Page 10 of Trapped with the Beastly Duke

He gently took her necklace and began to delicately unpick each prong.

As Rose tilted her head back to allow him a better view of the necklace, she tried to make out his features. Yet, the position of the moon meant that the man was shrouded in shadows. She could only see his silhouette, which told her nothing about him.

In an attempt to defuse some of the tension, she said, “Well, it is good to know that you do not make a habit of running into women alone in gardens.”

“Not generally, no,” the man murmured distractedly.

Rose held herself as still as possible, letting him carefully disentangle her necklace from his cravat. He was on the last prong, and she shifted slightly so that his hands could have a better grip on the necklace.

“Miss Pembleton! Oh, good, I have found you at last. I was so worried when you disappeared and—Oh. Oh.Oh.”

Miss Carstairs’s voice tore through the night, and Rose felt as though her entire world had just burst into flames.

She sprang away from the stranger, desperately trying to explain the situation. “Miss Carstairs, it—I-I mean… My necklace. We were not… Please, Miss Carstairs. You must listen.”

But the damage was done. Miss Carstairs looked from Rose to the stranger, her eyes widening. “I must say, I did not think this evening would be quite so interesting. Nor did I think I would find you, my dearest Miss Pembleton, entangled withhim.What will everyone think?”

“Please, Miss Carstairs, you must let me explain. It was my necklace, you see. It caught in his cravat. It has been catching in things all evening!” Rose gestured to her necklace, hoping that Miss Carstairs would note the prongs and the threads still caught in them.

Rose glanced up at the man, hoping that he would help.

He will make Miss Carstairs understand the truth of the matter. Yes, being caught unchaperoned would be scandalous, but not so much as whatever she thinks has transpired.

Her heart stopped as she realized who the stranger was.

The man beside her was none other than Alexander Rokesby, the Duke of Emberly. His face was full of such cold fury that she took a step back. She had never seen rage like it. It was like staring into the face of a wild, caged animal.

He killed his father, and he would kill me, too, I have no doubt. No wonder people call him the Beast of Emberly.

His gentle facade had slipped, revealing the truth below.

She moved away, not daring to look away from him for a second. Her heart thundered in her chest.

Run.

The Duke took a step towards her, the movement angry and menacing. Rose knew all was lost. She heard a yelp from behind her, the sound causing the Duke to pause in his advance.

She fled. At that moment, she did not think about her future or her family.

I do not want to die.

She tripped, falling and whirling around, expecting to see the Duke bearing down upon her. But she was alone.

Tears streamed down her face. Everything was ruined. There was no hope, she had failed.

Perhaps I should have let him kill me.

Chapter Four

Ruin Is His Only Gift

As soon as Alexander took a step towards the two women, he knew it was a mistake. He had only meant to explain the situation, to reassure the older of the two that nothing scandalous had taken place.

Although, a man alone with a woman without a chaperone would be scandal enough.

He opened his mouth to say something, but it was too late. The older of the two let out a yelp and ran.

Miss Carstairs… I almost did not recognize the gossipmonger.