Page 4 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke

“And that would make you...?” he prompted.

“My name is Lady Caroline Hawkins.”

The duke glanced at Mr. Gulliver, who shrugged and then nodded. The duke also nodded once, only to step around her and walk back toward the carriage door.

“Where are you going?” she cried after him.

“As luck would have it, I too am on my way to Aldworth Estate.”

“You are?” she blinked. “You... you know His Grace?” It was a silly question, she realized as soon as she said it. Being a duke, of course he knew her sister’s betrothed. Did that also mean he knew her sister? And her family?

“I do.”

“Might I ask for your name?” she dared.

He groaned, looking annoyed by the question. “I assure you, it is perfectly safe. Or it will be, assuming we leave immediately. I do not appreciate being waylaid, nor do I intend on arriving late.”

She considered her options quickly.What options? It is not as if I have any but one. “Thank you.” She hurried forward. “I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it. I am forever in your debt, Your Grace.”

He climbed into the carriage and then turned on her. “Duke Eggleton.”

“Excuse me?”

“His Grace, the Duke of Eggleton, for future reference.” And with that, he disappeared inside the carriage.

That name... it took Caroline a moment to remember where she had heard it before.I know that name...Her eyes widened and she gasped, for she remembered it suddenly, and when she did, she found herself looking back down the road, wondering now if perhaps it would be safer if she just walked?

How do I manage to find myself in these situations... if only I knew.

ChapterTwo

“So...” Caroline cleared her throat awkwardly. “You know the Duke of Aldworth well?”

The duke did not respond. At least not with words. Sitting across from her in the carriage, he tilted his head and stared at her, those dark green eyes of his brimming with a silent warning that told her to try and pursue this conversation would be to her detriment.

“You must do,” she continued stupidly. “As I said, my sister Violet is his betrothed, and I am well acquainted with everyone on her side of the family.” An awkward chuckle. “Most clearly. It would be strange if I did not know who my brother and sisters are...” Another awkward chuckle and she began to sweat with discomfort. “Having said that, they did leave me behind, didn’t they? So perhaps I do not know them as well as I think,” She tried to jest.

Still, the duke said nothing.

He appeared even larger in the confines of the carriage than he had when standing; a hulking mass of muscle and intimidation. Dark of feature too, the shadows inside the carriage fell across his square face, making his expression that much harder to read. Not that she needed to try too hard to understand what was on his mind.

“I swear this is not common,” she continued, feeling her tongue run away with her. “Being alone, as you found me. I am ordinarily much more well behaved—that is not to say what happened is my fault. Simply a misunderstanding...” Another awkward laugh, swallowed by the silence which radiated from the duke’s persona.

I do wish he would stop glaring at me like that. Whether or not his intent is to make me feel uncomfortable, that is precisely what is being achieved. I’m uncomfortable... and just a little afraid.

The carriage was moving alone at a steady trot, a relief to be sure, as Caroline knew that logically she was far safer inside the carriage than out of it. That wasn’t to say that she felt herself to be perfectly safe, as her mind could not held but wander to thoughts of the duke and what she knew of him.

The Duke of Eggleton, informally known by many as the Cruel Duke. It was said that after his father died, he stole his own mother away and locked her indoors, keeping her there as a prisoner while refusing anyone to visit her. For years he held her under lock and key, that was until she eventually passed away, likely on account of the way he was said to have treated her. Some even said that he was the cause of her death...

Caroline was not one to give credence to rumors. And she reminded herself that this man had just saved her life. However, from the way he glared at her to how damn cold and dispassionate he was behaving, she could not help but think that there might have been more truth in what people said than she might have liked to admit.

For this reason, she began to feel nervous. And for this reason, her tongue continued to wag.

“You did not tell me how it is that you know the Duke of Aldworth,” she continued, feeling herself sweat. “Personally, I do not know him well, having only met with His Grace a handful of times. I hope he is a kind man, as my sister deserves such a thing. Are the two of you close? How long have you?—”

“We do not need to do this,” the duke spoke suddenly, his voice a low rumble that started in his chest.

“Excuse me?” she blinked in surprise.

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