Page 8 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke (Claimed by Regency Devils #1)

Chapter Eight

C aroline did not sleep well that night.

She tossed and she turned. Her body flushed so hot that she began to sweat, forced to throw the sheets from her bed lest she drench them. She tried to close her eyes and force sleep, yet each time she did, her mind was filled with the image of the duke, his hand around her throat, his lips nibbling her ear, and his breath on her skin so that she could still feel him as if she was transported back into his bedroom...

Logic told her that she should have been glad to have been dismissed so resolutely by the duke. He wanted nothing to do with her, and she would do well to heed his request. Never mind that he was dangerous, for she could handle that. It was the very real fact that, in his presence, Caroline lost herself completely, and in ways that petrified her sensibilities.

And yet, just to think about being back in that room again… a warmth spread through her body, her heart pounded in her chest, and her limbs tingled each time she closed her eyes and found herself back in that bedroom, suggested that she was nowhere near as determined to avoid the duke as she should have been.

This is wrong! I should not be feeling this way; unable to stop thinking about the duke, wondering what might have happened if it had gone further. I know I should hate how he makes me feel, and yet...

It was thus that Caroline overslept the following morning, rising well after sunrise, having had maybe a handful of hours of true sleep, feeling wretched and looking, she was sure, just as ghastly.

Voices could be heard coming from the front of the house, ones she recognized to belong to her noisy family. Still half asleep, she rose from bed, covered herself in a gown, and started down the hallway to see what was causing the fuss.

“...should we wake her?” she heard her mother say. “It will not do for her to spend all day in bed.”

“Leave her be,” Aurelia countered. “She is simply worn through. Can you blame her? The last two days she has had.”

“She will miss the entire morning!” her mother cried.

“Maybe she is sleeping in on purpose,” Eveline chided, as was her way. “Personally, I wish I had thought to do the same.”

“Enough of that!” her mother warned.

“I am surprised you have even noticed her absence,” Aurelia continued. “Feeling guilty are we, Mother?”

Caroline was surprised to hear that she was at the center of conversation, a rare instance in her life as she was often the last person her mother fretted over. No doubt Aurelia was correct, and her mother was simply feeling guilty for what had happened two days ago. It might have brought a smile to Caroline’s face, was she not still half asleep.

She wandered down the hallway, listening to her family bicker, appearing a moment later at the top of the stairs. Her entire family had gathered in the foyer, dressed by the looks of things for a day out in the sun. Even Daniel was there, although he wore a grumpy expression that suggested he would have preferred not to have been.

The sight of Caroline materializing suddenly saw all eyes turn on her, again made the sole focus of her family. A feeling with which I am not familiar, and now I am starting to wonder if there is a good reason for this.

“Caroline!” her mother exclaimed. “There you are!” She rushed up the stairs toward Caroline. “We were beginning to worry!”

“Good morning, Mother...” She grimaced as her mother took her by the arms, holding her back to get a look at her.

“Are you ill?” her mother asked. “It is well past morning, child. What has gotten into you.”

Despite her best efforts, Caroline’s mind again drifted back to the previous night. The duke holding her. His lips around her ear. His warning which had elicited trapped feelings of excitement, because she knew that she ought not to feel this way, but could not help herself...

“Oh no,” her mother gasped. “It is a fever!”

“What?”

“Your cheeks, girl.” Her mother pressed a hand into her forehead. “They are bright red. Yes, just as I thought...” She clicked her tongue. “You are as hot as an oven.”

Caroline’s eyes widened with embarrassment. “I am not... I feel fine.” She looked away, hating that every set of eyes in the foyer was on her. “Just a little tired, I assure you.”

“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.

“Oh, yes,” Eveline laughed.

“Caroline!” Daniel roared. “What is she saying?” He stormed toward her and grabbed her by the arm. “Speak!”

Caroline was stunned speechless. Her eyes wide. Her mouth hanging open. Stomach dropping through the floor and to the other side of the world, it felt like. The color drained from her face and all she could do was stare dumbly.

“The duke,” Iris continued. “He... I thought... is he not the father?”

All eyes turned to the duke, who was halfway across the foyer but had no choice but to stand his ground and meet the accusatory stares. Unlike the rest of the group, he did not appear nearly as bewildered as he might have done. Angry, clearly. Frustrated, without a doubt. But still calm and in control of his emotions.

“I assure you, there is no truth to what the girl says.” He set his jaw. “She is mistaken.”

“No truth!” Daniel erupted. He let go of Caroline and stormed across the room, heading for the duke. “Then why say it? Where did she get such an idea!”

“She is young,” the duke said. “Clearly, she has misunderstood.”

“Eveline said it!” Iris cried out and pointed at her sister. “She did! She did!”

Eveline grimaced. “I most certainly did not. I was simply making a joke about the duke and Caroline sharing a bed together, is all. Iris has taken my comments completely out of?—”

“Sharing a bed!” Daniel roared. “Why would you make such a joke?” His eyes were wild with anger, his teeth bared as he looked between the duke and Caroline. “Your Grace! I demand an explanation at once!”

“He is not at fault.” Caroline found her bravery and hurried toward her brother. “Please, it is a simple misunderstanding. That is all.”

“I knew it!” her mother moaned. “I knew there was more to the story than what you told us. How much of it was a lie?”

“Do not blame her, mother,” Daniel said, his anger teeming in his voice. “For it is clear what happened. She was taken advantage of!” He turned to look at the duke. “You, Your Grace! How dare you sully my sister’s name! I demand that you?—”

“That I what?” The duke did not raise his voice. He did not snarl. He did not bother with performative anger to frighten her brother. All he needed to do was fix his gaze upon Daniel, a warning hidden behind his eyes that he would not be spoken to like this. “What is it that you demand of me, boy?”

Daniel reared back, the anger fleeing him. “I... I want to know the truth. What is my sister saying? Why would she... she think to say such things?”

“Perhaps you should ask her.” The duke’s tone was as cold as ice, and it sent a chill through the room. “But if you think to question my reputation again, consider your words carefully, for I assure you, they will be your last.”

The situation was spiraling out of control. Iris was still in tears. Her mother looked stricken with shame. Daniel’s head swiveled from Caroline to the duke, searching for answers that he would likely voice once he found his bravery. Caroline could see it happening, and she feared for her brother. She knew as well as anyone how stubborn he was, and she worried what might happen if he pushed the subject.

She needed to defuse. She needed to make him and everyone else understand. Nothing had happened and once they knew this to be true, surely that would be the end of it.

“He tells the truth, Daniel,” Caroline pleaded. She crossed quickly toward him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Please, you must listen.”

“I want answers!”

“The duke saved me, as you know,” she spoke quickly. “Our intent was to arrive here that same day, but our carriage broke down and we were forced to spend the night at an inn.” Her tongue was moving quickly, beyond what her mind could comprehend. Never a good sign. “The innkeeper was looking for me—as Mother had sent out word of me going missing. I feared what might happen if he saw me on my own with a strange man, so we opted to share a room for the night, thinking that better than?—”

“You what?”

“Nothing happened!” She could feel herself losing control. The room was spinning around her. Words tumbling from her mouth. “I swear it! We slept, and that was it! You must know I am speaking the truth!”

“You slept in the same room?” her mother cried. “Caroline! What were you thinking?”

“We had no choice!”

Daniel was visibly shaking. “Caroline... you have no idea what you have done. What this means. You and His Grace... you... you... when people hear of this! What they will say?”

“Nothing happened.”

“It does not matter!”

The world was crashing down around Caroline. She felt herself stumble, the energy fleeing her body. Sweat falling from her, and her legs shook. Eyes wide, she searched the room for allies, landing on the duke who could not have looked more furious.

“Enough,” the duke growled and stepped forward. He fixed her in a glare that she felt in her chest, wincing back and looking away. “The fault is not with your sister, and she should not bear the brunt of your malice.”

“We must do something!” her mother continued, panic growing. “If anybody were to find out?—”

“I am the one who has erred,” the duke spoke over Daniel. “I am the one at fault. And for that reason...” Again, he met Caroline’s eyes, holding them so that she could see the fury. This was her fault, and he needed her to know it. “For that reason, I propose that she and I wed.”

Again, shock rang through the family. Daniel, most of all, stumbling back as if he had been slapped.

“A small wedding,” the duke continued. He was staring at Caroline now, and she could feel the heat coming from him. “To be held as soon as possible. That way, any rumors that might choose to make themselves apparent will be nipped in the bud.”

“Yes!” Caroline’s mother blurted. “We accept!” She could not have looked more delighted. “A marriage! A perfect solution.”

“Mother!”

“Think, Daniel!” she hissed. “This is the best we could have hoped for.”

She was right, and even Daniel could not deny it. He glared at his mother who raised her eyebrows back in warning. He grimaced, his teeth still bared, and his anger apparent, but good sense silencing him enough that he forced himself to look at the duke.

“Fine,” he said. “A wedding it is.”

And, through it all, not once did Daniel or her mother or the duke care to ask Caroline of her opinion. They didn’t so much as consider her. As was always the way, she was forgotten—a boat left adrift in the storm, moving to the whims of those around her. One would think that, by now, she might be used to it.