Page 8 of The Duke and the Spinster

Chapter Four

Fondleton was not far from the trees, but the Duke was ahead of him. Damn Kilmerstan! He was quite sure that the Duke was following Lady Juliana, and that became absolute certainty when the Duke slipped into the trees exactly where she had. Fondleton turned away, sauntering past the trees and back towards the lake, as if that had always been his intention. But his mind was racing.

Had Kilmerstan beaten him to it? Was the spinster already seduced? If so, perhaps she would be easier prey than he had imagined. He would have to observe carefully, and discover what he could use against her, what he could use to ensure that she fell in with his plans. For he found that she had gone from being a convenient target, to being somewhat of an obsession – he had to have her, no other woman would do, at least until he had tasted the delights that Lady Juliana could provide.

~~~~~

Garrett slipped through the trees, the dappled sunlight filtered to soft green and shaded gold. The cool of the shade was welcome, and the whole effect was almost like an imagined underwater scene. In front of him a small clearing opened up at the centre of the small wood.

He stopped, his mouth gone dry, and his breath coming short. She stood in a pool of sunlight, the rich burnished gold of her hair glinting like treasure, the soft green of her gown blending in with the setting, as if she was some woodland nymph, part of the trees. He had never seen anything so beautiful.

He should move, should alert her to his presence, but, somehow, he was rooted to the spot, unable to do anything but drink her in with his eyes, and imagine what that golden hair might feel like between his fingers. Time seemed frozen, and he did not care, could not care for anything but the vision before him.

Finally, a bird fluttered down to land on a branch not far above his head, the movement and sound breaking the spell that held him. He drew in a large breath, and stepped forward, startling the bird into flight again. She turned, seeking the source of the sound, and her eyes met his. They were blue green, he remembered, but in this light, they seemed almost as glowing a green as the sunlit leaves around them. They both paused, neither speaking. She did not appear surprised to see him there, nor disturbed by his presence in any way. Somehow, it felt right that they should be here, alone.

After a moment, he moved again, going forward until he stopped mere inches from her. Her eyes never left his as he moved.

“Lady Juliana, I… I saw you walk away, alone, and was concerned. Is all well with you?”

Her eyes flicked down for a moment, as if she was unsure of the wisdom of answering. He waited. She looked up, and he saw a decision in her face.

“As well as it ever is, Your Grace. I fear that I am not well suited to social occasions. I have always been more likely to embarrass myself and my family than to shine. Unlike my sister, who seemingly has a gift for doing so. Today, I reached the point where I felt overwhelmed, so I went seeking a place of peace and quiet.”

“If I intrude, if I am unwelcome, I will leave you be – you only need say the word.”

“No… stay. For it is not that I dislike company, but that most company does not find me entertaining at all.”

“Then they are blind and deaf. For not only are you beautiful, but you are by far the most articulate and intelligent woman that I have met.”

She looked at him, genuine shock in her eyes, and he wondered why – surely, she had been told that she was beautiful, many times over? A blush rose in her face, and he could almost feel the heat of it, so close did they stand. He wanted to reach out and cup her cheek in his palm, to feel that heated softness. He did not, though he ached to do so. He did not understand her well enough, did not know her well enough, to have earned the right to take such a liberty.

“Surely you jest. I would not have thought you one to mock me.”

Her voice shook, and the shock in her eyes had turned to hurt, in the few seconds before she looked down, her fingers twisting together in distress.

“I do not jest. And I would never mock you. I speak only the truth as I see it.”

She looked up again, her face full of confusion. After a moment she spoke, the edge of old pain colouring her voice.

“Then perhaps, Your Grace, it is you who are blind. For I have never been accounted beautiful, nor has intelligence ever been something that I have seen women judged by.”

He was astounded. Never been accounted beautiful? Had the world gone mad?

“Or perhaps I see more clearly than others? For you are beautiful, never doubt it. And far more interesting than most young women of my acquaintance.”

Her eyes expressed her disbelief, and he was sure that she had been hurt, and badly, in the past. He had a sudden desire to seek out whoever had hurt her, and punish them for their actions. She turned away, raising her face to the sun, with no concern for her complexion. She quivered, as if on the edge of tears which she refused to allow. He could not bear it. Unthinking, he reached out, and gently touched her shoulder.

She spun back towards him, and he worried that he had frightened her – but there was no fear in her expression, only surprise. Her eyes glittered, as if, indeed, they were filled with unshed tears. He lifted his hand and brushed a gentle touch across the silken smooth skin of her cheek, his mouth suddenly impossibly dry.

“Your Grace…”

He allowed his hand to drop back to his side.

“I apologise. But you seem distressed, and I…”

“Do not apologise – there is no need. You startled me, that is all. I appreciate the fact that you even bothered to seek me out, to enquire after my wellbeing. I am not used to being sought out.”

The edge of bitterness was in her voice again. He wanted to wipe it away, to make it possible for her to be filled with happiness, and only happiness. And then the humour of it struck him, and he could not help a small laugh.