Page 11 of The Dark Duke’s Cinderella (The Untamed Ladies #1)

CHAPTER 11

“W hat did your cousin say when we were waiting for the driver?”

Anna had pressed herself into her corner of the coach, giving him as much room as possible.

While the carriage was meant for two people, Philip was tall, and his legs took up too much space in the footwell. He refrained from telling her that she could relax, knowing it would be in vain. How could she relax, when her life hung in the balance?

“He told me he would come up with a plan,” Anna replied, staring ahead. “He wishes to speak with my father about Ashwicken tomorrow and ask him to cancel the engagement. I fear that will only hurt George. It’s not as though my father has ever listened to reason before, not on something as important as this. His pride will not let him rescind the offer anyway.”

“I know little of your father, but I sadly suspect that you are correct. George is allowing his beliefs to blind him.”

“What beliefs are those?”

“That all men are good at heart, or can be taught to be good.” Philip drew in a deep breath. “My own experiences have shown me that is far from the truth. I do not say this to frighten you?—”

“I could not be more frightened than I already am.” Anna gave him a sad smile, and it devastated him. “But I’m thankful to you for being honest with me. And I’m sorry that I tore you away from Alicia’s party.”

Philip laughed softly. “You needn’t apologize to me on that account. I had grown weary of the night long before you arrived.” He paused, returning his thoughts to her predicament. “So, will it be Italy or Austria in the end?”

“What?” Anna’s voice lilted in surprise, then she smiled. “Oh, you mean because of what I said earlier. To be honest, I’m not quite so keen on Italy anymore. I was reading a Radcliffe last night, and if her novels are anything to go by, I should not set foot there—although being imprisoned in a castle by a cruel nobleman may not be so far from my current fate…” She laughed. “My father is right. I do spend too much time in the company of books.”

She straightened in her seat, coming a little closer to him by doing so. Now it was Philip’s turn to shuffle away from her, afraid of touching her by mistake and scaring her. Their proximity in the carriage had an unsettling effect on him. He had not been this close and private with a woman in years. More than that, there was something dangerous about Anna that made him want to lower his guard.

She had taken off her gloves to rub her hands, and he watched with intense concentration as her fingers massaged the pale skin of her knuckles. His heart beat hard in his chest, cursing her fingers and his own weakness… until the coach jostled them, and he was jarred back to awareness.

“That is hardly a sin,” he murmured, clearing his throat. “One would not blame you for seeking an escape through books or otherwise, what with the exacting standards your father sets for you.”

“I suppose things are different for you,” Anna said, slipping her gloves back on. “My friends say that men are in full possession of themselves unlike women, and that they can do whatever they please. You could say no to an engagement, couldn’t you? And no one would stop you.”

“So often you have been right in your estimations, Lady Anna. On this point, you are wrong. Men must abide by other men’s opinions all the time.”

Anna frowned at him. He had said too much.

Philip hoped she would not question him. To his relief, she did not. She must have sensed his reluctance to discuss the matter.

Her perceptiveness impressed him, among many other things.

“Then perhaps George will succeed in making my father abide by his opinion for once, and by this time tomorrow, I will once again be a free woman.” The tone of her voice implied that she didn’t believe what she was saying. “And if not… I am at least glad that I have this night to look back on as my one moment of madness—my one rebellion in an otherwise toilsome and devastatingly ordinary life.”

“Just the one?”

“I suppose there was the night of Tancredi .” Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, and again Philip found himself leaning instinctively closer to her. “Though we promised to pretend that never happened, didn’t we?”

“So far, we have succeeded.”

“So far, yes.”

“Except for right now, I suppose,” he joked.

She laughed. “And all the other times I have thought about that moment.”

Philip cocked his head, watching her realize her mistake. He should have been horrified that she had been thinking about him. But instead, he felt…

What did he feel?

“All the other times?” he asked, teasing her despite knowing it was wrong. “I had no idea that moment had marked you quite so profoundly.”

“Well, of course, I…” She was flustered, looking down into the footwell like she would find a decent excuse there. “I have had to dissect the moment in my mind to assess the potential damages, the eventualities, the…” She turned to him, her expression darkening. “Oh, you needn’t look so smug, Your Grace.”

“Smug?” He could not stop smiling. “Perish the thought. I am merely surprised at how easily you betrayed yourself. Up until this moment, you had so artfully navigated this strange acquaintance of ours. Forgive me for being amused that the mask has slipped.”

“Yes, well, this night has not been easy. Is it any surprise that I find myself speaking gibberish?” She cast her eyes heavenward, crossing her arms over her chest. “Lucky for you, that other moment will hardly matter if my father gets his way.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“The simple truth. If I were to marry Ashwicken, there would be no need for all this secrecy and fear between us. No one would care about what happened before I became his wife. It would release you from this pact of ours for good. In your position, I would be jumping with joy at the prospect of my betrothal.”

“There is little room to jump in here,” he joked, gesturing around them.

“Indeed. I find myself more aware of the smallness of your coach with every insult you throw my way.” She grinned. “Surely a duke could afford a more luxurious coach?”

“I have a perfectly suitable armory of carriages at my disposal. I took the smallest tonight, not intending to host a stowaway?—”

“A stowaway?”

“A rather ungrateful stowaway, yes.”

“She is not ungrateful,” Anna huffed, uncrossing her arms to lean on the bench. “In fact, she could not be more grateful to you, a stranger, for helping her not once but twice out of impossible situations.”

Philip paused, wanting to continue their banter but feeling powerless to do it while she was so close to him.

“We are hardly strangers anymore,” he said, his voice catching in his throat.

Against his better judgment, he allowed his eyes to fall where they wanted—her lips. They were curled into a smile that instantly disarmed him. Rouge feathered around her cupid’s bow like the night of the opera. But this application hadn’t yet been kissed away like he suspected the last one had.

The thought of leaning in and tasting her crossed his mind. He wanted to—badly—compelled by a dark force that terrified him the moment he noticed its hold on him.

Was it the same force that had consumed his father?

Instantly disgusted with himself, Philip leaned away from her and steadied his breathing. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Anna at first, worried that his desire would come back in full force and compel him to do something they would both regret. When he did look at her out of the corner of his eye, she was smiling beatifically at him, obviously still thinking that they were just playing with one another.

“Not strangers,” she agreed. “But friends, I hope.”

He nodded, unable to do much more than that, even if labeling them friends was a joke. They could not be friends. Not now, not ever.

Not after what she had made him feel.

When the carriage finally pulled to a stop around the corner of Grosvenor Square, cloaked in the darkness of the night, Philip steeled his resolve. This had to be the last time they were alone like this. No more secrets and no more helping her, not even for George’s sake.

He couldn’t risk being seen, so he did the ungentlemanly thing and reached over to open her door when she remained seated, waiting for him to exit first. His body stretched across hers, so close that he could feel her breath on his neck. His loneliness had not been good for him. Her hot wash of breath on his exposed skin drove him mad.

The door clicked open. Philip paused, squeezing his eyes shut before he had to climb back into his seat. Could she feel the heat radiating from him as he arched his body over hers? Or was she too young and pure to know the effect she had on him?

The mischievous glint in her eyes told him she was acutely aware of what she had done. With a satisfied smile, she ducked beneath his arm and opened the door. She leaned back inside the coach long enough to bid him goodbye.

“Good night,” she said.

“Good luck,” he replied.

The door closed softly. Philip moved over to sit where she had, his fingers splayed on the bench, his head leaning against the back of the seat in defeat.

There was nothing pure about Anna Walford.

* * *

Anna hugged her knees to her chest at the top of the stairs. Morning light streamed through the windows on either side of her, dappling the sides of her face with warmth. Her pale pink muslin skirt pooled around her on the carpet as she looked morosely down the steps to the entrance hall.

George had arrived half an hour ago to have a chat with her father. That night, she had stayed awake, tossing and turning, trying to convince herself that George would realize his mistake before he could make it and leave well alone. She would come up with a plan to avoid this betrothal that didn’t implicate him—or anyone else—and save herself. So it was a disappointment, but not a surprise, when her cousin arrived that morning ready to confront her father.

Anna rested her head on her knee and squeezed her eyes shut. Every moment since she had been presented to Ashwicken had been worse than the last. With the exception of last night in the carriage, with Philip.

The sound of the heavy study door opening jostled her from her thoughts. She rushed to stand, tilting her head to listen for the strains of an incoming conversation. But the door slammed shut almost immediately, having remained open just long enough for her father to banish George into the corridor.

He appeared at the bottom of the stairs, turning in a semi-circle with his hands on his hips.

“George,” Anna whispered, alerting him to her presence above him.

“I’m sorry. I tried,” he mouthed, putting her out of her misery.

He climbed up the stairs slowly. Anna met him halfway, forcing a thankful expression while her legs threatened to give way.

“He is adamant, Anna, and will not be persuaded to change his mind,” George explained, grabbing the banister tightly. This close, it looked like he hadn’t slept either. “Let us get the lie straight now—I told him that you sent me a note last night in distress, and I divined the rest myself. Your father appeared to believe me. A small mercy, all things considered.”

“I didn’t hope for anything more,” Anna said, leaning against the banister. “You are a kind if not foolish man, cousin. Thank you at least for trying.”

“I did glean a few things about Ashwicken. He is forty-eight, has fathered no children, and his formal title is Viscount Ashwicken. His sister married a marquess and is said to have great influence in society, though I have never crossed paths with her . It seems Ashwicken and Magnus met through a joint venture in wagonways abroad or some such thing. Though, of course, it is all hush-hush.” He sighed. “He is wealthy, that much at least appears to be true. So if there really is nothing we can do to fight this betrothal, you will at least be comfortable when it comes to term.”

“That is all well and good,” Anna said derisively, “but what explains his interest in me? If he is as rich and influential as he is purported to be, could he not secure a wife who would genuinely want him?”

“It is anyone’s guess what has compelled him to ask for your hand. I did try asking Magnus, but he said that Ashwicken was like him—knew not to look a gift horse in the mouth—and left it at that. Do I believe that he wishes to marry you merely because he is looking for a young wife and Uncle had one to give him? Not for a second. There is something more at play. And if I had to guess, it has something to do with their investment. Perhaps Magnus tied up your dowry in it? Who knows?”

“Father has more wealth and, dare I say, more sense than that.” Still, Anna was not convinced that it didn’t involve money in some way. “I shall have to uncover his reasons through other means. Maybe I will find something that will release me from this engagement entirely.”

George looked concerned, staring off into space. Anna took a step closer, pulling on the sleeve of his coat to get his attention.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I fear you won’t have long to find the advantage you’re seeking,” he said, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Your father intends to announce the betrothal at the Ratley ball next week.”

“That’s not possible. He would not do that, not without?—”

“Not without consulting you?” George interrupted, looking behind him to make sure that no servant was eavesdropping. “Of course, he would. That was the point. He intended to hide it from you. The sooner he announces the engagement, the sooner you are forced to accept it. He and Ashwicken will not consider your refusal an obstacle to their plans. They mean to proceed at their own pace.”

Anna’s heart sank to her stomach. The banister pressed painfully into her back as she sought purchase against something solid. One week . She had one week left until she was forced to become someone’s wife.

“I am so sorry,” George sighed, grabbing her hand and squeezing it. “I knew better than to trust your father would do right by you, and yet?—”

He cut himself off. They had both been fooled. “It is not too late. I could take you somewhere safe. We could exile ourselves to the continent. I would protect you.”

“You know I would never allow you to make that sacrifice,” Anna said, squeezing his hand back. “You love England. You love your life here. And you still have to find a wife.”

“Some money, then,” George suggested. “We could open an account for you, and you could leave?—”

“Oh, George.” Anna smiled to fight the tears welling up in her eyes. “You are the sweetest, most selfless man I have ever met. But we both know that anything you try to do will only turn my father against you. And despite my frustration with Alicia at the moment, she was right. He would never let you live in peace if you helped me escape. Your life would be forfeit just like mine.”

“I feel so… useless. First Alicia, and now you.”

“Alicia is fine, and I will be too. She will find someone to marry, and perhaps she will have a chance at being genuinely happy.”

“No, she won’t. You don’t know what she’s done, Anna. If you did?—”

Suddenly, the front door swung open. George spun around, allowing Anna a clear view down the stairs. Her mother entered in her walking dress and hat, having returned from a promenade around Hyde Park. Beside her was Lady Jane, dressed in a multicolor fur pelisse and dripping with jewelry, as always.

“What have we stumbled upon here?” Lady Jane asked with delight, smiling up the stairs. “A little early for a call, young man. Where are your manners?”

“Desperate times…” George forced a happy expression and hurried down the stairs. He paused to greet the countess and Lady Jane properly while Anna watched on from afar. “You will have to excuse me. I was just leaving.”

Lady Jane tried to stop him from going, likely wanting to hear the latest gossip. However, George was too quick for her, rushing out of the door before any of them could register what had happened.

“Our George gains a title and suddenly he is too good for a hello ,” Lady Jane said to Rosamund, before turning to Anna. “And just look at you, Anna! What has happened in this house?”

“I shall allow my mother to answer that,” Anna mumbled, dropping into a curtsey. She refused to meet Rosamund’s eyes. “And perhaps she might also tell you about the upcoming Ratley ball. By all accounts, it promises to be a most exciting evening…”