“Give me your hand.” The sound of a rustling coat extended toward her. He must have sensed her hesitation, for he did not move an inch. Eventually, she reached out into the darkness and took hold of his hand. His hand was much larger than her own, firm, and warm. “I struck him, he is out cold. Won’t be recovering from that for a long time,” he finally exhaled, as if out of breath.
“Thank you,” Charity said in a rush, clambering off the bed to gain her feet as he helped her. “But… why?”
“I heard you scream on the stairs. It was a different scream from the one I heard from you earlier. One of true fear. Found myself running back here before I knew what I was doing. Wait a minute.” Seth Colborne released her. She heard his footsteps retreating from her.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure he pays the punishment.”
She had no idea what he did, but she heard the sound of another smack. Had he punched Baron Tynefield again? She couldn’t be certain.
“I do not like men who take advantage of women,” Colborne spoke in a deep tone as he stepped back toward her. “Take myhand and follow me closely. If we are to get you out of this house, we will need to leave from the rear entrance.”
Charity nodded and followed him. She did not bother arguing about the details or trying to grab a bag or anything to take with her—she just needed to escape this suffocating place. Immediately.
As she tiptoed through the house, tracing her steps behind Colborne, her hands began to quiver. She realized with horror just how close she had come to being assaulted by Baron Tynefield. Had it not been for a stranger in her bedchamber, this night could have been very different indeed.
As they stepped out of the house through the servants’ door and into the garden, she was hit by the cool air of early December. It made her shiver all the more. She could have sworn Colborne held her hand tighter as he led her through the garden.
“Step up here,” he said at one point, directing her over a set of steps in the garden with ease. “Low-lying branch to your left.” She ducked around it. He advised her as few others ever had done. She was glad of it in this moment of fleeing.
When they reached the carriage, she heard horses snorting, as if greeting their master.
“Oh.” Another voice sounded.
Was that a footman? She could hear someone distinctly opening the door of the carriage. “Is this wise, Your Grace?” the voice murmured at Colborne.
Wait… His Grace?
A wave of realization washed over her. It suddenly hit Charity where she had heard the name Seth Colborne before.
She had heard of it in one of the many scandal sheets narrated by Edith, along with his title, where someone had written how he was never to be seen in Winchester, Bath, London, or any city, for he had spent the last decade in his own company in Axfordshire, far away from the ton.
“Your Grace?” Charity whispered aloud as he steered her into the carriage.
“Perhaps not, but I had no choice,” he answered his footman. “Let us go. Now.” He followed her into the carriage, but must have sat opposite her, for she did not feel the cushion sink down beside her.
“Your Grace,” she muttered again as the carriage lurched away and that scent of sandalwood wafted toward her once more. “You are the infamous Duke of Axfordshire, are you not?”
“Changed your mind, Lady Charity? Would you prefer it if I let you out of the carriage at once?”
“No,” she said without hesitation. “Ride on, Your Grace.”
CHAPTER 4
Ineed to stop.
Seth jerked his head upward. Partway on the journey back to Axfordshire, he had moved to join Charity on her side of the coach. Her chin had kept dropping, with sleep dangerously near, and he found himself moving to offer his shoulder, though he wasn’t certain she was aware of his gesture.
For the last hour or so, he had been her pillow as she slept soundly on his shoulder. She must have been exhausted. It seemed she had been getting very little sleep, likely in fear of having to marry a man who had the audacity to assault her in her own home. And he could hardly blame her for it. Her body was now responding to her relief of being away by shutting down into sleep.
As the carriage jolted the pair of them, her head was in danger of slipping off him. Seth did not think twice about what he did next. He raised his arm around her shoulders and secured her close to him. She was so small, she fitted perfectly against hisside, nestling in safe. Her eyes fluttered open, then closed again, as she returned to peaceful sleep.
She truly wasbeautiful.
Seth knew it wasn’t polite to stare, but he could not help it. For the last few hours, he had been looking at her intermittently, admiring the curve of those high cheekbones and the petite lips. The button nose and long sweeping lashes. Golden tendrils framing perfect porcelain skin. She was entrancing to look at, and he needed to get a hold of himself.
Before long, he would reach his residence. He needed to stop staring at her, lest he have his servants engage in whispered conversations and furtive glances—more so than they already would, no doubt. In fact, the entire castle would undoubtedly be abuzz with speculation upon discovering that he had escorted a lady to his home for the first time since ever. Though he trusted many of his staff with his life, an affinity built over decades of servitude, he did not think it wise to jeopardize the lady’s reputation more so than he already was doing simply by taking her in.
