Page 13 of Secrets of a Duke's Heart
She was such a fool. She didn’t even know Mr. Montague’s first name and here she was kissing him—yet he wouldn’t even admit to the fact. That was fine, though, she didn’t need the headache of honesty.
An unwelcome thought clawed its way into her mind. He claimed he wasn’t married but men lied about that sort of thing all the time.
Despite his easy denial, Mr. Montague looked as disheveled and put out as she felt.
Clarissa had the entire climb back up the steep stairs to dwell upon what had just happened and the possible consequences. By the time they reached the inn’s taproom, calm clarity had settled over her.
Mr. Montague had kissed her. They had spent hours trapped alone together in a sea cave, where they were discovered by the local innkeeper. His wife and daughter, though both kind-hearted, were also the town gossips. By any rational assessment, her reputation was damaged beyond repair.
I have finally allowed my curiosity to lead me into a trap I may not be able to escape, she thought ruefully.She was not going to marry a near-stranger, no matter how well he kissed. Mr. Montague was full of secrets and she would not marry a man who would not entrust her with his heart. A temporary punishment was nothing compared to a life sentence.
Montague ushered her to a table laden with two bowls of stew and fresh bread with butter. Her mouth watered. Within seconds, all she could think of was food.
“I am starving,” he said. “I don’t know how you have managed all this time.”
She swept her skirt aside and sat, resisting the urge to tuck into her unexpected meal. Montague showed no such restraint. He ripped into the bread and slathered it with butter before dipping it into the stew. After a few bites, he halted abruptly and stared at her.
“Don’t tell me you’re still on a reducing diet.”
Blood rushed to her cheeks. Of all the things to say publicly. She laughed uneasily, for she was used to offhand, cutting remarks about her figure, and picked up her spoon.
“I gave all that up when I resigned myself to spinsterhood. However, we ought to devise an explanation for our inadvertent indiscretion just now.”
Her heart pounded and she could hardly take a bite of stew.
“There is no help for it. I shall marry you, if you want.”
Her heart plummeted. Clarissa didn’t know what she had been expecting, but a begrudging proposal was not it.
“I never said anything about wanting to marry you,” she said quietly, to keep from anyone overhearing. He stiffened.
“I see. All that pathetic backstory you shared with me wasn’t an attempt to gain my sympathy.”
“Why would I want sympathy from such a churlish companion? Never mind setting myself up for decades of discord.” She set down her cutlery with a precise click. “I find I have soured on your company, Mr. Montague. Good day, sir.”
She strode outside, scattering the geese in her haste.
* * *
Clarissa madeher way back to the Prescott estate in the buggy, feeling not one qualm about leaving Mr. Montague to walk back alone.
To think, only a few hours ago, she had enjoyed being nestled on the bench seat with him. Their drive had felt a bit like courting.
That must be why she had lost her head and confided her pathetic life story to him, then kissed him back like a parched flower reaching for rain.
She was a sensible woman. Logical. Rational. Everyone said so. Untilhecame along.
What prompted her to lose her head over a surly grump of a man who clearly resented the prospect of marrying her?
In the courtyard, Clarissa flung her bonnet and gloves into her maid’s hand and stormed into the house.
“What has you in such a lather?” Her cousin had just come down the stairs and still had one hand on the balustrade. His brows arched in surprise.
“You should know that I have been publicly compromised. Mr. Montague has begrudgingly said he would marry me. I have told him off in no uncertain terms. I refuse to be shackled to that miserable?—”
“Should we have this conversation in private?” he asked, taking her elbow and gesturing in the direction of his study.
“What does it matter?” she huffed. “All of Cavalier Cove will know I spent hours alone with him trapped in a sea cave. If Caden Bulloy hadn’t come down to check on us, we could have drowned when the full tide came in.”
