“Come on, Brother,” Madeline cajoled. “We have not been at it for so long. Let us see where the next turn takes us.” She nodded her head toward the path.
Lavinia took the lead once more. Her first few steps were confident, but then, after they rounded the corner and smacked into a wall, she paused.
Now what?
She could feel Madeline and the Duke breathing heavily right behind her, so when she was forced to backtrack, she had to sidestep around them.
“Ow!”
As if things could not get any worse than they already were, she tripped on a small rock that had been blocking her way. She stumbled and nearly fell.
Fortunately, a strong pair of arms caught her before her body could hit the ground.
Lavinia caught the familiar musky scent. She did not know that she would miss someone’s smell.
Her cheeks flushed, and her heart skipped a beat, but she was not sure if it was because of the fall or because of the Duke, who was staring into her eyes.
“This isn’t working,” Peter grumbled as he pulled Miss Fitzroy upright. “We are truly lost.”
He cast a look at Madeline and could see that she was agitated.
“I do not think that is entirely true,” she mused. “I imagine that we will all find our way out of here faster if we split up.”
“Excellent.” Peter brushed a speck of dust from his shoulder. “I will turn left. Madeline, you take the path to the right. And Miss Fitzroy… you go straight down the center.”
“Yes,” Madeline agreed readily. “The first one who finds the exit should shout to the others and let them know which way to turn.”
Miss Fitzroy’s brow creased as she considered the plan. While she pondered, Peter took a moment to study her. She was lovely. That fact was indisputable. She might be a terrible guide and incredibly stubborn, but her beauty was undeniable.
This morning, she wore a gown made of soft, pale blue fabric. There were smudges of dirt near her hemline, which she had presumably accumulated while tripping. When she had tipped sideways, her brown locks must have snagged on one of the hedges because aside from the small collection of forget-me-notsthat were threaded through her coiffure, there was also a cluster of bright green leaves.
She looked slightly disheveled, but that did not take away from her grandeur. Her cheeks were round and plump, as was her heaving bosom. He admired the cut of her frock as he recalled what it had felt like the night before to run his hands over her waist and sides.
Peter licked his lips. He wanted to do something, to say something to smooth the furrow in her brow, but he stayed quiet, allowing Miss Fitzroy the space to think so that she might come to the correct conclusion.
“Well?” Madeline prompted. “Shall we split up here and follow through with the plan?”
“I suppose so,” Miss Fitzroy acquiesced. “But do be careful.” She lifted her skirts daintily and rolled her ankle slightly.
Peter was mildly astonished by her audacity.
If her mother or mine had seen her bare her ankles in my presence, they would have pitched a fit.
He laughed loudly, but fell quiet when he saw the odd expressions on both ladies’ faces.
“Let’s get going.” He waved his hand at the pathway before him, then took off running.
He had not gone far when he rounded a corner and barreled straight into Miss Fitzroy.
“Why… why do you enjoy tormenting me?” she stuttered.
He looked into her eyes. He had not noticed if she had sprinted into the maze as he had, but judging by the way her chest heaved and her brow glistened with sweat, he guessed that she had approached the task with an equal amount of zeal.
“Do I torment you, Miss Fitzroy?” He held up his palms to show that they were empty. “Am I tormenting you right now?”
He heard her take a deep breath and waited for her to find the words to respond.
“No, Your Grace,” she muttered through gritted teeth. “Right now, I am only distressed because I’m lost in this maze.”
