Page 6 of Five Nights with a Rakish Duke
“Perhaps, I could pray upon your time for a minute longer,” Lady Hamilton said, smoothly looping her arm through his and drawing him toward the doors that led outside. Asher smiled as he realized what she was doing, drawing him out into privacy, so they could be alone together again.
“Where is your maid to chaperone us, My Lady?” he asked in a low voice.
“Enjoying a glass of sparkling wine,” she said, smiling back at him. He chuckled and followed her outside. It was rather busy on the terrace, leading Lady Hamilton to place her hand in his and draw him down the steps that led to a different part of the garden altogether.
“Something tells me you are rather eager to get me alone,” he said quietly. She glanced back at him, smiling.
“Can you be in any doubt of the idea?”
She only stopped walking when they were alone in another part of the garden, and she placed her back against the garden wall, beckoning him closer. Asher felt warring emotions inside of him. Ordinarily, he would have happily stepped toward her and kissed her, indulging in another night of passion together. Yet for some reason, tonight it didn’t seem right.
Father, your words have wormed themselves under my skin!He figured that had to be the reason. His decision now to enact his promise to his father was what must have been making him reticent.
“My Lady,” he said, breathing deeply as he thought of something to say. “I fear I cannot do this tonight.”
“Why not?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips. “You seemed to enjoy my company very greatly last week and the week before.”
“Indeed, I did,” he assured her with a nod, “but… sometimes things change. You are a fine lady, and I admire you greatly, but I fear I cannot continue this way.” The shock on her face was a picture of horror with her lips parted. The guilt that shot through Asher was sharp and sudden, making him ruffle his hair with both hands. “I cannot apologize enough if I have hurt you.”
“The wound will recover, Your Grace,” she said, lifting her chin a little higher. “Is it another lady that has turned your head?”
Asher was about to say no, for it was the truth, wasn’t it? The reason he was reticent was because he now had to take a bride, yet a pair of green eyes flashed into his mind and caramel-colored hair that fell past alabaster cheeks, along with a Pomona green dress that was dampened by wine.
Before he could say anything else, there was a yelp from nearby. The sound was so sudden before it was quickly muffled that Asher whipped his head around in search of the source. There was a rustle behind him, and he turned back in time to see Lady Hamilton running off, gathering her skirt around her knees as she hurried up the terraces, heading back to the main part of the house.
“Damn,” he muttered to himself. “I did wrong by her.” He knew he would have to apologize again another time, but for now, there was a yelp of panic to investigate. He hurried off, practically sprinting down the last set of banked stone steps until he reached a terraced part of the garden that was lined with pink hydrangea blooms.
“Is someone there?” he called out.
Emerging out of the darkness, he could just make out two figures. One was a gentleman he recognized all too well, the Earl of Shrewsbury, a fool of a man that had something of his own reputation in the ton. Beside him though was a woman in a Pomona green dress, reaching down and clutching her calf in pain.
She’s here. I have found the mystery lady.
Chapter Three
“What happened?”
The cry made Penelope snap her head up. She had been cradling the wasp sting on her calf trying to move past the shock and pain of getting the wasp caught under the folds of her dress when she looked up to see the stranger, who had spilled the wine on her before, approaching them.
“Lord Shrewsbury?” he said, turning his attention on the Earl.
“If you would excuse me,” the Earl said, backing up.
Wait, where is he going?Penelope watched as he retreated. She decided the wasp sting couldn’t have been better timed in truth for the little wasp had been caught under her dress just as the Earl had attempted to kiss her, and the sting stopped any such kiss from happening.
“I must get back to the soiree,” the Earl said, tripping on a stick, before turning and fleeing back to the house. Penelope frowned as she watched him go. From the sheer haste he was setting, he looked fearful of being caught outside at night with her alone.
So much for thinking he wanted to court me… he was looking for a stolen moment, that was all!
“Well, something is certainly amiss, but I cannot tell if it was the Earl’s presence or whatever seems to have happened to your leg,” the stranger said, turning his attention on her. She was tempted to smile at his jest, but she resisted.
She may not have known who this man was, but he was most certainly a cad and a rake from the lines he had delivered in the ballroom. She was not going to fall for his charm.
“It is a wasp sting,” she replied then her gaze turned back up to the stone steps where the Earl was hastily making his retreat. “Though I’m beginning to think that the little thing might have actually saved me.”
“The Earl does have a notorious reputation.”
“He does?” she asked in surprise as she lowered her leg back down to the ground and shook out the skirts of her dress. The sting was growing painful, hurting her more than she had thought possible.
