“Oh God,” Marianne whispered.
“I’ll go up and see if I can talk to Juliet.”
Marianne nodded, tears jumping to her eyes. “Take care of her. And if there is any problem, if Samuel tries to remove you before it is time to join us…please contact me immediately.”
“I will,” Miss Bennett said, and exited the room just as Avondale entered, Marianne’s butler trailing behind with yet another judgmental expression on his face.
“The Duke of—” he began to announce.
Avondale held up a hand and his lips set into a thin line that highlighted the whiteness of the scar across them. “She knows who I am. Leave us.”
Marianne was surprised when her butler did not look to her for verification of Avondale’s heavy-handed order, but simply left as he’d been told. She folded her arms and stared at the man.
He was incredibly handsome in daylight. Even more handsome than she had remembered. That scar that slashed his face only made her pay closer attention to his bright eyes, his high cheekbones and his full lips. Those lips that had covered hers not long ago.
“Are you prepared?” he said, his gaze never leaving hers.
She struggled to recall how to speak and finally simply nodded.
He inclined his head slightly. “Then we should go.”
“I’ll call for my maid,” she said, moving toward the pull by the door.
He stepped to the side, blocking her path with his big body. She had to come up short to keep from crashing right into his broad chest. She looked up, feeling her lips tremble, her entire body tremble.
“There is a carriage coming to your back door to collect your things. Your maid can ride in it,” he said, his tone brooking no refusal.
She wrinkled her brow. “But…but that would mean you and I would ride alone together.”
His lips tilted up further. “Oh yes, it does.”
She caught her breath at the wickedness of his expression. It did something physical to her, something that made her bones liquid and heat spread through her veins. It was intoxicating and terrifying at the same time.
“But—”
He leaned in, and his warm breath slid over her lips, like a kiss though he never touched her. “Lady Marianne, it is time we begin your education. Andthatwill require privacy. Make your final preparations and then we go in my carriage. Together. Alone.”
Chapter Four
Alexander watched as Marianne shifted in her seat, turning toward the window and craning her neck as the townhouse disappeared behind them. When it was entirely out of sight, she settled back into place with a shaky sigh. There was a faint sparkle of tears in her eyes and to his surprise, his stomach clenched at the sight.
Normally he didn’t allow himself such weakness, but he had a strange desire to comfort her, just as he had the night before.
He cleared his throat. “You’ll see her soon.”
She nodded and forced a smile to her face. “I know.”
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered, somehow needing to remind her of that in her vulnerable state. Perhaps needing to remind himself the same thing.
Her expression softened and she reached out as if to take his hand. Her fingers stretched toward him, and he held his breath as he waited for her touch. But before she could reach him, she stopped and dropped her eyes away. A blush filled her cheeks.
“I suppose it is foolish of me, considering our bargain and why it was made. But I trust when you say you won’t hurt me, Your Grace.”
He pressed his lips together hard. Did she refuse to touch him out of disgust for his appearance? Or was it just her innocence?
Either way, hewouldhave her. That was their bargain.
He moved to her, taking the seat next to her. Slowly he lifted his hands up to her face. Her skin was impossibly soft, her lips trembling as she lifted them toward him, her breath coming as a ragged sigh of invitation and surrender.
