wild animals in search of prey. All three of them ambled toward the carriage, seemingly unconcerned by the dark stranger in ways that struck fear into Caroline because what sort of men would not see someone like this and turn to flee in the other direction?

Thankfully, the dark stranger didn’t seek to remove Caroline from his arm or push her out of the way. In fact, he straightened and then stepped forward, putting himself between her and the three men.

“Who’s this then?” the leader of the three men sneered.

“That is none of your concern,” the dark stranger said; his voice was calm, and where Caroline was shaking, she noticed that he stood tall and proud.

“We don’t want any trouble,” the leader said. “Just the girl and we’ll be on our way.”

“No...” she gasped.

“You will be on your way,” the dark stranger said. “The manner in which you do so will depend entirely on how smart you think yourself to be.” He scoffed. “Which, by my estimation, does not bode well for you.”

The larger man laughed. “Hear that? Who does he think he is?”

“Quiet!” the leader snapped at him. He stood ahead of the other two, doing what he could to instill a sense of control in the situation—out numbering the dark stranger, he likely thought he had all of it. But he was hesitant also, his beady eyes sizing up the dark stranger with a sense of caution. “You seem to be misunderstanding the situation.”

“I understand it just fine.”

“Do ya now?” the leader chuckled and looked back at his two men. “Seems to me that you’re outnumbered. And Bert here—” A flick of his head to the large man. “He makes a habit of wrestlin’ bears for fun. Me thinks he can handle you.”

“Is that so?”

“The girl,” the leader said, taking a step closer. “Leave her and be glad that you did.”

Caroline was shaking terribly. She did not know the dark stranger. And he certainly had no reason to help her. What was to stop him from doing as they asked and leaving her? Any sane man would!

She clutched harder onto his arm, her other releasing his coat and taking his hand as if to let him know that he’d need to tear his arm off if he wanted to leave her. Most surprisingly, the dark stranger’s grip on her hand increased, and for the first time since she had found herself running from these men, she felt safe.

“Unfortunately for you, I consider this young lady in my protection, meaning that if you wish to have her, you will have to take her from me.”

“That can be arranged.”

“Mr. Gulliver,” the dark stranger spoke to the coachman. “What will happen to these men if they are found to be stealing from me?”

“They would be rounded up and hanged, Your Grace,” Mr. Gulliver said.

His Grace!Caroline gasped and tore her eyes from the savage men to better look at the dark stranger. She did not recognize him, nor would she have guessed a man as cold as this to be of the peerage. And yet, somehow, it seemed so obvious she could not believe she’d missed it.

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