Page 2 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride (Duchesses of Convenience #7)

Chapter Two

“W ell?” the stranger asked again, still holding her by the arms with a firm grip; by the forearms, not so hard that it hurt, of course, simply hard enough that it was like being caught in a vice. “I confess, being physically assaulted by a woman appearing from the hedges was not what I had in mind when I decided to duck out from the party early. Is this my punishment for leaving without saying goodbye?”

“I...” Diana had no idea what to say. Mortified, was how she felt. “I am sorry.”

He frowned. “Is that all you have to say?”

“I did not mean it.”

“To attack me?”

“I was not attacking you!” She realized he was still holding her by the wrists, and she tried to pull them free, but he refused to yield. If anything, his grip only increased. “I was simply... caught by surprise.”

And still, she hung onto the stick with both her hands.

“And what are you doing out here exactly?” He looked past her, into the little alcove she had been hiding in. “Are you not a little old to be playing hide and seek? Although I admit, this is not a version of the game I am aware of.”

“I was not playing anything.”

“Were you lost?” He was smirking now, as if how uncomfortable he made her amused him. “Do you need directions back to the party? It is a straight shot down the path. Frankly, I am not certain how you came to be lost in the first place.”

“I was not lost.”

“Then what were you doing? And why are you attacking me?”

“That is none of your business!” The embarrassment had passed, giving way to anger because she was certain now that whoever this man was, he was mocking her. Not only was that the height of rudeness, but it was arrogant because what could he possibly know of what she had been dealing with. “Now, if you do not mind...” She tried to pull her hands free.

“Do you promise you will not attack me again?”

“I told you...” She pulled her hands, and still he refused to let go. “I did not attack you!”

He did not respond that time. Rather, he looked at her with a sense of curiosity that made her cheeks flush red and her chest burn just as hot.

Now that the shock of the moment had passed, Diana was able to see that her initial assessment of the man was just. He was attractive, was her meaning. But not in the ways one might deem as ‘pretty’ or even presumptive, as the marquess thought of himself. No, there was a ruggedness to the man, a hardness to his features that told her he cared little for how he looked or what others thought of him. That he had lived ten lives or more, his eyes especially, an intelligence borne from lived experience.

The silence between them grew steadily. He was tall and he stood over her like a mountain bearing down on a small village. Ordinarily, a situation such as this might have made Diana uncomfortable, for it was not right to be alone with a strange man. But her safety wasn’t what concerned her.

What did concern her was what might be said if someone was to see them suddenly. So, with another mountainous effort, she yanked firmly on her arms to free herself, caught by surprise this time when the stranger let her go.

“Oh!” she cried out and fell backwards, arms flailing, body flying right into the wall of hedges behind her. “Urgh!” she then belched as the hedges consumed her, the stick falling from her hands.

“Careful now,” the stranger said without humor, even if she felt he was mocking her. “You do not want to hurt yourself.”

“You did that on purpose!” she accused him.

“Did what?”

“Made me fall!” She stood herself back up and brushed off her clothes; twigs and leaves stuck from them, and she shuddered to think how her hair must have looked.

“I believe gravity was the cause, madam. Surely, you are not suggesting that I am responsible for such a thing?”

She glared at him, quickly finding his perceived charm as nothing short of arrogant. “I think it is best if you leave.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” She fixed him in a glare, no longer besotted with his good looks. She was far too annoyed for that. “I do not know who you are – and we can thank God and all his creatures for that,” she said with a warning scowl. “But even you must know how inappropriate it is to be alone with a Lady, such as I am. If you are anything close to a gentleman, you will do the right thing and leave.” She raised an eyebrow at him, but he did not make to move. “Well?”

“Is that what you are? A Lady?”

“How dare you!”

He chuckled. “I jest, madam. I jest. And you are right...” He straightened himself up. “The truth is, I was simply walking past when you attacked me.”

“I did not --”

“And I think it will be best for both of us if I be on my way.”

“Good.”

He shook his head, smiling as if at a joke. “I wish I could say that the pleasure was all mine but --”

From down the path, Diana heard something. It was soft and were she not in such a heightened state she might have missed it entirely. But it was there, she had no doubt. Someone was calling her name. Someone was looking for her! No need to say who it was.

“Oh no!” Diana’s eyes shot open, and her heartrate spiked. She did not think. She did not consider. The marquess was looking for her and he was the last person she wished to see – even this extremely rude stranger was a step up, in her estimation. Dreading the idea of being caught by the man, having no other option, Diana did the only thing that made sense in the moment. “Quickly!” she said as she grabbed a hold of the stranger by his shirt and yanked him into the alcove with her.

“Wowa!” he yelped as she pulled him.

She fell back against the row of hedges again, and still holding the stranger by the shirt, pulled him in with her.

His large body pressed against her own. His thick legs, trying to find their balance, spread and opened around her. A stick forced its way into her back, bringing her to a halt, but she hardly noticed it because the dark stranger was upon her like a cloak in winter.

“What are you --”

She shot her hand up and covered his mouth. Again, without thinking. She held it there, widening her eyes at the stranger not to speak. She might have felt a tad more... undone by the position she had found herself in, was she not listening to the sound of the marquess calling for hr.

“Miss Goldsmith!” he called as he walked down the path toward them. “Where have you gotten yourself off to!”

Still, she held her hand against the stranger’s mouth. She could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin. She could feel his breathing, the way his chest rose and pressed into her own bodice. And the heat that came from him made her body shudder in ways she did not understand, but that did not mean thoughts of it did not consume her.

Bodies pressed together as one, she could feel his heart beating in his chest… or was that her own? Their faces were so close too, eyes looking in one another’s, she wanted to look away but could not bring herself to do so. She wanted to push the man back, but she might have wept if it was forced. What is this feeling?

“Little bird!” the marquess called as he swept past the alcove, thankfully passing them by. “Come out, come out!”

The marquess’ voice began to soften as he strode down the path and then around the front of the manor. Still, she was careful not to move or even breathe, listening until she was certain they were alone. And then, only once they were, did the reality of the situation dawn on her.

The stranger was all over her. One hand on her waist. The other on her shoulder. His face so close that their eyes were inches apart. And never mind the feel of his wet lips pressed against the inside of her hand. It sent a pulse through her arm, piercing her chest. It made her legs shake, her lips salivate, her inhibitions rebel in ways that had never happened before.

As she looked into his eyes, as she felt him against her, Diana was taken by a sudden urge to drop her hand, grab him by the head and --

“Oh!” she yelped and shoved him back. “I am... that is... that was not what you think!” She couldn’t even look at him, such was her embarrassment.

“And what is it that I think?” At least he didn’t seem too put-out. More amused, than anything.

“I was simply...” She reached for an explanation that was not there. “I tripped and fell. That is all.”

“Is that what happened?”

“And I took you with me by mistake. For that, I am most sorry.”

No need to say that he did not believe her. He frowned as he studied her, a curious smile spread over his thick lips. “No need to apologize. It is just lucky that neither of us were seriously injured.”

“Yes, well...” Since the second this man had appeared, Diana had done nothing but make a fool of herself. She had gone from being mesmerized by him to angered by him to mortified beyond belief. Who he was, she had no idea. Would she ever see him again, she hoped not! And just to be certain... “I should go.” She moved to sweep around him, head down purposefully.

“Wait!” He snatched her by the arm. “I did not get your name.”

She eyed the hand around her arm, the spot where his skin touched her own turning hot and sending goosebumps up her arm. “And why would you want such a thing?”

“Curiosity,” he said.

Her heart raced at his touch. Her excitement piqued at his interest. Did he want her name because she had made such a good impression? Or did he simply need a name to attach to the mockery he was sure to lavish upon her when he told this story later? Personally, she felt it must be three latter.

“Sorry to disappoint you.” She yanked her arm free, careful not to trip this time. “I do not think that is such a good idea.”

“And why is --”

She did not hear what else he had to say. Before he had a chance to press his case, and before she had a chance to make more of a fool of herself than she already had, Diana swept from the little alcove and down the garden path, hurrying to put as much distance between herself and the stranger as she possibly could.

And then, if she was lucky, to put him out of her mind also. That entire interaction. From start to finish. Never had she been so embarrassed. Hopefully, she would never hear from or see him again.