Page 2 of Once Upon a Haunted Cave

“Y our candor is refreshing, Miss Alwyn,” the Duke of Arran said with a hearty burst of laughter. He tucked a finger under her chin, tipping her face up so that she could not avoid his stare. “I suppose I do have a bad reputation.”

Heather was not certain what he would do next, but he gave a shrug and led her to a shady grove not far from the cliff where she had been standing. He stretched his big body under one of the trees, his gaze remaining on her, as he obviously expected her to join him.

“Has anyone ever told you that you look like an elf?” he said, apparently amused by her appearance as she sank onto the grass beside him. “Especially with those big, fey eyes and pointy little ears of yours. But I think you are not as delicate as you look.”

How wrong he was.

She was a hollow shell inside, quite alone in the world, and scared of what might happen to her if ever she lost her position as companion to his aunt. However, she was not about to confide in him.

Instead, she patted her gown to smooth it, and then shifted slightly so that she was not seated too close to him. Theirs was a comfortable spot, hidden from view. Few people would notice them if they passed by to walk along the cliffs or down to the beach. Nor could the two of them be seen from the terrace where everyone was having tea by now, since it was on the other side of the house.

It suddenly struck her how isolated she and the duke were.

She glanced up as a sudden breeze rustled through the silvery leaves of their shade tree. “Your Grace, should you not be getting back? You will be missed by your guests.”

He emitted a light chuckle. “Are you that eager to be rid of me? Most ladies would be in a swoon over my attention.”

“I know,” she said. “I’ve seen how those lovely debutantes hang upon your every word. Miss Barclay in particular.”

He shrugged. “She is merely a neighbor.”

“She is fascinated by you.”

“Aren’t they all?” he said with notable sarcasm. “What about you, Miss Alwyn? Do I fascinate you?”

She brushed a fallen leaf off her lap. “No, Your Grace. I try to avoid you as much as possible.”

He grinned at her. “Yes, I have noticed.”

After a moment of silence between them, he plucked a blade of grass and began to twirl it in his roughened fingers. “They think I am going to offer for one of them.”

“Are you not?” She regarded him in surprise. “Then what is the purpose of inviting these young ladies and their families here? It is cruel to give them false hope.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Are you admonishing me?”

“I…do not mean to meddle in your affairs.”

“But you are.”

Heat rose in her cheeks as she silently chided herself for spouting off at him. But having tossed out an opinion he obviously did not like, she had to tactfully retreat from it at once. “The expenses of a debut Season are quite hefty; that is all I am suggesting. Not every family can afford to put their daughters forward for a Season, much less two. Some of these girls are under dire strain to make a good match in order to save their loved ones from financial ruin. It is not fair to keep them here when they could be elsewhere attracting the attention of a gentleman who will seriously court them.”

“And save them from a life of penury such as your own?”

“That is unfair…and unkind. Do you think I do not feel the frustration of my reduced circumstances every moment of every day?”

“Consider me properly rebuked, Miss Alwyn.” His groan sounded quite heartfelt for a man who was reputed to have an icy heart. “I have been thoughtless in my attitude toward you and the other young ladies. You have my sincere apology.”

She sighed. “It is all right, Your Grace.”

“No, it isn’t. I will set about correcting my behavior. Tell me, have you ever had a Season?”

She shook her head. “No, my father died shortly before I was to make my London debut.”

That eyebrow of his shot up again.

“Does this shock you?”

“Actually, no. You are obviously refined. Much more so than those peahens cluttering my house right now. Gad, they are silly creatures. And do not admonish me for saying so. We both know they are.”

“Perhaps it is you who are too severe.”

His features lightened as he broke into an unguarded smile. “You cannot resist rebuking me, can you? Point taken. But what happened to you, Miss Alwyn? Forgive me, I know I am prying.”

She decided there was no harm in telling him, since his aunt knew of her situation and would not hesitate to reveal the ugly details if ever he bothered to ask. “My father was a baronet. Sir George Alwyn, a kind man with an amiable disposition and absolutely no head for business. Hence, my present need to work to support myself.”

“Have you no other family? No siblings?”

“Not that I am aware. It was my father and me for most of my life. My mother died years ago, when I was quite young. I carry a miniature portrait of her in my locket. I do not remember her at all, and would not know what she looked like if not for this locket.” Heather always wore it hidden beneath the bodice of her gown, and now drew it out by the chain to show him. She opened the silver heart to reveal the portrait inside.

He leaned closer and took the locket in his roughened hand to study it. “Interesting. You resemble her, although she appears quite young. She has the look of a girl from another century. Perhaps it is her expression, or the style of her hair.”

“Perhaps.” She gave a wistful sigh as she closed the heart with a light snap and then tucked it back in place.

“I am sorry you lost her so young, Miss Alwyn. And your father? Did he have nothing at all to leave you?”

“He did have a little. But it all went to his distant cousin, Thomas Alwyn, a horrid toad of a man in whom my father placed too much confidence. He is a supposedly respectable landowner with a fine estate not far from ours in Yorkshire.”

“Would he not take you in?”

“Oh, he was willing.” She emitted a long, ragged breath. “The problem was, he turned out to be a little too willing. I had to constantly be on my guard and lock my door against him. His wife was not pleased by the interest he showed in me.”

“Ah, that comes as no surprise.” He tossed aside the blade of grass and placed his hands behind his head, resting his torso against the shade tree. He closed his eyes as the sun filtered through the leaves and shone on his face. “Did his wife arrange for you to become my aunt’s companion?”

“No, Your Grace. That would have required a little thought or kindness on her part. She detested me for trying to steal her husband. He detested me because I would not unlock my door to him. My belongings were packed and I was sent away without so much as a shilling to my name. But that blame, I think, should fall upon my father for failing to provide for me. He was just as irresponsible as his cousin who has now inherited all of his estate.”

Despite his closed eyes, Heather knew the duke was listening to her quite attentively.

“What did you do?” he asked. “How did you make your way to London and my aunt?”

“Lady Alwyn did pay for my mail coach ticket, I will give her that.”

“To make certain she got you as far away as possible. Did she pay for your food and shelter on your journey?”

“No, she did not care if I died of starvation or exposure to the elements along the way. I expect she hoped I would. My father had a few friends in London, so the kindly coachman offered to drop me off at the home of one of them. Do you know Lord Stockwell? He is chairman of one of the London banks. A very good man with a lovely family. They took me in and secured this position for me.”

“What will you do if my aunt discharges you?”

Heather’s eyes widened in sudden panic.

Foolish! Foolish!

Why had she confided in this dangerous man?

“Your Grace, have I offended her in any way? Is this why you are here, talking to me now? Or have I offended you?” Yes, of course she had riled him with her loose mouth and ridiculous need to spout unwanted opinions. “Do you… Does she intend to—”

“No, Miss Alwyn.” He sat up and opened his eyes to stare at her. “Calm yourself. Your position is secure. I did not mean to frighten you. It was merely idle curiosity on my part. Forgive me if my question alarmed you. I phrased it badly.”

She placed a hand over her racing heart. “No, I’m sure I overreacted. It has been a year since my father’s death, and I am still not used to being on my own. In truth, it terrifies me.”

Oh, why had she just blurted that?

Why would he care anything for her feelings?

Indeed, he appeared decidedly uncomfortable by her admission. His shoulder muscles flexed as he reached up to rub the back of his neck. “Miss Alwyn…”

“Yes, Your Grace?” Heather waited for him to continue and was disappointed when he said nothing more.

He rose and held out his hand to help her up. “I want you to come to me if ever you are in need of assistance.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Come to you?”

“Yes. Are you not in need of a protector? Allow me to take on that role. I want your promise on it.”

“My promise?”

His dark eyes once again pierced her soul.

What did this handsome brute of a man want with her? Certainly nothing respectable, for she knew of his reputation. He was not a rakehell in the strictest sense, not one to spend his nights drinking and gambling. In truth, he was not known to drink, and his aunt had bragged he never lost a wager, although he was not much of a betting man, either.

However, he was known to go about Town with the most beautiful ladies, some of them respectable ton diamonds. But usually, his nights were filled with less respectable ladies of the demi-monde . Was this what he had in mind for her?

Protector?

He would protect her straight to ruin. “Um…thank you for the generous offer. Your Grace, I must go.”

He did not prevent her from darting away, but she felt the heat of his gaze on her as she hurried toward the house.

“Heather, you fool.” She had let down her guard, and this was what it led to. She broke into a run, desperate to get away from him now that she realized his intentions.

Protector, indeed.

He meant to take her on as his mistress.

Was this not what all depraved men, such as he and her father’s cousin, Sir Thomas Alwyn, did?

Why else would he insist on her coming to him?

But a more distressing thought crossed her mind, for she was not immune to his considerable charms. Her body still tingled from his touch.

Those hands.

Masculine, rough, and at the same time exquisitely gentle.

Come to me if ever you are in need.

Would she refuse his offer?