Page 21 of Courting the Duke (Reimagined Regency #2)

Hoxton’s knees ached from when he dropped to the ground.

He had a hundred things to say to Serena, but no words would come out.

She’d witnessed his shame firsthand, there was no getting around that fact, and humiliation and passion fought for supremacy.

Judging by her response to his kiss, she wasn’t repelled by him.

Indeed, the opposite. His blood still sparked with need, and had they not been rescued, would he have been able to resist doing more than simply kissing her?

“I am afraid your dress is soiled. It seems to be a common theme when you are in my company.” The heat burning his neck had nothing to do with the temperature of the room.

He’d shied away from intimacy in the past few months, simply to clear his head of the demons that lived there.

With the tempting woman in front of him, he’d given in to his dormant passions.

A slight smile curved her mouth, her lips rosy and inviting. She dusted off her skirt while lowering her head. “It does indeed.”

He lifted the oil lamp and looked around the chamber as an excuse to avoid further intimacies.

The flame still glowed bright, but had they stayed much longer, it would have extinguished.

Darkness hadn’t truly bothered him in the past, but the thought of being trapped in a dark room brought forth more panic.

He turned to inspect the closed door, wishing with all his heart that he could shake the shackles of distress.

More pounding at the door ensued, echoing the throbbing in his temples.

Being trapped was partly his fault for not having the door repaired.

While it wasn’t unpleasant being locked in with Serena, he still felt as if he was back on the battlefield, trapped beneath his horse’s dead body and unable to escape.

Wood cracked, and the door slowly opened to reveal his groom, his scarred brow furrowed in concern. “Captain, are you hurt?”

“I am fine.” Hoxton glanced over at Serena, aching to touch her once more but knowing the folly of even thinking such thoughts. “The handle broke off the last time I was down here, and I neglected to have it repaired. Thank you for coming to our rescue.”

He glanced between Hoxton and Serena before tipping his hat at her in respect. He stepped aside, holding the door for them to pass. “I was concerned when the others left without you.”

“They left?” Hoxton extended his arm to Serena.

She placed her hand in the crook of his elbow, a steady weight that helped ground his still troubled mind.

The damp smell of the earth and the softness of her fragrant scent enveloped him, and an intense longing to kiss her once more hit him full in the chest. He shook his head at the notion.

The situation had rattled him, and he needed some fresh air.

“Indeed, Lady Roxanne had a fainting spell, and the gentlemen were arguing over who should escort her home. Lady Daisy said that both of them should accompany her and that she would leave her horse for Miss Deburgiak,” the groom said.

Miss Deburgiak dropped her hand from his arm, her lips—those very kissable lips—pressed together. “I pray she isn’t ill.”

“I hope you are correct on that score.” Hoxton was forced to let her walk ahead of him up the stairs.

For a few memorable moments, he’d been able to hold her tight against his body and feel the press of her breasts against his chest. Their kiss still flamed his desires, and he wished with all his heart that he could be indifferent to her.

Except he was far from it. He tore his stare away from the sway of her hips and looked up.

A gentle breeze blew, the sun welcome on his face.

She crested the stairs and moved to the cutout in the wall, looking out at the countryside. Her profile to him, he couldn’t properly see her expression.

Staring at her pretty face, he wanted to turn back time.

This constant indecision was unlike him, and it was driving him mad.

Each lady had their strengths and weaknesses, but he’d made a choice at Serena’s urging at the play, and now he was obligated to follow through with it.

He also had an obligation to apologize to Serena for kissing her when he planned on marrying another woman.

He couldn’t do that until they were alone.

“Do you ride, Miss Deburgiak?” he asked. “If not, my groom can fetch a conveyance.”

“I possess a solid seat, and I am not opposed to riding.” Lowering her head, she continued to avoid his gaze. Was she having regrets?

His mind rebelled at the notion before he reminded himself that she had simply been trying to comfort him and he’d kissed her. The fact that she kissed him back didn’t mean anything. Did it? He was supposed to marry Roxanne, yet Serena had a hold on his senses.

“Then let us be gone from here.” The sooner he could get a modicum of privacy, the sooner he could learn her feelings on the matter.

“Very well.” She turned on her heel and strode across the uneven terrain.

He went after her, his thoughts spinning.

By sending a note to the viscount, he had all but given his word that he would propose to Lady Roxanne.

He’d intended to get her alone sometime during the afternoon and speak with her about his decision and gain her favor.

Only the lady had left, preempting his intentions.

There was still the matter of Miss Deburgiak and their kiss.

For a tiny thing, she moved with speed and purpose. He lengthened his strides to match hers. The horses stood on the other side of a crumbled wall, munching on grass. His groom strode behind him, and once they reached the animals, he held the head of Daisy’s horse.

Miss Deburgiak still wasn’t looking directly at him, although a pretty flush touched her cheeks.

While she wasn’t wearing a riding gown, she had donned sturdy boots for today’s outing.

With no proper mounting block, he held his hands together to give her a boost, and she laid her palm on his shoulder.

He tried not to stare at her lush bosom under the modest bodice, but her chest was in his line of sight.

If she were his wife, he’d strip off her gown to reveal the tempting body beneath.

He wasn’t marrying for love or money, thus he had the luxury of flouting his grandmother’s wishes.

However, there was still the matter of the veteran’s hospital to contend with.

Without his grandmother’s influence, or support, the queen might still dismiss his request.

Trying to get his lust under control, he concentrated on the task at hand.

Once she settled into the saddle, he guided her foot into the stirrup.

Her skirt rode up a bit, showing a hint of stockinged calf before she adjusted the material.

He glanced up to catch her troubled stare.

She averted her gaze to take the reins from the groom who stood on the other side of the animal, fitting them into her gloved hands.

Hoxton’s horse shifted under his weight as he mounted.

The distant chirping of birds sounded from the trees all around them.

A farmer on his wagon was on the road, and woodsmoke blew from the chimney of a nearby farmhouse.

Her continued frown didn’t bode well for the upcoming conversation. “Shall we?”

“Yes.” Miss Deburgiak nudged her mount down the gently sloping hill.

“There is a path that runs perpendicular to the road. It will be a shorter route.” Hoxton guided his horse next to hers.

Their kiss still blazed a path right into his groin.

In good conscience, he couldn’t pursue any kind of physical or romantic association with Miss Deburgiak, no matter how much she tempted him.

If he hadn’t sent the note to the viscount, he would definitely reconsider his choice of bride.

While he couldn’t claim to love her, he had more in common with her than Lady Roxanne.

Except the true Lady Roxanne was reflected in her letters, each one a baring of her soul.

She had reached out to him and been honest, which made her worthy in his eyes.

The path was lined with bushes on one side and a pasture on the other.

A small pond glistened in the distance, creating the illusion of an idyllic day.

His earlier embarrassment returned twofold.

In the light of day, it seemed foolish to overreact like he had.

Except logic and emotion rarely saw eye to eye.

“I am sorry if you were offended earlier.”

“That is a very broad statement.” Head tilted, she rolled her hips in rhythm with the horse’s gait, her bonnet strings blowing in the slight breeze. She rode with confidence and was a natural in the saddle. “You must be more specific.”

The underlying bite in her words was at odds with her relaxed appearance.

She was clearly upset with him, but outwardly hid it well.

He’d feared she might be disgusted by him, and he had a sinking suspicion his first instinct was right.

“I am sorry if you were offended by my behavior in the cellar.”

For a tense second, she said nothing. Chin lifted, she focused on the landscape ahead, never once looking directly at him. “Like many people, you reacted negatively to being trapped in a small space. I assure you, I do not judge.”

“I wasn’t referring to that.” Either she was being deliberately obtuse, or the kiss had more of an effect on him than her. Were that the truth, his internal struggle over which woman to choose might be for naught.

A flock of birds flew overhead, butterflies flittering from wildflower to wildflower, innocent of his inner turmoil over the matter. He needed to marry, and Roxanne was the expected choice.

The muscle in her jaw worked, and she kept her gaze from meeting his. “It would be best if we forgot that as well.”

Everything inside him screamed no to her request. He shifted the reins to his left hand. Perhaps he had read more into their flirtation in the past few days than warranted. He had made many assumptions on her behalf since first meeting her.

“It is the best option all around.” While she spoke matter-of-factly, her voice was decidedly strained. “The, um, kiss was impulsive and brought on by nothing more than extenuating circumstances that were out of our control.”

“The circumstances were, the kiss was not. But that is neither here nor there.” Hoxton adjusted his boot in the stirrup to relieve an oncoming cramp, unsure why he insisted on arguing.

She clearly wished to erase it from her memory.

“I must be honest with you. I sent a note to your uncle requesting an audience to discuss a match between Lady Roxanne and myself. I had planned on speaking with her today, but she is apparently ill.”

“If she is indeed ill.” Miss Deburgiak urged her horse into a trot.

What did she mean by that? “You don’t think she’s ill?

” Had Lady Roxanne guessed his intentions and escaped before he could ask for her hand?

If that were the case, then he could simply cancel his meeting with her father.

Guilt warred inside his head. He’d been so certain the previous night, but Serena rattled his calm and tossed a hitch into his plan.

“What I meant was that I can’t say whether she is or she isn’t until I see her in person. The sun sometimes gives her a headache.” Miss Deburgiak finally glanced over at him, her face flushed and her irises a shimmering amber gold. Were those tears or simply a reflection of the sun?

“Can you think of any reason that I shouldn’t propose to Lady Roxanne?

” Hoxton held his breath for her answer.

Although he didn’t wish for a love match and had decided to wed, he couldn’t deny his physical attraction to Serena.

He liked her easy nature and enthusiastic response to his kiss.

Yet her standoffishness since exiting the cellar wasn’t promising.

“No, of course not. You sent a request to her father. By doing so, you have all but declared your engagement.” Serena pressed her lips together, her voice strained.

“If Lady Roxanne rejects my suit, then it is a moot point.” Hoxton tried to tamp down his disappointment at the evasive answer.

Just because she kissed him back didn’t mean she liked or respected him.

He hadn’t cast himself in the best light.

“Others are vying for her hand. She might accept another’s offer of marriage. ”

“She will say yes to you.” She glanced over at him before looking down at her hands gripping the reins. “If you don’t mind, I would like to move at a faster clip. It has been ages since I have ridden, and this is a fine animal.”

With a click of her heels, the horse shifted into a gallop before he could reply, effectively putting an end to their conversation.

He matched her pace, driven by the need to ride fast. She wanted to forget the kiss ever happened, a sting to his pride, but he must respect her wishes.

His future was set for him, and sadly, it did not include Miss Deburgiak.