Page 4 of Stolen By the Duke of Ice
Dahlia had never been this scared in all her life. How ironic it was that just when she was ready to give up her life of danger and excitement, something like this should happen to her!
“I am dreaming! I am dreaming! I shall wake up at any moment now! Wake up!” she commanded herself, but she knew this was no dream. Behind her, she could hear the galloping of horses. She turned to see men on their mounts who were attempting to catch up to the carriage.
“Oh, thank God!” she cried.
She caught a glimpse of someone helping Benson up from the ground. Somewhat relieved to see him able to stand, Dahlia focused. She pushed the carriage window open.
“Help!” Wildly, she stuck her arm out in an attempt to catch the men’s attention, to let them know that she was in the carriage. Her heart beating with fear, she saw two men were about to catch up with the carriage. “Help! Please, sirs!”
As if merely awaiting her words, the horses surged forward; driven by their masters, they appeared on both sides of thecarriage. Dahlia watched as they galloped beside the carriage. One of the men shouted to the other, “Matteo, ride on the other side! Try to grab the harness!”
She saw the other man do as the first commanded while he kept abreast with the speeding carriage. As he kept his horse steady, their faces were almost level, and the man looked in on her.
Was it Dahlia’s imagination, or did he look pained?
“Sir!” she shouted desperately.
“Hold on, madam!”
His face held a look of pure determination that made her maidenly heart flutter despite the situation she was in. Some ridiculously observant part of her wondered if this was how her heroines felt at a moment of crisis. It strangely lessened her anxiety.
“Madam, move to the center of the seat to balance the carriage! We shall try to control the horses!” the man shouted over the noise of the chase.
His shouted words shook Dahlia into action. She nodded at the man then moved quickly; she centered herself as best she could while still being able to hold on to the grab handle. She clutched at it until her knuckles turned white.
She would survive this! She looked out at the man again, silently relaying her determination. Their speed knocked off his hat, leaving his dark brown hair to be swept about by the wind. She gasped.
That harsh expression... That commanding voice... She wondered why it took her so long to recognize who the man was.
Upon her realization, time suddenly stood still for Dahlia. The already rapid beating of her heart was now replaced by a different feeling altogether. There it was again, that unexpected fluttering in her heart.
She kept her eyes locked on the face of the man who was poised to be her rescuer; she knew him to be the hero—if truth be told, the antihero—of her novels.
He was the man who, in her current state of mind, she admitted to having ill-used for the benefit of her writing.
She clutched at her chest.
“The Duke of Ice,” she whispered breathlessly.
Chapter Two
Peter knew only one thing: that he had to help her; he had to save the lady in carriage. He could not forget the look of fear and helplessness on her face.
Was this how she felt before the accident?
An old feeling threatened to come out and consume him. Why was she alone? Did her guardians not know the dangerous things that could happen? Why would they let her go alone?
I shall go alone. I shall be fine, Peter…
He forcefully pushed the memory back inside himself, inside a place that he had kept locked and barred. In its absence, fury raged.
He glanced up at the ruffian who was still attempting to control the carriage. The effects of his actions made Peter want to deal him great physical harm.
“Focus!” he told himself fiercely. Atop his horse, and galloping at the speed of the carriage, he looked at the lady inside the carriage again. He let out a breath of relief to see that she had followed his shouted instructions.
“I will not fail you,” he vowed to himself as he remembered the image of another failure. He was surprised by this sudden need to protect the lady at all costs. It was as if his every protective instinct was roused at seeing her in this predicament. Looking across the horses, he caught Matteo’s eye. It was time to move.
“Now!”
