Page 14 of Emperor of Fates (The Duke Fraternity #2)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

They spent the morning at the inn, and then left in the afternoon when Caroline was finally warm enough to travel.

Several warming bricks had been placed in the carriage and Luke had insisted that she have both a coat and several blankets. And yet, he still insisted on pulling her into his lap. A basket of mild cheese, cured meats, and breads sat on the opposite seat in front of them. She’d never travelled with so many comforts.

He cradled her in his arms for more than an hour before he finally spoke. “Please consider staying in my home tonight. I know you are still angry?—”

“I’m not.” She snuggled deeper into his lap. “And I’ll sleep far better if I’m tucked into your side.”

“Good,” he rumbled, his hands splaying out on her back. “Because I wouldn’t sleep at all if you weren’t there.”

She tipped her head back to look at him then. “You wouldn’t?”

“Caroline,” he said, his voice raw as he splayed his hands out on her back. “Your health and safety are far more important to me than my own.”

Her stomach swooped as she sat up a little straighter in his lap. “You can’t mean that. You are a duke and your position is far more?—”

“You are the future of the dukedom, sweetheart. But even if you weren’t…” He reached to cup her face in his very large hands. “My affection for you grows in leaps and bounds with each passing day.”

“It does?” She wrapped her arms tighter about his neck. She needed to be close to him because it would be so easy to dismiss the words as a figment, though her heart wanted to believe them.

“Caroline,” his voice slid over her like rich warm velvet. “You have to know that I reacted the way I did last night because of my worry over you. I find…” He kissed her then, slow and sweet, the sort of kiss that she might have waited her entire life to feel.

The passion between them was unbelievable. But this… it spoke of so much more than desire. The tender touch of his lips, the way their breath mingled, it made her sigh into his mouth. “I find myself falling in love with you.”

She stiffened, leaning back to stare at him. “Do you really?” Blood roared in her ears as her breath huffed out in uneven, jagged puffs of air.

She held onto his shoulders. “Because I…”

“What, love?”

“I think I’m in love with you too.”

He pulled her close again, kissing her over and over until his tongue slid into her mouth, touching hers with the same tenderness that infused all his touches.

She held onto him wondering when her wishes for her future had changed so much. Had she sensed it that first night? That this man would not use his power and strength to hurt her, but instead, to lift her up?

She thought of the baby. What a wonderful gift to have a father who might shelter them both when they needed it. Who could hold back the worst of the world.

She wasn’t even aware of the tear slipping down her cheek until Luke brushed the wetness away. “Why are you crying?” he asked against her lips.

“I think I might be overcome with happiness,” she whispered back. “I just realized that…” She took a deep breath. “That I want to accept your offer to court.”

He chuckled a bit. “Good. I’m glad.”

His arms wrapped tighter about her as she drew in a deep breath. “And despite my swim this morning,” she shook her head, “I think you might be right about going to the country before the season ends.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Are you certain? Much as I like getting my way, I don’t want your fall this morning to sway you onto a path you’re not comfortable travelling.”

Those words meant so much. And any more fears she had swept away. “I’m certain. I didn’t want to leave London out of fear. What if you weren’t the man I thought you were? How would I escape if I left with you?”

He kissed her again, his large hand cradling her jaw. “I am never going to hurt you, Caroline. I…” He grimaced. “I might make you angry, irritated, perhaps I’ll hurt your feelings. But I’d never hurt you.”

“I know.” She rubbed the tip of her nose against his. “I see it now.”

“And I shall try to give you the space you need.” His grimace deepened. “No one ever taught me how to give affection like this. I’m afraid I may be holding on a bit tight.”

Those words melted what little resistance she had left. To hear her big strong duke express insecurity, admit a failing… her hands settled on his neck. “It’s likely to take us some time to get it all right.”

He slid his hand from her jaw, down her back and then around to settle on her stomach. “I’ll do my absolute best for both of you.”

She didn’t need to hear any more as she kissed him again. He pulled the blankets tighter about her body, creating a cocoon of warmth about her as they gently, softly, tenderly touched, kissed, and whispered their way back to London.

Their passion had set Caroline on fire. But this…

It rewrote her soul. And the wounds that had festered for so long began to heal.

By the time they’d reached his home in the early evening, she wanted nothing more than to curl into his arms and spend the night there, content and safe, and most likely, thoroughly satisfied.

But as the footman opened the door, the first set of eyes that met her were that of Mrs. Banks.

And the other woman appeared livid.

Caroline let out a sigh. Bed was going to have to wait a bit longer.

Luke helped her from the carriage, threading her hand into his arm. He caught sight of Mrs. Banks’s sour expression and hardened. “That woman does not act like your servant.”

“Try to understand,” she whispered back. “She carried me through my marriage.”

He gave a tight nod, accepting the answer.

But as they made their way inside, Caroline knew he was partially right. She cared for Mrs. Banks, appreciated her care. But only Caroline could decide if Luke was the right man for her. And she couldn’t allow Mrs. Banks to hold her back from the future she wanted for her child.

“Do you need time to speak with her?” Luke asked.

Caroline gave a nod. “I think that would be best. I’m sure she was worried last night when we didn’t return.”

Luke gave a terse nod. “I should write Ironheart anyway. He ought to know why I left so suddenly and the danger facing him.”

He kissed her forehead. “Once you’re done, my housekeeper, Mrs. Fairchild, will show you to my study and then I’ll take you to our room.”

“A very important part of the house,” she laughed, wishing they could go there now. She owed Mrs. Banks an explanation, but she’d very much like to remain in Luke’s arms.

“Tomorrow, I’ll give you a tour of the house and gardens.” He laughed too before he finally stepped back. “I know you care for each other…” His gaze slid to Mrs. Banks who stood in the line of servants. “But stand your ground the way you do with me.”

Caroline had to smile at that. “Fair enough.”

Luke pointed to a sitting room just off the entry. “Take as much time as you need.”

With that, she turned with a nod to Mrs. Fairchild, and then waved Mrs. Banks into the room.

The fire crackled merrily, and Caroline made her way to the mantel and Mrs. Banks entered the room. “Would you close the door?” she asked, frowning into the fire.

Mrs. Banks did as she instructed, waiting until it was shut to say, “Where have you been?”

Caroline sighed. “Try to understand, Mrs. Banks.”

“I understand perfectly. That man carried you away without a word to anyone.”

“That man,” she emphasized each word, “is the father of my child.”

Mrs. Banks harrumphed. “You don’t need him. You’ve money of your own.”

Caroline’s eyes closed. “I do need him, Mrs. Banks.”

“You don’t. I’ll help you. Together we can raise the child?—”

“As a bastard?”

“You’re a widow. We can go somewhere quiet. Blur the timeline. No one will suspect.”

“Until my child doesn’t inherit the earldom and then what?”

Mrs. Banks was quiet for a moment. “There will be money.”

“What if it’s a girl?” she asked shaking her head. “As the daughter of a duke, she’ll have all the choices in the world for her future. Not like me.”

Mrs. Banks was silent for a moment. “You’re going to sacrifice yourself.”

Caroline shook her head. She was losing control of this conversation. “Not sacrifice. No. His Grace will make an excellent father and husband.”

“He’s manipulating you!” Mrs. Banks cried. “It’s one thing to think the marriage is necessary. But if you go into it with emotion, you’ll be worse off than your last marriage.”

“How is that?” Caroline turned to the woman who’d been her crutch for so long. But in this light, what had seemed like protection now appeared… Mrs. Banks had been holding Caroline in this pattern of fear.

Feeding into her worries.

“He’ll use your affection to control you. Hurt you.”

Caroline shook her head. “One man did that. Not all of them do.”

Mrs. Banks raised a fist. “You don’t know.”

“What don’t I know?”

“You think what the earl did to you was terrible? What he did to me?—”

Caroline started. She hadn’t been her first husband’s only victim. “What did he do to you?”

Mrs. Banks entire face collapsed. “You can’t trust the elite. They have too much power that they can abuse. They are too corrupt. I know people who want to make England better. We should be with them, not here with him.” And she pointed her finger out the door.

But Caroline shook her head, seeing Mrs. Banks more clearly with every word. “I’m so sorry the earl hurt you,” she said by way of answer. “I wish you’d told me sooner.”

She took a step toward the other woman who let out a soft sob. “But His Grace is not like my first husband. He?—”

“His Grace is worse!” Mrs. Banks cried. “He runs a secret club of debauchery. He won’t be true to you, he’ll ruin you.”

Caroline blinked in surprise, wondering how Mrs. Banks knew all this information. “Mrs. Banks. Please. I appreciate your concern, truly. But I have to do what I think is best and?—”

“So do I,” Mrs. Banks answered before she spun on her heel and left the room.

Caroline shook her head. She would always provide for Mrs. Banks. She owed the woman that. But it was time to separate what Caroline wanted for herself, time for her to make her own decisions for her future.

* * *

Luke had just sent the footman off with the letter, when Caroline appeared in the door of his study.

She still wore the clothes he’d scrounged up at the inn, bought for warmth, not fashion. Not that Caroline still didn’t look lovely, she did…

But he’d much rather see her with all that clothing off as he tucked her into their bed.

He rose from the desk, taking two long strides to reach her as he lifted her into his arms. Next time, he’d make love to her here. The thick bear rug by the fire would make an excellent spot for a tete-a-tete.

But tonight, he wanted her in their bed.

Softly kissing her lips, he carried her up the flight of stairs and through the double doors.

“Luke,” she said with a breathy laugh, “I can walk.”

“I know,” he rumbled back, setting her on her feet as he began stripping off her clothes. “But I like holding you close. And I’m going to like it even more when you’re naked.”

“I can hardly argue with that.” Setting her down, he stripped off her clothes in record time. “Do you think a maid shall ever attend me?”

“Questionable,” he rumbled back, not sure if this counted as a way in which he was too invested. But he liked dressing and undressing her.

She only gave a breathy laugh as he removed her layers of clothing, before tucking her in the bed and then taking off his own.

She watched, her brown eyes hectic as his skin appeared. He loved that she was so sensual, as enamored with their lovemaking as himself.

Climbing into the bed, he pulled her against him, rolling her so that she came atop his body.

They only kissed for a minute before the head of his cock parted her folds and he slid inside. Not that Caroline seemed to care about the rushed pace. She gave a moan as her body arched to take more of him in.

It was fast and it was beautiful as Caroline rode him, breaking apart in just a few short minutes.

He rolled them over then, thrusting into her as though his very life depended on it. As though he wished to brand her as his own.

As he climaxed, filling her with his seed, he thought perhaps it was exactly the opposite. She was making him hers.

They fell asleep, Luke holding her tightly to his chest. He’d fight the demons of hell if it meant keeping this woman.

Nothing else mattered.