Addicted to the Duke (Imperfect Lords #1)(11)

Hestia grew cold. “Then we must make haste in our departure.”

She read the indecision on his face. She saw he wanted to protect her from Fredrick, but he was worried about taking her back to a place that was equally dangerous for her. For them both. She remembered hearing the screams of his nightmares as they sailed back to England four years ago. Jacob, his ship’s captain, had told her that Alex had also once been a captive of Murad.

What on earth had Murad done to him?

“We will be prepared this time,” she said quietly.

His eyes found hers and they shared a memory. No one in society, or even her aunt, could imagine what being held against your will, abused, degraded, and terrified was like. Alex could and it was a bond no other person shared with her.

“You will do as I say, stay below deck when we are in port and never leave the ship unless I accompany you.”

The steel in his voice held an edge.

She did not look away but instead stared straight into his eyes. “I will do exactly what you tell me to. I know the penalty I’d pay if I were to be caught again.”

“The pirates will show no mercy. With your fair hair and pale skin they would make a fortune from selling you to the highest bidder, and if they thought you an innocent…”

A shiver ran over her skin, pricking like hail, as she remembered the way Murad had torn her gown from her body. “You don’t need to scare me into behaving, I’m already afraid.”

“You could stay here. I could hire some runners to stand guard.”

She thought about agreeing to stay, but only for a moment. “I’m more afraid of Fredrick than the pirates. It would only take one shot to kill me. The runners can’t protect me from a rifle.”

He nodded and she heard Aunt Eliza give a sigh of relief.

He took his seat once more and said, “Right. This is the plan…”





Chapter 3


It was close to midnight by the time Alex took his leave. Hestia was exhausted and her aunt was almost dead on her feet. They both needed a good night’s sleep in order to make haste on the morrow.

As Hestia helped her aunt up the stairs, Eliza whispered, “I’m trusting you, Hestia.”

“I’ve already said I’ll be careful.”

Her aunt hugged her tight. “I’m trusting you with him. Don’t give me that look, you know very well what I mean.”

“I don’t understand why you and Father are so against His Grace. He’s a good man. A duke, for goodness’ sake. Is it that I’m not good enough for him?”

They stopped outside her aunt’s bedchamber and Eliza pulled her close for a hug. “Don’t be ridiculous. I swore to your father I’d ensure you did not form an attachment with Alex.”

She pushed out of her aunt’s arms. “But why? I can’t think of any reason.”

Aunt Eliza patted her cheek. “Your father has his reasons and we must abide by them. So you will promise me you will not reinstate the silly notion of your infatuation with His Grace. It’s scandalous sailing without a chaperon, but your safety must take precedence.”

“You know if society gets wind of my sailing with His Grace without a chaperon I suspect he’d be forced to offer for me.” She watched her aunt’s mouth tighten as she straightened to her full height. “Don’t fret. I have too much pride to allow that to happen. But if he asked me because he is in love with me…now, that’s a different story.”

“He won’t ask you,” her aunt replied. “He’s incapable of love.”

“Why would you say that, or think that?” When Eliza remained silent, she said, “He might.” A knowing look crossed her aunt’s face, and Hestia wondered what she knew that Hestia did not.

“Go to sleep, dear child. The journey you are about to embark on will be treacherous and tiring. Give your father a rap around the ear for me. He should not be gallivanting around the Greek islands at his age.”

“I will try my hardest to bring him safely home. But if he does not wish to come there is not a lot I can do.”

“Very true. Your father has been besotted with ancient Greek and Roman history all his life. You were named after the Greek goddess Hestia, the goddess of home and hearth. He always said you were the only reason for him to come home.”

Then why did he seldom come home? She barely knew her father; he had been away more years of her life than at home.

Aunt Eliza continued. “At least we will have done our best. If he doesn’t wish to return, then it will be prudent for you to marry just to keep you safe.”

Sadness swamped her. “I won’t be forced to marry by some madman out to kill me, but I will take it under advisement.”

Hestia had every intention of returning with a fiancé if not married, but given her aunt’s view on His Grace…She would just have to change her father’s opinion of Alex. Given Alex was rushing to protect him against Fredrick, surely that must count.

“Darling girl, I know you and I have always thought the same. We should not marry simply for marriage’s sake. I met the man of my dreams and he died before we could wed. I never found a man I loved enough to marry after that. But this is different.”

Hestia followed her aunt into her bedchamber and sat on the bed while her aunt sat at her dresser removing her jewelry.