Page 86 of From Duke Till Dawn
At last, they reached Portman Square. A groom met him as he clattered to a stop outside his house. Alex dismounted, then helped Cassandra down. The groom sent Alex a curious glance as he led the horse away, but said nothing. Cassandra leaned against him, her steps faltering as she favored one leg. A fresh wave of fury choked him at the thought of anyone hurting her.
How had her ankle been injured? As she’d run from her kidnappers, and they’d thrown her roughly to the ground? Did one of the brutes actually lay hands on her, using his strength to hurt her?
Rage built upon itself the more he thought of it. He took steadying breaths. She was safe now, and he would take care of her.
After being let in by a drowsy footman, Alex guided her upstairs and directly into his chamber. He sat her before the fire, rubbed her hands, and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders.
“I’ll summon a bath,” he announced, heading for the bellpull.
“No, don’t.” Her voice shook. “A glass of whiskey will set me right.”
He poured her a goodly amount, then pressed the glass in her shaking hand. She took several healthy gulps, draining the glass, and set it at her feet. Her gaze remained fixed on the leaping fire in the grate, and its glazed vacancy alarmed him.
He crouched in front of her, taking her hands in his and trying to meet her gaze. “It was Rose Donovan, wasn’t it? She took you.”
“No. George Lacey.” She recited this in a monotone. “Underworld king. Another investor in the gaming hell. Not a man to be crossed.” She blinked, coming back to herself in slow degrees. “The money owed him, it wasn’t a paltry sum. You paid it.”
He frowned at the surprise in her voice. “Of course I did.”
“Why?”
He couldn’t fathom what she meant by that question. “What the devil do you mean,Why? Because it was either your life or the money.”
“You didn’t have to pay.”
He stared at her. Then he shot to his feet, dropping her hands. “Did you honestly believe I wouldn’t?”
“I...” She glanced away. “I didn’t know.”
A new kind of anger filled him. It was righteous, and resentful, and it curdled the pureness of his previous fury into something bitter.
“God,” he rasped. “You think so little of me?”
She shut her eyes, then opened them. “Not you. Never you.”
“And yet you say you didn’t believe I would come for you. That I wouldn’t payany sumof money to keep you alive.” Hurt, he moved away. She’d been through a terrible ordeal. He needed to remember that.
“Why did you come?” she asked softly.
“Because I care about you,” he said simply.
She stared at him, eyes wide, and only then did he realize what he’d said. He felt his jaw turn to iron, while his heart pounded.
“That was... not how I pictured myself saying that,” he finally managed.
She pushed the blanket off her shoulders, then crossed to him. Gently, cautiously, she placed her hands on his chest. Surely she felt the furious throbbing of his heart. Words could cloud the truth, but there was no denying the truth of his body.
“I shouldn’t have doubted you,” she whispered.
“I understand why you did,” he answered softly. “I haven’t given you much cause to trust me.”
“Thank you. For... everything.” Her eyes were full of gentleness and also sadness. “I’ve brought you nothing but misery.”
“Not so.” He gathered her hands in one of his and pressed a kiss to her fingertips. “Before you, I slept. Now, because of you, I’m conscious. For the first time in my life, I am fully awake.” He gazed at her, his heart full. “I’d been like an automaton, going through the paces of my life mechanically, dutifully. But you’ve taken me from the confines of my comfortable, familiar world and introduced me to danger, and excitement, and a giddy sort of joy I never believed myself capable of feeling.”
He released her hands, then pulled her snug against him, wrapping her in his arms. Cradling her head, he rubbed his lips against her hairline. Warmth and tenderness enveloped him, so much so his eyes felt hot and his throat tightened.
It was only when he felt the shaking of her shoulders and the growing damp on his shirtfront that he realized she was crying. This courageous woman—who had faced the callousness and brutality of the world all on her own without flinching—wept against him. She never showed weakness. But she revealed to him her own fragility, which was in itself an act of bravery.
