Page 23 of The Duke and the Widow
Doing her best to tamp down her fear, she moved quickly to Molly. “Quick. Skip the stays and help me with my dress.”
Molly did as she asked and hurried to help button up the dress.
“Just quickly pin my hair up. I must go downstairs and ascertain what has occurred.”
Once her hair was pinned in place and she had put on her slippers, she bolted from her room without another word to Molly. She needed to see if James was all right, hoping he hadn’t been foolish enough to run into a burning building.
She moved down the grand staircase as quickly as she could. When she reached the foyer, she saw guests congregating in the salon. Glancing from guest to guest, she searched for James. When she didn’t see him, her heart raced faster. She searched the corridor and didn’t see him there, either.
Moving to the terrace, her breathing was short and quick to match the pace of her heartbeat. At first, she didn’t see anyone on the terrace and then a movement in the far corner caught her eye. His back was to her, but she knew it was him. “James.” She sighed, briefly closing her eyes in relief.
He spun around to face her. “Rosina.” His tone was tinged with trepidation.
“I thought…well, it doesn’t matter what I thought,” she said. “I am just glad to see you are well.”
He eyed her cautiously. “Lord Demming and Lord Knox ran into the stables, but they are both resting in their chambers after all the smoke they inhaled.” His expression shifted to one of hope. “I am fine if that is what concerned you.”
Rosina released an audible breath and glanced at her feet, shifting herself on them as if she were standing on hot coals. “I’m relieved to hear that.”
“Why did you force me out of your chamber?” he asked, almost cutting off her words and taking a few steps closer.
She huffed. “It does not signify.”
He took the last few steps towards her and caught her gaze with his intense blue eyes, like that of a stormy sky, that kept her frozen in place. “Everything about you most certainly signifies to me. Tell me, please.”
He reached for her hand, and as soon as he clasped it, the ever-present electricity between them shot through her entire body. She pulled it away and glanced around at their surroundings. “We cannot speak here, Your Grace.”
James reached for her hand again and clasped tighter that time. He pulled her down the steps of the terrace and through the garden. “Where are we going?”
“You shall see.” His tone was one of mirth, which was in stark contrast to his demeanor when they were on the terrace.
Rosina allowed him to lead her beyond the gardens and through a gathering of trees. Once they reached the other side, there was a folly on the other side.
“How did you know this was here?” she asked, being pulled towards the structure.
“I wished to distance myself from the other guests earlier and discovered it.”
He pulled her through the opening. The folly was in the shape of a turret that appeared to be a couple of stories high and made of brick. Moss was growing along the outside and there were cutouts for windows that were open to the outside.
“There,” he continued. “We are quite alone. So now you shall tell me what upset you this morning.”
She wrapped her arms around herself. “I woke up to find a man in my bed. I was alarmed.”
“I think there is more to it than that. You told me not to call you ‘Rose’, and then you became upset.”
Rosina drew a deep breath and turned away from him. She glanced at the tall ceiling of the folly and then took a few more steadying breaths. Shifting her gaze down to the floor, she responded, “Ry called me Rose.”
“Rosina,” he started, his tone pained as he turned her to face him again. “I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”
“I know you didn’t. I just felt…” her voice trailed off.
He cupped her cheek with his hand. “What did you feel?”
“Ry was the only man I had ever shared a bed with in that way.”
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I shouldn’t have done so.”
She shook her head. “You don’t understand. I enjoyed it.”
