Page 105 of A Duke Changes Everything
Chapter Twenty-Five
Nick stared up at the branch of the old oak and couldn’t quite comprehend it had been less than a month since he’d gazed up into Mina’s gold brown eyes and been completely lost. Or maybe he’d always been lost and that was the moment he’d been found.
Meeting her had changed everything.
He could take a knife and separate his life between the hours before that meeting and those after. Whether anyone could see it by looking at his mangled face or not, something in him had changed. A great deal, in fact.
For one thing, his feelings about Enderley had changed. The place would forever hold some of his worst memories, but now there were good ones too. Like every moment he’d spent inside its walls with Mina.
He saw now that he could do his duty and not allow the past to destroy any future good he might do for the estate and its people. Mina had done her best to show him why it mattered to do what was right, to be benevolent, and little by little he was beginning to understand.
Since meeting Mina, his heart troubled him every single day. Throbbing and aching and pounding like a gambler’s tell every time she was near. He’d deadened the organ so well over the years, he’d rarely noticed its working in over a decade. Now he sensed its pangs and yearnings constantly.
Ever since that damnable day under this tree, with Mina dangling from a branch above his head and her cat glaring down at him.
He turned back toward the estate, settled his arse on the cold ground, and watched as smoke billowed from the tower. Shoving his hands in his pockets for warmth, his fingers tangled with satin. He pulled out Mina’s ribbon and stroked his thumb up and down the pink strip of fabric.
Was this truly all he’d have of her when he went back to London? A strip of ribbon and memories that would haunt him the rest of his days?
Burning the tower didn’t bring the peace it should have. Oh, the smoke curling up into the sky gave him a measure of satisfaction, but nothing would ever feel right again without Mina.
He watched the burning tower until his eyesight blurred, then swept his gaze across Enderley’s rear facade. The window panes glittered in the sunlight, the stones gilded in the early morning glow.
Then he saw a figure rush past the ground-floor windows, slip in the grass, and continue on toward the burning tower.
He made out brown trousers, black boots, and long waves of chestnut hair.
Mina.
Nick scrambled to his feet and flew down the rise, breaking into a run when he hit flat ground. He shouted her name, but she didn’t seem to hear. She kept on toward the tower.
He stretched into a longer gait until he was so close he swiped for her arm. “Mina, stop.”
She slowed just enough for him to catch up. He stopped behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist. Her hands came up to dislodge him.
“Let me go.”
“Stubborn woman.” Nick came around to face her, planting himself between her and the tower. “Are you mad?”
“The cat might be in there.” She immediately tried to barrel past him, and he caught her again.
“What bloody cat?” But he knew as soon as he asked. The orange ball of fury. They’d come as a pair that first day. “Mina, I promise you she’s not in the tower. I went inside. There was nothing, just old rotting furniture.”
“But we can’t find her.” She kept pushing at him, attempting to twist out of his grasp. “Tobias says she goes in sometimes.”
Tobias was striding across the grass toward them.
“Did you find her?” Mina called back to him.
Nick glared at the young man, willing him to tell her they’d found the cat merrily slurping milk in the pantry. Anything to stop her from storming into a burning tower.
“No sign of her, miss.” Tobias didn’t get the intended message.
Mina lunged, nearly breaking free. Nick bent at the waist, swept a hand behind her knees and lifted her in his arms. He walked toward Tobias.
“Take her. Hold on to her. If she makes it anywhere near that tower, you’re sacked. Understand?” Nick settled Mina into Tobias’s arms gently. “I’ll get the bloody cat.”
“Nick, no.” She stopped struggling and went quiet, eyes wide.
