Page 6 of Her Duke to Seduce: Lady Be Wicked (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance #20)

Five

F elicity should have felt guilty for striking Aiden as she had. She had no choice. If she allowed him any leeway he would have prevented her from leaving. Her desire for him rivaled her wish to remain unmarried. He tempted her far more than any man could have. How could she not have foreseen that possibility? That there might be a man that she craved more than her own freedom… Aiden had ensnared her without any true difficulty. He had charmed her and nearly seduced her with an ease that left her confounded. She was supposed to be the seducer, and instead she had become the one trapped by her own needs.

That was why she had to escape. She had to go somewhere that he would not be such a grave temptation. Especially as she did not truly believe he wanted something lasting with her. She was one of many to a rogue like him. As much as she had hoped for ruination she could not allow it at the hands of Aiden. It would hurt too much when he inevitably turned away from her. Her heart had become involved and that was the true tragedy.

So she would go to the nearest seaside port and book passage. She did not care where the ship was headed. As long as it took her far away from England’s shores—and the temptation of Aiden. Felicity took a deep breath and quickened her pace. Once she was inside the stable she readied a horse for her journey. The nearest inn was easily a couple hours away and she could not waste time.

She secured her valise to the saddle and then mounted the horse—thankful for the male attire she now wore. She would never have been able to ride astride in a gown. At least not without scandalously showing her bare legs… That could have also led to her ruination. It would have been far easier to do that than seduce a man, but alas, it would not have been enough to prevent marriage. Some men could look past such scandalous behavior as long a she was an innocent in the marriage bed.

Felicity drew in a breath and pressed her knee into the horse and lifted the reins. It was time to go. Her rampant thoughts were going to keep her mind busy for the entire trip, but she could not allow them to slow her progress.

As Felicity urged the horse into a swift canter, the cool night air whipped against her cheeks, tugging at the loose strands of her hair. The stars above shone like scattered diamonds against an inky sky, and the distant hoot of an owl was the only sound beyond the rhythmic pounding of hooves against the damp earth. She exhaled, her breath coming in soft, white puffs. This was freedom—at least for now.

She did not look back. She could not. If she allowed herself even a single glance over her shoulder, she might lose her nerve. Aiden would be furious when he awoke and realized what she had done. If he had even the slightest inclination of where she was going, he would follow. That much she knew. He was too determined, too infuriatingly persistent to let her slip away so easily. But he could not follow if she left no trace.

Her destination was uncertain, yet that did not trouble her. It was the journey itself that mattered.

The moon illuminated the road ahead, a narrow winding path bordered by fields that stretched into darkness. She had traveled these roads before, but never alone and never with such a pressing need to flee. Each clop of the horse’s hooves against the ground only strengthened her resolve. The nearest port town was a day’s ride if she could maintain a good pace. There, she would find a ship. To where, she did not know. Perhaps France. Perhaps beyond. Somewhere on the continent…it did not matter. As long as she put some distance between herself and Aiden—and the fate her aunt decreed for her.

Her heart wrenched at the thought of leaving England behind. She would never again see the rolling green hills of the countryside, the grand ballrooms she so despised, or the people who had shaped her into the woman she had become. But she could not allow sentiment to weaken her. Sentiment had nearly betrayed her once—had almost cost her everything.

Her thoughts trailed to Aiden once more...

The very thought of his name sent a shiver down her spine, though whether from longing or dread, she could not say. She still felt the ghost of his lips against hers, the warmth of his hand on her waist, the way he had looked at her—as if she were the only woman in the world. And for one brief, reckless moment, she had wanted to believe that she was.

But Aiden was a rake—a scoundrel she could not trust. A man who undoubtedly collected kisses as a gambler collected debts. She had been a mere amusement, a momentary distraction from the expectations that loomed over him.

And yet… she did not truly believe that. Not entirely. Her heart would not allow that truth to fully seep into her soul. Something in his gaze had been too raw, too unguarded. If she had been any other woman, she might have fooled herself into thinking it had been real.

But she was not any other woman.

Felicity clenched her jaw, forcing her thoughts elsewhere. The wind howled as she crested a hill, her cloak billowing behind her. She had to remain focused. She could not allow herself to be swept away by thoughts of what could never be. She pressed her heels into the horse’s sides, urging it faster. The night was still young, and she had a long road ahead.

And yet, she could not shake the ominous feeling curling in her stomach—that no matter how far she ran, no matter how swiftly she rode, Aiden would find her. And when he did, she feared she would not have the strength to resist him.

Aiden came to consciousness slowly. An ache bloomed on the back of his head and spread throughout making him winced. He lifted his hand to rub his head in the hope to wipe away the pain. It was a futile effort. As he spread his hand over his head he recalled how he had come to find himself in such a position. The chit had hit him. He did not even know what she has used to strike his head, but it had done the job well. He had landed on the ground with a thud and no doubt further injured himself as he found himself sprawled on the hard earth.

If he had wanted to go after her before he doubly did now. What had she been thinking? Why was he running? He had far more questions than answers, but he would find her. Surely she did not think this foolhardy plan of hers would work? He came to his feet and strode toward the stables. He would check to see if she had actually succeeded in securing a mount first. If she had, then he would return to his own estate and get the necessities he would need to go after her. He had a vested interest in finding her. She had ensured that by knocking him to the ground and fleeing.

Not that he hadn’t wanted to go with her to begin with… She intrigued him. So much so he had sought her company again after their interlude in the garden. He knew next to nothing about the lovely lady. Nothing really except her name and that her beauty and struck him stupid. There was no other explanation for it. Her actions told him much. She was desperate and he had lost his bloody mind.

He entered the stables to find one of the stable hands wringing his hands worriedly. His face had little color to it and his hair was a disheveled mess—though the latter might be normal for the lad.

“What has happened?” Aiden asked.

The stable hand turned to him and frowned. “My lord…” His lips formed a thin line. Almost as if he were considering admitting to his dilemma. Aiden had an idea of what that trouble might be, and her name was Felicity. Something flashed in his gaze—resignation perhaps? “Well, you see…” He frowned. “It’s Lady Felicity.”

Of course it was…

“She has taken a horse hasn’t she?”

The stable hand blew out a breath. “I fear she has. It is her horse that is missing.” He stared at an empty stall. “She must have come in while I was seeing to another mount for one of our guests. We are all so busy tonight…”

Aiden nodded. Then it occurred to him. This stable hand was very familiar with Felicity. He had called her Lady Felicity as if he had dealt with her on more than one occasion. Did that mean—he was almost afraid to finish that thought. “Lady Felicity keeps a horse here?”

“Of course,” the stable hand said as if that made perfect sense, and perhaps it did. “She came to Winston Manor with her own horse. She had insisted upon it.” The stable hand gestured toward the stall. “She refused to travel with Lady Winston if she could not bring the beast.”

“Why did Lady Winston wish for her to visit?” He had to know the truth. He had to hear the stable hand confirm his suspicions.

“Well, because she wanted to launch her into society. Lady Felicity Hathaway is Lady Winston’s niece.”

Aiden closed his eyes and took a deep breath. That was what he had feared. How would he tell Lady Winston that he had allowed her niece to knock him senseless? That very action gave her the opportunity to run away. HIs own father would be displeased as well. Though he might like the idea that Aiden was taken with the chit. He had wanted Aiden to go to the ball and start searching for a bride. Not that he was ready to offer Felicity a marriage proposal. That would be ludicrous... He was fascinated by her though.

Aiden ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. He had always known he had an inclination for trouble, but this—this was another matter entirely. Lady Felicity Hathaway. The niece of Lady Winston. The woman who had nearly undone him with a kiss, only to render him unconscious and flee into the night.

He let out a low chuckle. The minx.

But his amusement faded quickly. Where in the devil did she think she was going? And why? She had gone to great lengths to ensure her escape, which meant she had no intention of returning willingly. That alone troubled him. Turning back to the stable hand, he asked, “Do you know which direction she was headed?”

The lad scratched his head. “Hard to say, my lord. She left in quite a hurry. But if I had to wager a guess… she’d head toward the coast.”

Aiden stiffened. “The coast?”

“Aye.” The stable hand shrugged. “Lady Felicity had no desire for marriage and had argued quite loudly with her ladyship about her distaste for being trapped in such a union. If she means to flee, I’d wager she’s making for the nearest port.”

Damnation. Aiden had anticipated the possibility that she meant to leave the estate, but to flee England entirely? He had known she was bold, but this… this was madness. And yet, he could not say he was entirely surprised. There had been something in her gaze earlier, something beyond flirtation or the thrill of scandal. There had been desperation.

But why did she think running was the answer? Aiden had to find out. And to do that, he needed to find her. He turned on his heel, striding toward the nearest stall. He had no time to waste. He would need fresh clothes, provisions, and coin if he meant to chase after her. But first—he needed a horse.

“Ready my mount,” he ordered. “I will go after her.”

The stable hand hesitated. “Forgive me, my lord, but… what do you intend to do when you find her?”

Aiden paused, staring out into the darkness. What indeed? Would he drag her back, kicking and screaming? Would he offer her an alternative to running, though he had no notion of what that might be? Or would he do the unthinkable—let her go? The thought unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

“I mean to bring her back,” he said at last, though he was not entirely certain if he believed it. “One way or another.”

The stable hand nodded and rushed to prepare the horse. Aiden rolled his shoulders and exhaled slowly. He had never pursued a woman in this manner before. Hell, he had never pursued a woman at all. But Felicity Hathaway was no ordinary woman. And if she thought she could escape him so easily, she was about to learn just how wrong she was.