What the Duke Wants(51)

When they arrived back, the girls spilled out of the house to greet them, stopping short when they saw her shivering and dripping, wearing the duke’s coat.

Lady Southridge followed behind the girls, appearing quite miraculously recovered. She eyed Carlotta questioningly.

“Did you enjoy yourselves?” Bethanny asked, her eyes darting from her to the duke.

“Did you feed the ducks?” Berty asked.

“How was your trip?” Lady Southridge asked, her eyes dancing with… hope?

“Yes, Lady Southridge, and yes, Berty we did feed the ducks, and yes, Bethanny,” Carlotta responded.

“And you can all ask your questions once Miss Lottie is dry, now, off with you all!” Charles barked impatiently and, because apparently she wasn’t moving fast enough for him, she found herself swept up into his arms and being carried, quite quickly into the warmth of Greenford Waters.

“Tibbs!” he shouted for the butler, who had only just stepped from around the corner.

And was now wincing from the loud bellow from the duke.

“Please have a bath readied for Miss Lottie, there was a… mishap and we do not want her catching a chill.”

“Very good, your grace.” He bowed and left.

“I can walk,” she ground out. The warmth of his hands seemed to engulf her, penetrating the chill and igniting a fire that she would have rather ignored.

“No, you can’t,” he replied stubbornly

“I—”

“No, you can’t.”

“Do you always simply tell people what to do, or am I the only fortunate one?” She turned to narrow her eyes at him.

“I—do not have to answer that.” He gave her but a slight glance before he turned down the hall towards her room.

“I see my point is made.” She raised an eyebrow.

“Most women would be thankful I was seeing to their welfare,” he responded impatiently.

“I’m not most women.”

He paused mid-stride and gazed at her with piercing intensity. “Believe me, Miss Lottie, that is a truth I’m far from missing. Now…” He paused, glancing to her lips then visibly forcing himself to meet her gaze once more. “I promise to release you once you are to your room, but allow me the honor of getting you there quickly, and without further interruption.”

She paused, wanting to argue, but seeing that it was for some unknown reason, important to him to act so needlessly chivalrous, nodded instead.

As they reached her room, he set her down gently, his hands slightly caressing her legs as he set her upright. “Thank you for your company today.” He reached out and grasped her hand; lifting it slowly he let his penetrating gaze caress her face till he placed a very long, lingering, and delightful kiss to her hand.

“You’re welcome.”

With a very polite bow, he backed away, his dark gaze intent and anything but polite.

And before she could give into the impulse and smolder of his gaze, she rushed to the safety of her room.

****

Charles walked back towards the entrance and was quickly intercepted by Lady Southridge.

“So?” Lady Southridge questioned, her eyes wide with excitement.

“So… what?” Charles questioned. The girls had fallen into step behind Lady Southridge, who was following him and well, he felt quite like a mother duck with four little impatient ducklings nipping at his heels.

Rather, he felt like the bread crumb they were all chasing after.

“Come now, Charles, surely you figured out how to use this perfectly orchestrated situation to woo her.”

“Lady Southridge!” He turned and eyed the young girls meaningfully.

“Oh, they knew all about it. They helped. Didn’t you girls?” she asked, beaming with pride.

“Helped?” Charles choked on the word.


“Yes your grace,” Beatrix nodded soberly.

“I’m quite… speechless.”

“A first I’m sure. Now, since we gave you such a perfect opportunity, please tell me you didn’t waste it.”

“If you want me to woo the lady, you’ll have to inform her as she has no desire for me to woo her,” Charles said, his tone slightly bitter.

“Of course she wants you to woo her! And if she doesn’t then you, sir, aren’t doing it correctly.”

“I didn’t know I was in the audience of such master at wooing,” he retorted dryly.

“She does want you to pursue her. She’s just scared,” Bethanny said softly, as if reluctant to enter the conversation.

“Why would she be scared?” he asked, though he suspected he knew the answer all too well.

“You’re quite handsome, your wealthy, titled, and have a reputation as dark as sin,” Lady Southridge remarked. “Forget you heard that last part girls,” she added, spearing them with a withering gaze.

They nodded quickly.

“I don’t think that’s why she’s reluctant,” he remarked.

“Oh, then why? It’s not as if you’ve been completely dishonorable. You took the opportunity and said your intentions today, did you? I mean, that would be the logical road to take,” Lady Southridge said.

“My intentions?” Charles questioned.

“Yes you’re…” She paused. “Girls, can you please occupy yourselves? I’m going to require some privacy to converse with his grace.”