Page 16 of The Duke Who Stole Me (Stolen by the Duke #4)

Chapter Sixteen

“ Y our Grace!”

Juliana turned her head in the direction of her maid, startled by the sudden sound. She blinked, looking around. Her room was clean and organized like it always was. Eunice casually stood there with her eyes wide open and her hands folded in front of her, seemingly waiting for a response.

“Yes?” Juliana asked, pulling herself out of the thoughts that had held her captive throughout the long hours of the night, and most of the day.

She’d barely found the time to concentrate on the management of the estate or the renovations, as all she could think about was Vincent’s hands inside her, stroking and thrusting into her, coaxing a painful pleasure she never would’ve anticipated. She had not expected to kiss him the night before, but she had, and the kiss had ignited a fire inside her that she couldn’t tame. Now, she could not get him out of her mind.

“The carriage is ready,” Eunice announced.

Again, Juliana looked around her room, slightly tilting her head to the side as though she was confused.

“Are you certain you’re all right, Your Grace? Instead of a ride around town, perhaps I should send for the physician?” the maid asked, a little bewildered.

Juliana shook her head instantly. What ailed her was not something a physician could treat. Except, the physician was her overbearing husband, who, despite their marriage of convenience, she yearned for.

“I’m quite all right, Eunice. I’ll take the ride as planned,” she declared, rising from her vanity, giving her reflection one quick glance before stepping away.

Juliana needed the ride out of the estate, since it had become impossible for her to breathe properly in the mansion, where almost everything smelled like him and reminded her of him . She needed to go somewhere she could think…or not have to think.

Yes, she could do without thinking for another hour or two. So, she headed out with her maid in tow, keeping her mind open as she climbed into the carriage.

“There are so many things and places I would like to show you, Your Grace,” Eunice said excitedly as the carriage began to move.

Juliana returned her maid’s enthusiasm with a smile that did not reach her eyes, but the younger girl didn’t seem to notice, her wide eyes staring outside the carriage window, enjoying the view. Juliana could only wish to have half as much excitement as Eunice did.

A single chant echoed in Vincent’s mind over and over again as he went about his day : Stay the hell away from Juliana.

He’d told himself it would be an easy fit. It was no news that he was attracted to her and madly desired her, but he could control his urges.

It should’ve been enough, and for a few days, it was. Until his wife demanded that her desires be met, too.

Vincent let out a heavy breath.

Damn her!

He shook his head and leaned back in his wingback chair. He’d arrived home a short while ago and made a beeline for his study because he didn’t want to run into her. He wasn’t sure he would be able to keep his hands off her if he saw her.

A small knock sounded at his door, and he raised his head to answer it, half hoping it was his wife on the other side. When Lewis entered the study instead of his minx, his lips turned downward in disappointment. But Lewis did not seem to mind.

“How can I help you, Lewis?” Vincent asked, sucking in a breath and releasing it.

“Not in any way, Your Grace. Although, I have come to report that Her Grace set out to town with her lady’s maid a little while ago.”

Vincent sat up in his chair at the news.

“What for?” he asked, his head tilted to the side.

He glanced at the wall clock before returning his gaze to Lewis, who pressed his lips together and folded his hands behind his back. “I’m not quite sure, Your Grace,” he responded.

Vincent nodded, rising from his seat. “Have a horse prepared for me.”

Lewis seemed to already know what Vincent was about to do, judging from the nod and bow he gave before leaving the study.

By now, Juliana should’ve known how dangerous it was for her to go out with just her lady’s maid. She knew little about his work, but that should’ve been enough to let her know she might become a target if she was spotted without a guard.

Vincent had seen the kind of people Norfield employed. He knew of Norfield’s desperation enough to know that he’d do anything to have the upper hand.

His blood boiled. He had to get to her.

The simple thought that something could happen to her set his entire body ablaze. This was the reason he never wanted to get married. He never wanted to worry about his family and how his work might affect them, yet here he was, mounting his horse with an urgency that was usually reserved for emergencies.

Vincent set off into the orange sunset, his eyes fixed on the road ahead of him. He hadn’t the slightest idea where his wife was, but he would find her. He simply hoped to find her in good health.

He rode through the cobbled paths and dirt roads until he noticed the carriage with his family crest on it. He pulled on the reins, urging his horse to a stop immediately. Then, he jumped down, tied the reins to the nearest pole, and headed in the direction of the carriage on foot.

“Good evening, Your Grace,”

“Fancy seeing you, Your Grace.”

“Your Grace, to what do we owe this visit?”

Greetings filled the air as Vincent walked into the town square, where most businesses were situated. The town square of Blackmoor was always lively at every hour of the day, always brimming with excitement. There were times when after a mission, Vincent would walk through to the town square, just to feel a little of the togetherness they shared. Walking through the town square was the only activity that could make him feel so much emotion. But now, another activity—or rather, another person—had taken its place.

Vincent noticed Juliana almost instantly, which he would’ve claimed was the effect of his attraction to her, but it wasn’t. The townsfolk had gathered around her like moths to a flame, each yelling out their goods to draw her attention.

His heartbeat slowed, his anger ebbing slightly. At least she was safe, but still, she should’ve known better.

Using his tongue to wet his lower lip, he marched toward the crowd, lightly tapping people to move them out of the way until he was standing directly behind her.

He lowered his head to her ear. “Come with me,” he murmured.

She jumped, shocked and scared, before realizing who he was, but he’d already taken her hand and begun pulling her away before she could protest.

“Vincent! What’s going on? Why are you here?” she asked when he led them to a less populated area and let go of her hand.

Vincent folded his arms, his chest rising and falling slowly as he watched her.

“I’d like to ask you the same, wife,” he uttered, annoyance lacing his voice.

She blinked once and tilted her head slightly, narrowing her eyes as though she could figure out what was going through his mind with the small action.

“I’m not quite certain I understand,” she said, furrowing her delicate brow.

At that moment, all Vincent wanted to do was smooth the creases. But he had to be firm, he had to make sure she knew she was in the wrong.

“You went out with only your lady’s maid. What if something happened to you both?”

His voice was harsher than he had intended, but he believed it was for the best. She needed to know the gravity of her actions.

“I simply came here for some fresh air. What could possibly happen?”

“I marvel at how naive you allow yourself to be at times. You’re better than that, Juliana.”

Juliana flinched as though he’d struck her, and he regretted his harsh tone instantly. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, far from it.

He took a step toward her, reaching out to take her hand, but she stepped back.

“I don’t believe stepping out for fresh air because I felt suffocated at home is an issue big enough for you to insult me,” she said in a clipped voice that forced him to stop.

Home . Vincent wasn’t quite sure why the single word tugged at his heart, but it did, leaving behind an uncomfortable, fuzzy feeling.

“Juliana—”

“I shall take my leave now, and whenever I wish to take a trip out of the estate, I shall run it by you.”

Frustrated, Vincent reached out and grabbed her arm, keeping her still.

“That is hardly what I meant,” he sighed, running the fingers of his free hand through his hair. “You know the nature of my job—or at least you have the faintest idea of what it entails. I cannot have you going about without protection. I need to be alert the moment something goes wrong, but I cannot do so when you go out without letting me know.” He was surprised at how soft his voice sounded.

“I understand you. However, I doubt you were home when I left, and before I did, I told Lewis and Mrs. Holt of my desire to go out for a ride,” she replied.

Vincent felt defeated. Yet, he wasn’t ready to let his anger go for whatever reason. He wanted her to know, without saying the words, that what annoyed him was her leaving the estate without him . He was the only one who could protect her. He was the only one who was responsible for her. No one else but him.

“My point still stands,” he stated.

Juliana studied him for a short moment before giving a dainty nod. Vincent frowned. He’d expected her to push back, to ask him what he would do if she refused to listen to him.

“If that is all, excuse me,” she spoke in a reserved voice, peeling his hands off her arm.

Vincent let her, but the moment she turned in the direction of where they’d come from, he couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you going?”

He stepped toward her to close the distance between them.

“Well, you are here now. I believe I can resume my activities,” she said, slightly looking over her shoulder.

A smile threatened to spread across Vincent’s lips at her response. Instead, he gave her a small nod, following her to the crowd.

A man approached Juliana with a wide smile on his lips. “Would you like to check the fabric, Your Grace?” He motioned for her to follow him, and not even Vincent could stop the frown that marred his brow.

There was something in the way she smiled back at the man—a warm, welcoming smile—that he’d never seen directed at him. Why could a man she’d never met receive such a smile and her own husband could not?

Vincent shook his head. He could not believe his train of thought. When had he become the type of man who pined for a woman to the extent that a simple smile—or the lack thereof—set him off? If this wasn’t proof that he needed to work harder to stay away from her, then he wasn’t sure what was.

Yet he followed behind her quietly. A voice in the back of his head pestered him to mount his horse and return home with a word to one of his guards to look after her, but he didn’t listen.

His presence was overstimulating and overwhelming.

Juliana hadn’t expected to see Vincent at all in the town square. She had not expected to see him throughout the whole day, and it had much to do with the defeated look she’d seen on his face last night when he’d told her to go to bed, seconds after making her feel toe-curling ecstasy.

She’d thought it was a good idea earlier in the day because it meant she could keep to herself, and she still thought it was a good idea, especially in the cramped fabric shop.

It was the second one they had gone into, and she’d tried to send him away by telling him that she would look through the shop with Eunice, but he had not bothered to respond as he walked past her and stepped into the shop ahead of her—shocking even the shopkeeper—and now they were pressed against each other in the small shop.

“I have a few that might interest you,” the shopkeeper had said, his blue eyes flashing with excitement as he pulled down a bolt of fabric from a storage compartment behind which Juliana and Vincent stood.

That bolt of fabric had closed the space between them.

Juliana instantly regretted entering the shop. It wasn’t as though she needed the fabric urgently. She was sourcing fabrics for the renovations, which could’ve been done by Mrs. Holt or whoever she chose, but she’d wanted to busy herself, and now she only had herself to blame.

Juliana sucked in a breath when she felt Vincent’s hot breath against her neck, teasing and making her tingle in forbidden places. Heat consumed them and only grew hotter when he— whether it was deliberate or not, she did not know—pressed his body against hers harder and she felt the solid bulge in his trousers against her back.

She tried to move in the hope of giving him some space, if there was any, but it seemed she only made things worse.

“Stop. Moving,” he bit out immediately, and she stilled. “Just—don’t move.”

His strained voice ignited a fire in her blood that forced the air out of her lungs in a hiss.

Despite the thick tension, the shopkeeper busied himself, sifting through the different fabrics, unaware of the situation behind him—which, in a way, Juliana was thankful for.

“Perhaps it might be better if I turn?”

“No!” Vincent barked so fast and so loud that the shopkeeper turned to them.

It seemed that the man just realized the position they were locked in. He stared at them with wide eyes, rising to his full height.

“Forgive my impertinence, Your Grace.” He bowed, before hastening to clear an area for them.

Vincent wasted no time in taking advantage of the new space, bolting out of the shop as though the devil was on his heels.

“Thank you, Mr.…” Juliana trailed off, raising her eyebrows.

“Jones,” the shopkeeper supplied.

“Mr. Jones,” she echoed and nodded. “I shall send someone tomorrow to look through the fabrics.”

She walked out, grateful for the growing darkness that hid the blush on her face.