Page 28 of Her Wily Duke

“Yes.”

He slowed the curricle, until they were at a standstill on the empty road. He draped the reins over the hook provided for that purpose as she watched, then reached for her with the other hand too.

He tugged her gently closer.

“May I?”

His voice was soft, with a depth of care and concern in it, and Emme realised that something momentous was happening. Something she wanted, with her whole heart.

“Ye… es”

Her voice shook. His smile grew, and he bent to her, bringing his lips to meet hers, as delicately as the brush of a butterfly’s wing. Despite that gentleness, it was as if something ignited within her, a rush of heat, and joy, which made her move her lips against his, seeking to extend that contact, to imprint the moment on her forever, so that it might wipe away all memory of the Duke’s touch. At her reaction, he deepened the kiss for a few moments, his actions showing her just how much he felt for her, and she sighed against him, feeling all of the tension leave her. He slipped an arm around her and simply held her, lifting his mouth from hers, and resting his face against her hair.

After some time, he spoke again.

“That is what kisses should feel like, Emme – they should be full of love, and the pleasure born of that. Forget those moments that Frederick forced upon you. Remember only this, and what is between us.”

“What… what is between us?”

Did she really dare hope that he meant what she thought he did?

“Yes. For today, let us simply get you home. We can speak more of this, of us, later, once you’ve had time to recover.”

She sighed, a little disappointed – so he wasn’t going to say more, to admit anything? But she supposed this really wasn’t the best place or time.

“What.. what will happen now? Do I still have my position teaching Lady Caroline? Or will the Duke turn me off from that?”

She heard the distress in her own voice as she said it.

“He will not, for I will prevent him from doing so. Caroline is very fond of you, and you are an excellent teacher, so I see no reason you should not continue. Unless… unless you cannot face going back to Foxridge Park after this experience?”

Emme shook her head.

“I… I can face it, for Lady Caroline’s sake. If, that is… you can be there, can stay near me, so that I do not have to see or speak to the Duke alone?”

He nodded, picking up the reins again.

“Of course, I am happy to spend that time with you, to guard you from ‘the ferocious beast’ so to speak. I begin to think that my brother is far more to be feared in some ways than the highwayman is.”

Emme managed a little laugh then, and they drove away, moving steadily towards her home. Her head was filled with new possibilities, and savouring the memory of Adam’s kiss, and the implications of what he had said. Hope was a heady thing to sip on from this man’s lips.

*****

When Adam arrived back at Foxridge Park, he found Frederick awake, sitting in his study, nursing what was obviously not his first brandy of the day. He greeted Adam with a sullen glare.

“I might have expected as much from you. You’ve never shown much care for me, even though I am your brother.”

Adam regarded him with amazement.

“What did you expect me to do, in the circumstances? You should be ashamed of yourself, acting like that, trying to take advantage of a woman who is your employee, persisting even when she made her objections to your actions clear. All I did was the right thing by your employee, when you clearly weren’t going to.”

Frederick’s lip lifted in another sneer.

“The right thing? Really, how self-righteous of you. She’s a commoner, and for the taking, like they all are. Most would throw themselves at me for the chance to grace my bed. And you – you just want her for yourself, don’t you? I can’t see any other reason that you would interrupt my pleasures so rudely. But I’ll not be deterred – I’ll have her yet.”

Adam ground his teeth together, barely resisting the urge to flatten his brother again.

“I do not think so. It is abundantly clear that she has no interest in your attentions. And mark my words – she will not suffer for your actions today. She will still come to teach Caroline, and you will stay away from her, and let her get on with the task we are paying her for. Caroline is very fond of her, and Miss Mowatt is an excellent teacher – I see no reason that your… improper appetites… should spoil that for our sister. When Miss Mowatt is here, you will stay away from her, or you will feel my disapproval physically, again.”