Page 29 of Only a Duke (Ladies Who Dare #6)

L ouisa reclined against the seat of the carriage, the provocative scent of sandalwood playing with her senses once more.

Not just her sense of smell—she could almost see its tendrils unfurl and cling to her skin, coaxing her lips apart to coat her tongue, and whispering against her ears, as though this scent had embedded itself into her whole person.

Was this what they called being utterly aware of another human being?

She had never experienced it on such a supremely deep level before. It would have been much better, and less distracting, if he had let her return home alone.

She snuck a peek at him before averting her gaze. “You didn’t have to accompany me, Duke.”

“Duke? What happened to Oliver?”

“ He was found in my bed this morning and needs to be punished,” she snapped without thinking about what she was even saying. Louisa’s cheeks heated. “It’s called distancing oneself a bit.”

“Well, I couldn’t let you return by yourself either.”

She scoffed. He very well could, and he knew it! “Why not?”

“Because we are partners.”

Her head whipped back to him. Well, if that didn’t set a woman’s heart aflame...

He cocked his head, smiling at her.

Heh. She must look like a complete ninny to him, acting like a child after waking up in his arms. Why was she even still reacting like this?

“Wasn’t it you who said that we make a great alliance?” he asked.

“I believe my words were that unlikely pairs seemed to make the best alliances.” Or something to that effect.

He nodded. “Then we should capitalize on us being an unlikely pair and keep our alliance in full force for the time being.”

“Meaning you cannot stand me searching for a ledger without your hawkish eyes present.”

“That too.”

“Not even hiding your true intentions, I see.”

“You misjudge me,” he murmured. “My true intention is to stay by your side while we see this through.”

Words that made some sense, unlike the duke’s sleeping posture.

Lawks, don’t think about it, Louisa. That would just make her heart jump about her chest. Honestly, she hadn’t hated the feeling of their closeness.

She had quite enjoyed his warmth. But how on earth was she supposed to forget about it now that it was seared into her consciousness?

Gah!

It was much too early—barely noon!—to be thinking about such things.

“Does it bother you—my staying close?” he suddenly asked, the question catching her off guard.

Her brows knit together. “I...” Did it bother her? Well, certainly, but not in the way he might imagine. He must believe she was flustered in a horrified sort of way instead of flustered beyond breath in an I liked it sort of way. “I am not bothered.”

“Are you sure?” His voice filled with skepticism. “You’ve scarcely looked at me since we departed a quarter of an hour ago.”

“What are you saying? I scarcely ever look at you.” Liar, liar.

“Ah, yes, you are quite right. That does seem to be the case.”

She snuck another peek at him, only to catch him arching a brow. The flush of warmth traveled down to her collarbone. “Now you are just teasing me.”

He lifted his hands in surrender. “You caught me.”

“I must admit that the Duke of Mortimer teasing a woman—I could never have imagined such a thing if I had not experienced it myself.”

“Who is teasing whom now?”

Well... she had to admit she did rather enjoy this, too. “You are not as I imagined, Oliver.”

“And how did you imagine me?” He scratched his chin, the action drawing her gaze down to his lips. She quickly flicked her eyes up again.

“Cold. Rigid.”

“I am that,” he agreed. “Also not.”

Was he teasing her again? Well, she could attest to that also not . She had experienced both the heat and the ice, and she had enjoyed the latter more than she ought.

“You are certainly more than just cold.”

“You are going to agree just like that?”

“There is nothing to disagree on.” She considered him. “Well, perhaps toss indifference into the mix of hot and cold. Tell me, is that indifference a mask?

His brow furrowed. “I shall not claim it to be a mask.” He paused for a moment. “Perhaps more of a shield, if I were to put a word to it.”

“A shield?”

“An impenetrable barrier. Erected to ward off and defend against expectations, even judgments people might place upon me if any crack showed. It’s become, I suppose, a way of life.”

She had never expected him to say anything like that. Her heart suddenly ached for this duke. He was the way he was because he had to be. He had grown up shielding himself from whatever he thought might bring him harm.

Just like her.

Perhaps they were more alike than they seemed.

“Ah.”

He arched a brow in question. To be fair, it was a very brief response to his honest answer.

“Well,” she ventured in reply to his look, “I suppose it makes sense that you cannot possess power without possessing a shield.”

“Wise words.”

She smiled at him. “I do declare my brilliance.”

A rare snort came from him. Louisa was about to tease him further when the driver called out, and the carriage started to slow. More shouts filled the air.

“Dear Lord, what is going on?” Louisa peered out of the window to try to catch a glimpse. She suddenly recalled Theodosia mentioning being robbed by highwaymen and gasped.

“What is it?” His face joined hers, and she swore the small hairs on their cheeks touched.

“I think it’s highwaymen.”

She felt him stiffen, and he suddenly pulled her away from the window, dragging her up against him, which meant she was practically sitting on his lap again! But this time she wasn’t distracted by a kiss. She felt everything.

His arms encircled her like a vise.

“Devil take it.”

Louisa still hadn’t shaken off her shock of their sudden close proximity. His body had turned as hard as steel, the exact opposite of how it had felt this morning.

His breath tickled her ear right before his words followed, “Stay inside. I’ll handle them.”

“I’m on your lap!”

He stilled before swiftly depositing her next to him. “My apologies, I reacted out of instinct.”

She shook off her daze. “They shall be armed. How will you handle them? You are not made of marble, you know.”

His lips twitched, but only for a swift second. “I know, but I shall be fine.” Two fingers caught her chin as deep eyes bore into hers. “Give me your word that you will stay here.”

“I cannot do that.”

“Damn it, Louisa. This is a dangerous situation. I need your word.”

She placed her hand over his mouth. “What if I get dragged out of the carriage or they threaten to kill you if I don’t step out?” She held his gaze. “I cannot make this promise.”

“Then at least give me a few minutes.”

“Fine.” She could do that.

He placed his hand on the door, shooting her a last glance. “Are you ready?”

Louisa didn’t know what he planned to do, but she gave one curt nod. “As I’ll ever be.”

Oliver flung open the carriage door to come face to face with... Louisa’s eyes widened as a man came up to the door and filled her view—a bloody, bedraggled Helgate.

“What happened?” Oliver demanded.

“Those damn Furys.”

Louisa swallowed at the sight of his bruised face. Her gaze darted beyond him, her heart sinking to her shoes. “Where is my brother? Where is Leo?”

“They took him.”

“What?” Louisa’s breathed. Her world plunged into the deep, vast ocean. Taken? That one word was an anchor dragging her to the bottom of the ocean floor.

Her mind turned blank as a sheet of paper. What did he mean they took him? Was Leo not here? Certainly... certainly... he must be here!

She grasped onto the duke’s voice when he asked in a low voice, “When?”

“Right after you left. There were two of them. Snatched the lad from the beach while one distracted me.”

“You mean beat you.”

Helgate cursed. “You should see the other man. They took Leo, I couldn’t stop it, but I still have the one who planted the bruises.”

“That’s good.”

Good? How was that good? Louisa’s mind spun, and she sought for calm. Spiraling would not do her brother any good. She inhaled slowly and exhaled even slower. And repeated.

“Those tiny jackals do know how to bite,” Helgate growled. “And they did wait for the boots to come off. The moment you cleared, they struck.”

Those blasted Furys! This was to prove a point, wasn’t it? A move of power. A show of... well she didn’t know, but it certainly wasn’t a show of strength!

Drat, drat, drat.

Why had she ever thought she should leave her brother behind?

“Louisa?” a soft voice probed. “Just breathe.”

She swallowed, took another deep breath, and managed, “I cannot believe they kidnapped my brother. They will be at The Raging Stag, won’t they? Well, they shall have my rage today!”

The duke cursed. “He will be all right, Louisa.”

Her gaze lifted to meet Oliver’s. “Are you sure? How do you know that?”

“They won’t hurt him,” he said reassuringly.

Perhaps not physically, but that was an impossible claim to make. Her kidnappers hadn’t injured her either, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t been hurt.

Oh, dear God.

Leo.

She clutched at her chest and dry heaved, struggling to once more catch her breath.

“Louisa!”

Strong arms enveloped her, but she couldn’t seem to grasp at their hold as memories of her own kidnapping ten years ago rushed in. Several men. Thick puffs of smoke. Water dripping through the roof. The mocking laughter of men. Coldness.

Darkness.

Then . . .

A low, male voice whispering through the abyss in reassurance.

You shall be all right. Louisa’s breath hitched as the frame of a tall youth flashed across her mind.

No, it should be that of a young man, not youth, but she could not be sure.

In her memory, she could only see his mouth move, whispering those words of reassurance over and over again. Nothing else.

How . . .

Who . . .

Wasn’t it just a dream? Who was that young man? Why had he shown up in her head at this very moment?

“ Louisa. ”

A palm cupped her cheek and turned her head. Her gaze met Oliver’s. “I will get him back. I promise.”