Page 29 of A Duke But No Gentleman (Masters of Seduction #1)

Tristan struggled to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat.

“Love, I’m not. We are staying long enough for me to find a cloak for you and then we will be on our way.

You need to be examined by a physician. I need to know—” He cleared his throat.

“You’ve been hurt and I need to know how badly. ”

The strain on his neck was unbearable so he sat down beside her. She crawled back onto his lap and he welcomed the chance to hold her again, while he struggled to strap down his emotions for her sake.

“I do not know if I can let anyone…” She trailed off, her voice so faint he had to bow his head to hear her. “Everyone will know what was done. My father. There will be a scandal. Verity. Is it fair that my sister pays the price?”

Tristan listened, trying to make sense of what she was telling him. Norgrave obviously was counting on her to never speak of his attack. How did he hope to keep it a secret? Did his friend think he would hold his silence once he learned the truth?

I wasn’t supposed to find out.

Imogene had said that Norgrave was unaware that she had responded to his note.

If Tristan had not followed her to the house, she would have continued to believe the blackguard’s lies.

She would have spurned all of Tristan’s efforts to speak to her, and for the sake of her family, she would have never told anyone what had transpired in this house.

“I am to blame for all of this,” he murmured, sickened and desperate to avenge her. “Norgrave would have never touched you if I hadn’t desired you. If I had left you alone—”

“After our first meeting, I longed to see you again,” she whispered back. “I was shameless enough that I would have chased after you if you had not sought me out.”

He closed his eyes and wished he could have arrived in time to stop his friend. “Imogene, we cannot stay and pretend nothing has happened. Norgrave has to pay for his crime. I need to alert the watch.”

“No,” she said flatly. Imogene stirred in his arms, but she did not push him away.

“Do you think to find justice in the courts? If you have him dragged in front of a magistrate, he will tell everyone that I was a willing participant. He will point out that I had a key to your house, and no one will blink an eye when he announces that both of you were my lovers. Naturally, he will be contrite and offer to marry me to spare my family the scandal. Even if my father protests, the magistrate will find it an acceptable resolution for all parties.”

Tristan cursed. He had not considered that Norgrave might be forced to marry Imogene if the truth became public knowledge. Norgrave had never expressed any interest in marriage, however, there were advantages to marrying a duke’s daughter. Had this been Norgrave’s plan all along?

“I cannot marry him, Tristan,” she said starkly, trembling in his arms. “I could not bear it.”

“Neither could I,” he grimly replied. “However, I cannot keep silent and feign friendship with the man who has hurt you. Don’t ask this of me.”

She brought her fist to her mouth to smother her sobs. “Then you condemn me to a fate far worse than death.”

“Not if I can help it,” he said, tenderly shifting her from his lap to the mattress. “Do you trust me?”

Tristan winced at her hesitation. Of course she did not trust him. He had failed her in so many ways.

Imogene grasped his hands when he attempted to move away. “I want to trust you. Is it enough?”

Tristan concealed his disappointment with a slight grin. He couldn’t complain since she was granting him more than he deserved. “I will prove to you that your trust isn’t misplaced. It begins with us leaving this house.”

“I cannot go home,” she said, her shadowed gaze following his movements as he lit a candle and then moved to the wardrobe to search the drawers for a cloak. “I have little skill for deception, and besides, my dress—”

“I have a plan.” Tristan’s mind was racing as he weighed their options against the risks.

Where is that damn cloak?

He opened and shut drawers, revealing his frustration and impatience.

He needed Imogene covered from head to toe.

She was trembling as if she was cold so she would likely welcome the warmth of a thick cloth.

It would also conceal her identity. If luck was on their side, no one would see them leave the house.

“If not my home, where will we go? Your private residence?” she said in disbelief.

Tristan had considered bringing her to his house. She would be safe there, but the risk of her being recognized increased. “Not that I would mind settling you in my residence, but I thought our goal was to avoid a scandal.”

“Then where?”

“My aunt’s house,” Tristan said decisively. He grunted with satisfaction when he pulled a cloak from one of the drawers. Draping the fabric over his arm, he picked up the candleholder and returned to her side.

Imogene was clutching one of the pillows to her chest. “Do you think it is wise to involve her?”

“She will be discreet,” he promised. “We could do worse for an ally.”

Tristan set the candle down, and shook out the cloak and wrapped the fabric around her. He refrained from telling her that his aunt would also insist that Imogene be examined by a physician to assess her injuries. There was no reason to heighten her fears.

Norgrave would have to be dealt with. Imogene was vehemently against having him hauled in front of a magistrate for his crimes, but there were other ways to punish the bastard, and Tristan was personally going to deliver the message.