Page 29 of Her Wicked Duke
“No,” she said, but she couldn’t say if it was the truth or not. “I do not want to be caught off-guard.”
“Then shall I tell you what I plan to do to you, Anne?” He lowered his voice and shifted closer to her.
To anyone else, they would look like they were standing side-by-side, perhaps waiting for the next break in the dancing. But Anne’s heart was racing at his proximity.
“I wish to return home,” she muttered. “I am tired.”
“Then I shall accompany you.”
“I do not wish to know what you plan to do to me,” she said.
But she was breathless, and her mind was already going wild with guessing.
Please tell me anyway.Tell me every sordid, devious thought you have, Alexander. Do they match my salacious thoughts when I am alone at night? The thoughts that make me flush with shame for wanting you, of all men?
But Alexander listened to her wish, and he could not read her mind.
When Anne awoke the next morning, another letter waited for her on a silver platter in her room, where her mail was often left, as she had requested ever since the letters began to arrive.
My beautiful Anne…
How stunning you looked last night! Did the Earl of Farley truly appreciate how beautiful you looked as you danced in his arms?
I missed you, Anne. I missed the way the chandelier lights catch the color of your hair and make it shimmer. I missed the way your skin looks so soft in those dresses of yours.
What I did not miss was that insufferable duke at your side. Why must you keep him around, Anne? He is ruining our chances to ever approach one another, do you not see? If I continue to see him hovering around you, I might be forced to take action.
I am a man who knows his way around weapons. I am not afraid of titles and ranks. I will fight him for you, if necessary. Even if it is not necessary, do tell your Duke to watch his back.
If you wish to know who I am, as I hope you are eager to, we must have a clear path toward each other. I am working toensure that on my side, but you must work with me, my most beautiful Anne.
Until next time…
Ever yours,
The Man Who Holds Your Heart.
Her heart clenched, fear climbing up her throat to the point where her stomach heaved with it. How did he know how she looked beneath the lights? And the dresses? And who she danced with?
Tonight, she was due to attend her sister’s party at Yore House, but now, she only wished to go to Alexander and tell him what had happened. How her stalker would likely know where she’d be tonight.
How was he getting the information?
Did I dance with him last night?
The thought terrified her. She crumpled the letter in her hand and tucked it beneath her pillow so nobody saw it.
What does he mean by having a clear path toward each other? And to do that on his side?
She couldn’t stop thinking about her stalker suggesting that she was eager to know who he was. Only last night, Alexander had suggested that she might be eager to be alone with him. Terrified, she wondered if Alexander was indeed her stalker.
But no. No. Surely not. She refused to accept that. He wouldn’t have put up so much fuss to protect her, otherwise. And yet… protecting her gave him a clear path to her side.
Yet, the letters spoke of annoyance at the Duke being at her side…
She took the letter out and reread it, tried to imagine Alexander writing it, and found that she could not. Still, it mirrored so much of their conversations.
Eager… I missed you, Anne…
