Page 21 of Unmasking a Wicked Marquess
Most men she knew in the ton were as pale as milk, for being tanned was associated with working out in the fields under the sun, but this man was tanned. The flash of browner skin did something to her and made her mouth dry.
What has got into me?
She had never felt this way about anyone before. She had never even pictured herself doing anything with a man, yet with the man before her, it was all too easy. In this isolated road where no other stood, she imagined him backing her up to the nearest tree and kissing her as he had done the night of the ball. She pictured him going further, his fingers trailing over her waist and curling her body against his.
“Are you all right? You look heated. Are you injured at all?” He took hold of her hands and held them outward, examining her.
“Just bruised,” she assured him. “I cannot believe you came across me. Of all people.”
“Well, the Indians had a saying when I was there. They said as you go your way, destiny goes with you.” He smiled at her indulgently. “Perhaps that’s a part of things today.”
I do not believe in destiny.
Yet, as Juliet looked at him, she felt she couldn’t say her usual words.
“What’s your name?” he asked, his voice deep. “Please, do not deny me my wish this time.”
“Juliet,” she whispered. She didn’t bother with titles, for such a thing felt ridiculous when he had just pulled her out of a broken carriage. “And yours?”
“Edward.” He seemed to think the same, not even bothering with his surname but just his Christian name. “I knew I’d find you,” he said again. “I didn’t imagine you would quite literally crash into my path, though.”
She laughed warmly at his words.
“Well, I have a way of surprising people.”
“I can see that.” He pulled on her hand again. “Let me take you home,” he said softly. “You are walking a little strange, though you keep telling me you are not injured.”
“My body is sore, that is all.”
“Then let me escort you home so you can rest. We’ll leave a note on the carriage for your driver, and we can take my horse.”
“Your horse?” she asked as he released her hand. Already, he was a man of action. He reached for his horse and pulled down his tailcoat, pulling out a scrap of paper and what appeared to be a well-worn pencil. He hurried to lay the paper on the carriage and wrote a note. “Both of us on the same horse?” she repeated, feeling as if she could practically hear her parents’ outrage in her ear.
‘A lady does not ride a horse with a gentleman when they are not wed.’
‘What if you were seen?’
‘Juliet, that is highly improper. You should always be a lady of utter propriety!’
“Well, I already know you are capable of one rebellion,” he called as he tucked the note into the door of the carriage and turned back to face her, walking towards the horse. “Care to entertain another rebellion with me?”
“That first rebellion was rather memorable.”
“And if we were not out here in the open, believe me.” He stopped in front of her, their faces close together. “I’d be tempted to offer that particular rebellion again.”
Heat shot through her at his words. Oh, how she longed he would do exactly that and throw caution to the wind. Her eyes fluttered closed so fast that she didn’t notice he had walked around her until she heard his voice again.
“But as it is, I will not take that indulgence if you are worried about so much as riding a horse with me.”
Her eyes shot open, and she turned to face him again. He placed his foot in the stirrup of his horse’s saddle and pulled himself up, offering his hand to her.
“Care to join me, Juliet?” he asked, his voice going so deep she rather felt like the wild horse he had just been trying to calm minutes ago. Little wonder, when her heart was beating so hard in her chest, it felt like the pounding of a horse’s galloping hooves on the earth. “You’re safe with me.”
He repeated the very words he’d said to her that night under the canopy of ivy.
Too tempted, too determined not to have this moment end too soon, she stepped forward and took his hand. It was strong in her own, just as it had been minutes ago when he pulled her from the carriage.
“Do you know how to ride?” he asked with a smile.
