Page 7 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke (Claimed by Regency Devils #1)

Chapter Seven

A nthony had only just removed his shirt when he heard a knock at the door. He groaned at the sound, certain it would be one of the members of staff coming to check that he had everything he needed. It was for that reason that he did not bother putting his shirt back on, striding across the room and throwing the door open with a sense of anger instead.

“What?” he snapped.

“Oh!” It was Lady Caroline Hawkins. Her eyes widened to see him standing there, her mouth dropped open. And she took a hesitant step back. “I am sorry. I did not... I did not mean...” Her eyes drifted down his front, her mouth somehow opening further, and then she swallowed. “I can come back.”

“Lady Caroline?” Anthony was certain he was seeing things. He had to be! Even she would not be such a fool to come and see me alone in my room. “What on earth are you doing here?”

“I was hoping we could...” She swallowed again, her eyes drifting before she forced them back up. “That we might talk?”

“Now?”

“It will only take a moment.”

Anthony rubbed his eyes with his spare hand. His first thought was to deny her and slam the door in her face. If she was caught lingering outside his doorway in the middle of the night like this... he shuddered to imagine the consequences.

The only reason he did not slam the door and be done with it was because, before he got the chance, he thought he heard a noise. Footsteps, coming from down the hallway.

“Quickly!” Without waiting for her to respond, Anthony grabbed the woman by the arm and wrenched her through the doorway, slamming it closed behind them.

“Oh!” she yelped as he threw her. She stumbled, catching her footing halfway across the room. “What was that?”

“Are you insane?” He turned on her, wanting nothing more than to shout her down, but forced to keep his voice low so that he would not be heard. “Coming here like this! What if you had been seen?”

“I...” She blinked stupidly, as if the thought had not even occurred to her. “My sisters have retired for the evening. There is nobody to see us.”

“And the members of staff? What of them?”

“Oh...” She blinked again. “I was careful.”

“Careful!” he cried, wringing his hands before his face. “Careful would have been to stay in your room. This is not careful, Lady Caroline. This is foolish.”

She grimaced and looked away, her cheeks flushing red as she began to fiddle with her hands. “I suppose I was not thinking.”

“No,” he agreed. “You were not.”

This was the exact opposite of what Anthony had wanted. Determined to avoid Lady Caroline for the rest of the weekend, somehow, he had found himself alone with her once more. It did not help that he was half-dressed, and she could not stop glancing at his naked torso. And it did not help that she was dressed in a linen slip which...

...Anthony’s eyes drifted before he could help himself. The piece of cloth was white and translucent, hanging loosely about her bodice as if it was a size too big.

Her breasts were even larger than he had thought, perky and full, her nipples poking out clearly so that he could not stop himself from gaping. He felt his mouth beginning to salivate. He felt his blood beginning to surge. Sweat formed on his palms, and all he wanted to do was cross the room, take her by the arms and?—

“What are you doing here?” he blurted, turning his head away, and then his body. She stood halfway across the room, and he was determined to keep it that way. “What could not wait until morning?”

“Yes!” she cried, excited it seemed to be given a reason to break the tension. “I am pleased to announce that I have already come up with a list of names which I think will please you.”

“Names?” He snapped his head up, and frowned. “Names for what?”

She blinked. “A bride, Your Grace. You asked me to find you a bride this weekend, and although the weekend has not yet begun, I have endeavored to do exactly as you asked me. My sister, Aurelia, is the one to thank, as she knows most women attending. I told her what you requested, and she was eager to supply with me the name of every young lady who is coming this weekend and is known to be searching for a husband.”

He stared at her in shock. “You have?”

She nodded proudly, standing a little bit taller. “What I suggest we do now is go through these names together, crossing them off one by one until we find one who is agreeable. My thinking is that by the time she arrives, you will know of her, and that way the entire weekend will not be wasted.”

“That is...” Anthony was still struggling to come to terms with what she was saying. “... an interesting notion.”

“I told you that I owed you,” she said rightly. A firm nod, which had her bosom wobbling beneath her slip. “You saved my life, and I intend to pay you back.”

As strange as it might have sounded, Anthony had forgotten entirely about the request he had made of Lady Caroline. Determined to put her out of his mind, he had done what he could to not think about her in any way.

Truthfully, when he had made the request of her earlier this morning, he had not seriously considered that she would attack it with such enthusiasm. In fact, he had assumed she might be of the same mind as he was, searching for reasons to avoid one another out of the interest of self-preservation.

The only reason he had asked such a thing of her in the first place was because Anthony knew well enough how broke her family was—that was why her sister was marrying Roderick in the first place—and figured that asking her to help him secure a bride would at the very least shut her up about owing him.

Did Anthony wish to marry? Sadly, he did. Like Roderick, he was a man whose life was controlled by expectation, and as a single duke, he knew that sooner or later he would be required to take a bride. Unlike with Roderick, Anthony’s marriage would serve a specific purpose. He wished for an heir, was why, one to pass his title onto when he died. That was, after all, the entire point of marriage. At least I have always assumed as much.

Perhaps there was a small part of him too that wondered what it might be like to find a bride whose company he would enjoy, and who would enjoy his company in return. Someone whom he could spend the day with, sup with at night, even look forward to seeing each day when he woke to the new sun…

Sadly, this was not meant to be. Just about everyone in the ton was terrified of him, for his nickname, The Cruel Duke, seemed designed to turn people away before they could get to know him. This in turn had led to Anthony’s more reserved personality, hidden emotions, forced to project an air of strength and command because if he would not be liked, at the very least he would be feared.

All that was to say, what decent woman would ever have him? I know the answer to that, of course. None.

“It is quite alright,” Anthony sighed.

“Excuse me?” Lady Caroline said. “What does that mean?”

“Our deal,” he explained with another sigh. “I have changed my mind.”

“You... you have?” she leaned back as if struck.

“Yes,” he said. “So, I suggest you put it out of your mind and be glad that I have saved you the time.” He turned and walked to the door. “Now, if you do not mind...” He reached for the door handle, his eyebrow raised at her to indicate that this conversation was finished.

“But why?” she blurted. “Why have you changed your mind?”

“That is not your concern.”

“I disagree. After all you have done for me, it is the least that I can do—I am in your debt, and this is a way that I am able to repay it.”

“And as I said, you no longer need to.”

“That is not good enough.” She crossed her arms and glared at him. “Did I do something wrong? You have not even heard the list of names I have acquired yet!”

“That has nothing to do with it.”

“Perhaps if you just listen,” she insisted. “I am sure that one of them?—”

“I said no!” he snapped, his temper getting the best of him. This woman... why does she get to me so? And why is she not terrified of me like everyone else? She should be thrilled for the chance to be done with me. She should be singing my praises!

“I...” Lady Caroline looked away as if ashamed. “Please, Your Grace, do not do this. I... I said I owe you and... and where I would love to be able to pay you back, my family...” She sniffed. “They are not exactly wealthy. This is the only way.”

He groaned, not at all upended by her tears, simply annoyed that she was using them to try and manipulate him. “You do not owe me anything. Not money. Not a favor. What you owe me, if you are so insistent on paying me back, is peace and quiet. So, if you do not mind...” Again, he indicated the door.

Still, she did not make to leave.

Anthony watched Lady Caroline closely, unable to believe the sudden sense of steely resolve that took her being. She became determined, a look in her brown eyes which suggested she was not going to just walk out of here and forget everything. It was strange to him, that someone might stand up to him like this, that they wouldn’t succumb to fear and simply turn tail and flee as so many had done before.

It caught Anthony completely by surprise, as he had never been very good at confrontation, simply because he’d never had the need.

“You asked for my help, and whether you wish for it or not...” She breathed in deeply and raised her chin. “I will help you find a bride, Your Grace. Only then, will I be out of your debt.”

Anthony could hardly believe what he was hearing. And seeing! In times like this, it would likely do best for him to ask her nicely, because that was what people did when they wanted something. Wasn’t it? Anthony, however, had never had to do such a thing before.

Once more, he found his eyes drifting. With her arms folded under her bosom, her breasts looked even larger than usual. Firm yet somehow supple. Full and heaving. Anthony prided himself on his self-control, and he hated how she wreaked havoc with it. They had an entire weekend ahead of them and if they were forced to spend more time together... I wish I could trust myself, but I am only so strong.

A new tactic was required. She was stronger willed than he had initially assumed, but she was not so stubborn that, if he demanded it of her, she would still refuse him. As a duke, a man who was used to getting his own way, it was time that Anthony stopped playing games and reminded her of the power dynamic which should exist between them.

I am in control here, not her. It is time that she remembers that.

None of that was to say that Anthony wanted to frighten her or scare her away. He just didn’t know what else to do. Thus, he fell back into old routines.

“You do not listen so well,” he said as he stalked across the room. “I knew you to be stubborn, but this has outdone even my wildest expectations.

“I am not stubborn,” she protested. “I am simply trying to do what is right.”

“What is right?” he scoffed. “What is right is what I say it is.” He stepped closer to her body, expecting her to scurry back, but she stood her ground. “So, I am going to say it one more time. And this time, I suggest you listen and then heed my words because I do not take kindly to being ignored.”

He could see her chin wobbling as she worked to maintain her composure. “So, I do not get any say in this? I told you, this is not just about me but my family. How is it fair that you can simply dismiss me without?—”

“Fair” he cut her off. “Is that what you think this is? This is not about fair. Not is it an argument. It never has been. And it is time that you understand that.” Anthony did not mean to, but suddenly he found his hand moving to her waist, which he gripped.

She yelped and tried to push him away but he hung on tight so she would know that she had no power here. That he was in control, and she would do well to listen.

“You do not get to argue with me,” he said, his voice a dark whisper. “You do not get to tell me no. I asked—no—I told you that I do not want your help, which as far as I am concerned is the end of the conversation. Is that understood?”

“You…” She was shaking beneath his grip. “You are not my master, despite what you think.” She grabbed his hand and wrenched it free. “And you do not tell me what to do.”

This had Anthony moaning unexpectedly. “You are…” His other hand moved to her waist also and squeezed. She gasped and grabbed his arm with both her hands; they were tiny around his wrist. He could feel her trembling. He could feel her heavy breathing. “I will say this one more time, my pet. So, listen closely...” He pulled her toward him and leaned in close, his mouth going to her ear. “Do not argue with me. Do not think that you can win. I told you what I wish and the only thought that should take your mind is how quickly you might bow to my demand.”

“But—”

“No buts,” he breathed into her ear, his voice so low that he could barely hear it. “No arguments. I do not need your help. I do not want your help. What I want, the only thing you can give me, is peace and quiet. Is that understood?”

She said nothing. His hands were still around her waist. Her breathing was ragged. But her body... it was pulled into his bare chest so that he could feel her breasts against his skin. She was shuddering and shaking and dammit if it didn’t drive him to the brink.

“Answer me,” he breathed.

“I—I am sorry,” she stammered. “I did not mean it.”

“Yes, you did...” Anthony wanted to push her away. Perhaps drag her to the door and toss her outside and be done with it. But in the moment, holding her close as he was, his mouth right by her ear, he acted without thinking.

His lips found her earlobe and wrapped around them. His teeth then dug into her flesh and bit down gently. She gasped and he moaned, and he felt her melt into him. Sucking on her ear for a moment, his grip around her neck, still not too tight but still firm, his other hand was on her waist, moving toward her breasts, holding her into him in a way that he knew she wanted even if she would never say it.

She was his to do with as he pleased. Alone. Nobody to stop him. If he wanted her, he could have her...

Anthony groaned again and pulled his lips free. “Are you going to leave me be?” he asked, hoping she would say no.

“I will,” she said, her voice trembling. “I promise.”

“Good girl,” he breathed into her ear. “Who knew a stray like you could be so easily trained.”

A moment passed between them. Anthony holding her by the waist. Her body pressed against his bare chest. Lips by her neck now, her own lips dangerously close to his face. He was breathing heavily. Red hot blood surged through his veins. It took all his self-control not to act... more than I thought myself capable.

Anthony roared and let Lady Caroline go. Then he stepped around her, refusing to look back. His entire body trembled and he feared what he might do if he laid eyes upon her once more.

“Go,” he snarled.

“I—”

“Go!”

She did not argue. He listened to the sound of her footsteps scurrying across the room. The door opening and then slamming closed behind her. And then, finally, silence. Silence, save for the thundering of his beating heart.

What was that?

Anthony’s entire body shook, and he stumbled forward, collapsing onto his bed. He had known Lady Caroline to be trouble, but even he had not dreamed just how much she might be—how little control he would have if pushed.

So unlike him, as Anthony had spent his entire adult life hiding from his emotions—afraid of them, it had seemed. Now, after a lifetime spent doing what he could to control his urges, they were coming to the fore in a way he had never known possible. Worse than that, once they did, even he could not say what he might be capable of. And that scared him more than anything.

That settles it. I was determined to avoid her for the rest of this weekend but now I have no choice in the matter, for if I find myself alone with her once more... no, I cannot allow that to happen. For my sake, as well as her own.