Page 3 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke

“If they are lucky to get that far,” the duke said calmly. “If I have my way, by the time I am done with them, they will be begging for the mercy of the noose. Now...” He fixed the men with a glare that was so cold Caroline felt it in her bones; she shuddered on the spot, and the world seemed to grow darker. “What is it going to be?”

The leader’s eyes turned wide and he took a step backwards. He looked back at his men, both shaking as they gingerly stepped back and out of harm’s way. He was back on the duke for a moment, sneering as if in a final attempt to scare the man off... only to spit on the ground instead.

“My mistake,” he said. “Seems we thought she was somebody else. Our apologies, Your Grace.” Shockingly, the leader of the men bowed his head before turning around and storming past his two men.

They followed quickly and within seconds the three of them were gone.

Caroline watched them go, and it was only once they were out of sight that she realized she hadn’t taken a single breath since she hid behind the duke. Her heart was beating so ferociously that it hurt. Her body was shaking. Was she alone, she might have burst into tears.

But I am safe. I am alive. And I have this duke to thank!

“Thank you,” she said finally, sighing with relief as she felt the panic slowly seep from her body. “I cannot tell you how grateful I am.”

“Hand,” the duke said.

She blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Hand.” He turned to look at her, his eyes then trailing down her arm to her hand, which was still entangled in his own. His fingers were splayed apart, but her hand was gripped about them as if her life depended on it.

“Oh!” she gasped and released his hand. “I am sorry. I did not—I was not thinking.”

“As I can see it, that is the least of your concern.”

He looked down at her, again with an expression on his face that seemed caught in two worlds. There was worry behind his eyes, that was clear, but he did not look as if he wished to voice it. Rather, he glanced to the sky again, clicking his tongue as he took note of the hour.

“I...” She swallowed the lump in her throat, reminding herself that he was a duke and not someone she needed to be afraid of.Even if he’s making such an assumption as hard to fathom as is possible.“I am forever in your debt,” she said.

“You have still not answered me,” he said. “What are you doing out here? And why were those men chasing you?”

She tried to meet his eyes but the look he fixed her with had her looking away as if in shame. “It is an embarrassing thing,” she admitted sheepishly.

“Which part?”

“I... I was on my way to an engagement weekend—my older sister, to be held in a few days’ time. From London,” she stammered under his judgmental gaze. “My family and I were forced to stop over for the night. Not far from here. There is an inn only a few miles back. Perhaps you know it?” She attempted a chuckle as she indicated down the road.

He said nothing, still staring at her in cold judgment.

“Yes, well... it seems that in all the panic to leave, my family, they ah...” She clicked her tongue. “They seemed to have not realized I was not with them. An embarrassing happenstance, and I am sure that by now they are worried sick.”

If only that were true...

Caroline was one of six children in her family, the middle child in fact, buffeted on both sides by a brother and sisters who demanded their mother’s attention for varying reasons. Growing up under such circumstances, Caroline had been forced to develop a sense of independence because she had learned at an early age that if she wished for attention then she would need to act out to receive it. And acting out wasn’t exactly her strong suit.

Thus, she was the forgotten child. Not unloved. More realized by her mother that of the six of her children, Caroline was the one who needed the least amount of care. And Caroline, understanding the pains her mother went through to keep order in their home, was never one to complain or draw attention to herself unless it was absolutely necessary.

In a strange way, Caroline hadn’t even been surprised when she woke this morning to find her family gone. Having always had to take care of herself, there was no reason that her mother or siblings might have thought to check on her. Although...it still would have been nice if they did occasionally, just to remind me that they cared.

“So, you thought it a good idea to...” He shook his head and sighed. “To walk on your own? Is that what you are telling me?”

She smiled sheepishly. “In hindsight, it was not the smartest of ideas. I just did not want to cause a fuss, and I truly thought that my family would turn around once they realized I was not with them. Which...” She grimaced and looked away, her face turning red with embarrassment. “Which clearly they have not done yet.”

The duke considered her a moment longer. She tried to meet his eyes to see what he might be thinking. Was he taking pity on her? Did he think that she was a fool? Or did he care so little that his only though might be how to get rid of her?

“This engagement,” he spoke finally. “To whom is your sister promised?”

“Oh.” She blinked. “His Grace, the Duke of Aldworth.”

It was subtle, but she could have sworn she saw a hint of recognition flash behind his eyes.

---