Page 30 of A Trap by the Rakish Duke
The sky was a fine shade of peach and red as the sun rose, chasing away the darkness.
The two of them had made their way to the stables in silence, the tension between them palpable yet unspoken.
When they arrived, a single horse was already waiting, saddled and ready. Philip frowned, his eyes narrowing as he glanced around.
The stable boy, usually quick to assist, was nowhere to be found.
He exhaled slowly, his gaze shifting to Aurelia.
Was this her doing? Had she somehow arranged for only one horse to be prepared?
The thought crossed his mind but he dismissed it just as quickly. She was cunning, yes, but surely not so bold as to meddle in such a way. Still, the situation was suspicious, and he couldn’t help but wonder.
However, before he could voice his thoughts, the stable boy came running up, panting from exertion.
“Apologies, Your Grace,” he said, bowing hurriedly. “Shall I fetch another horse for Her Grace?”
Philip nodded, turning to Aurelia and expecting her to accept the stable boy’s offer. But to his surprise she shook her head.
“I cannot ride,” she said, her voice smooth and sweet as if the admission held no consequence.
Philip blinked a few times, unsure of what he’d just heard her say. He tilted his head to one side. “I beg your pardon?”
“I have never ridden on horseback, Your Grace. I mentioned it earlier,” she reminded him, with a small smile behind her clever eyes.
“You wish to ride with me,” he stated, his voice laced with disbelief. He could scarcely believe what she was insinuating.
Aurelia met his gaze, her eyes betraying nothing but quiet determination. “If that would not be too much trouble, Your Grace.”
For a moment Philip simply stared at her, unsure whether to be irritated or amused.
So, this is her plan.
She was pushing his boundaries again, testing him to see how far he would permit her to go.
His lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. “Very well then,” he said slowly. “If you are determined, I will teach you a lesson.”
The stable boy stepped forward and extended his hand, an offer to help Aurelia mount the beast, and he gave a tentative smile.
Aurelia moved closer to him with her hand extended, about to accept his assistance, but Philip intervened, ignoring the faint annoyance that had welled within him at the thought of another man touching her.
His hands encircled her waist, lifting her with ease. She was light against his strength, and as he lifted her onto the horse, he felt the warmth of her body seep through the layers of fabric, igniting an unwelcome burn in his palms.
Philip ignored the sensation, schooling his features into neutrality as he mounted the horse behind her.
With her sitting in front of him, he could feel the heat of her back against his chest, her smaller frame fitting perfectly against his.
Her nearness stirred something within him, a sensation he had thought he could control. He could smell the light fragrance of her golden hair as the warmth of her body filled the space between them.
For a moment he was keenly aware of her to a degree that made him grit his teeth.
“You have been rather quiet,” Aurelia remarked softly, breaking the silence. “Is everything well? I hope I have not made you uncomfortable by riding with you, Your Grace.”
Philip clenched his jaw. “No, you’ve merely been…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “Full of surprises.”
“Oh?” She glanced back over her shoulder at him, with a curious tilt of her head. “And what sort of surprises might those be?”
He narrowed his gaze, sensing the trap in her words. “You know precisely what I mean.”
