Page 92 of Wedded to the Cruel Duke
She smiled politely up at him. “Lord Scunthorpe, how lovely it is to see you. I was not expecting to find you here.”
While most noblemen kept a London residence, the Baron was someone who typically worked from his country estate, so it was rare to see him in the city.
“Yes,” he grinned smoothly at her. “A rather fortuitous meeting between us, I would say.”
Phoebe was not quite so sure about that, as she had wanted some time alone to herself, so she merely continued to smile at him out of courtesy. It would be rude to tell someone to leave her alone in the middle of the alley, especially when he was being so solicitous.
He must have sensed her hesitation, for he continued to engage her in conversation to fill the awkwardness between them. “Where are you headed, Your Grace?”
“I was just about to head to Madame Linney’s shop,” she began. “My sisters are convinced that I need new bonnets and hats.”
He frowned a little at that. “The milliner? But why are you walking on your own?”
Phoebe laughed a little. “Well, that is quite the thing, really. My carriage broke down just a short distance from here and since I was so close by, I thought a short walk to the shop alone would be nice.”
“Without someone to accompany you?” The Baron looked flabbergasted. “Let me offer you my carriage, then—”
She held her hand up respectfully and smiled up at him. “I appreciate your kindness, My Lord, but I do not think it is necessary.”
“Oh, I absolutelyinsist,” he persisted with a growing grin. “Besides, as you say, it is only a short distance from here.”
“Oh no, no,” she shook her head. “I could not possibly impose on your kindness. I have always enjoyed walking, anyway—”
Suddenly, he reached out and gripped her upper arm. Phoebe’s eyes flew wide open as she struggled to get away from him, but his grip was like a vise clamped on her arm.
“Unhand me, Lord Scunthorpe!” she cried out. “You are hurting me!”
There was a dangerous gleam in his eyes and the smile that flashed in his face made shivers run down her spine.
“I already said Iinsist, did I not?” he told her darkly. “Why are you being so difficult?”
She was a little stunned when the words that Charles had flung at her earlier came back to haunt her.
Difficult—that word was what thegentlemenalways said when she would not so easily bow to their whims.
Suddenly, she felt something cover her nose and her mouth. A sickly sweet scent invaded her senses and she fought against him, but he had managed to maneuver her into a relatively small and tight corner in the alleyway, her strength rapidly leaching out of her body.
And then, the world went black.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Phoebe woke up with a slight pounding in her temples, her vision a little hazy. She tried to move her fingers and toes and let out a soft moan when she found them—and the rest of her appendages—in good working order, before she rolled out of the enormous bed she found herself on.
What happened? Where am I?
As she recalled what happened earlier in the alleyway—her surprise encounter with the Baron and his insistence that she follow him to his carriage—she staggered to her feet and rushed over to the door, only to find that it was locked from the outside.
She spun towards the windows and looked out, sucking in a deep breath when she realized that she was in a room much further off the ground.
Suddenly, there was a light knock on her door and she turned around to find Lord Scunthorpe unlocking it and walking in witha gentle smile. On his hand was a tray laden with several dishes covered in silver domes of various sizes. There was even a glass of water and a tea service for one.
“Oh, you are awake,” he began casually, as if he had not just forced her to come with him earlier and was quite possibly the one who also locked her up. He set the food on a small table. “Come, Phoebe, and eat a little. It has been a rather long day for you.”
Phoebe instinctively backed away from him and lifted her chin defiantly. “I would rathernot. And I am the Duchess of Cheshire, My Lord. I would appreciate it if you could refer to me by my proper title.”
"No!” he all but screamed at her, before lowering his tone. “I will not have you using another man’s title when you are under my roof,” he gritted out darkly.
Phoebe was stunned to find the normally mild-mannered man react in such an explosive manner before her.