Page 24

“Are you certain?” her mother pressed. “If you are ill, there is no shame. Best to be careful.”

“I am fine,” she said with more emphasis. Needing to change the topic, and quickly, she pulled herself from her mother’s grasp and started down the stairs. “What is going on? Where is everybody going?”

“We are going riding,” Aurelia answered as she made for the base of the stairs. “And we were just deciding if it was worth waking you to see if you wished to join us.”

“Oh...” Caroline considered, deciding quickly that a day spent outdoors might be good for her. Anything to take her mind off things, and a chance to be free from this house so she would not accidentally bump into the duke. “I... yes. Yes, I think I will. That is, if you do not mind waiting for me?”

Daniel groaned. “At this rate, we will never leave.”

“You are free to go without us,” Eveline snapped. “Please, do not wait on our account, Daniel. In fact, I insist.”

Daniel glared at her. “Careful, sister.”

“Quiet, Eveline.” Their mother swept down the stairs and put herself between them. “It is decided; we will wait for Caroline to get herself ready. Besides, that will give me another chance to convince Violet to join us.”

“Good luck,” Daniel snorted.

“Mother, she told you she is busy,” Aurelia sighed. “With the engagement this weekend, she has better things to do than join us for a ride.”

“Nonsense!”

Caroline only just now noticed that Violet was indeed absent. Not a surprise, she decided, as guests were due to arrive later today in preparation for the weekend’s celebrations. Likely, she was with her future husband now, going through the particulars.

“I will get ready.” Caroline said, turning to make her way back up the stairs.

However, no sooner had she turned about before she froze to the spot, her breath leaving her, her heart leaping through her mouth. Her eyes were trained on the top of the staircase, and it was in that moment that none other than the duke chose to make his presence known.

“Your Grace!” her mother greeted gaily. “What wonderful timing!”

The duke came to a sudden stop, his cold gaze sweeping over the scene before him, his lip curling as he came to realize what he had walked into. Caroline still stood frozen, wishing to look away but she was unable. It was as if her eyes were drawn to him, a part of her wanting to not be seen, another part desperate for it.

“We are just now readying to go for a ride across the estate,” her mother explained. “Would you like to join us?”

“No.” The duke started down the stairs. As he did, he found Caroline standing there staring. A moment passed between them, their eyes locking, that same warning he gave her last spoken silently. She looked away.

“Are you certain?” her mother pressed on him. “The day is wonderful, and we should take advantage of it.”

“I said I am fine,” he said sharply, reaching the bottom of the staircase. He made sure to walk on the opposite side of Caroline as if avoiding her purposefully. “Roderick and I have made plans to hunt.”

“A shame,” her mother sighed. “But perfectly understandable.”

Caroline breathed a sigh of relief, forcing herself to look ahead as the duke started across the foyer. There was a chill emanating from him, one which made her shudder.How can one so terrifying also tempt me the way he does? I know I should fear him, yet a part of me wishes he’d agreed to join us. It makes no sense!

The duke was halfway across the foyer when suddenly, Iris burst into tears. It came from nowhere, her strangled sobs hitting the group like a hammer so that even the duke was forced to stop and pay her attention.

“Iris!” their mother swept toward her youngest daughter. “Good gracious girl, what is the matter!”

“I... I... I do not want Caroline to join us,” Iris stammered through her tears. She was such a little thing, but her voice rang loud. “She can’t!”

“What? Why on earth not?”

“Because... because...” Iris found Caroline through the small group, a look of pain and worry taking her visage. Her chin was wobbling, and her eyes stained red as Caroline met them and knew immediately that her world was about to be rocked. “Because she should not ride if she is with child. It might hurt the baby!”

The announcement sent a panic through the family.

“What?” her mother cried and spun to Caroline. “With child! What are you talking of!”

“Oh no...” Aurelia moaned.