Duchess Beware (Secrets & Scandals Book 2) (3 page)

“Have another row with Silver?”  Garrett sported a rather large grin. 

Damn him
.

He scowled.  Of course his friend would assume that.  He and Silver had been ‘having another row’ since the moment they met.  But there was more to it than that.  The thought that Garrett and Silver were on a first-name basis and never argued disturbed him.  His scowl deepened.  “If you must know, I just came from saving her bloody life.”

The grin vanished.  “What?”

Daniel folded his arms to hide his trembling hands.  He still shook when he thought of what could have happened.  “She almost went over the rail, and I caught her before it happened.”

Worry crinkled Garrett’s brow.  He slid from his hammock and hurried from the room.

Daniel swore then followed.  They found Silver perched up on a barrel reading, seemingly unaffected by what had happened.  Odd, that.  The ladies he knew would be launching into hysterics.  Or in a dead swoon at his feet.

Garrett rushed forward.  “Are you all right, Silver?  Daniel told me what happened.”

She lowered her book and removed her spectacles.  Daniel caught a glimpse of the devilment in her eyes before she turned to Garrett.  “Did he?”

Certain she would mention the spontaneous kiss he’d given her, he fumbled for something to say.  “Indeed, and I have yet to receive one word of gratitude for saving your life.”  He folded his arms, awaiting her reaction.  A part of him was actually eager to see what she would do.

Silver snapped her head around and rose from the barrel.  “If my life had been in danger, Your Grace, I’d have gladly extended my gratitude.”

He could not believe his ears.  “The deuce you say!”  He uncrossed his arms and took a step forward.  Pointing at the water, he added, “You were over that rail, Miss MacLaren.  God’s truth, if you had fallen in, your petticoats would have made you sink to the bottom of the sea like a ruddy anchor.”

She sighed.  “Is he always so dramatic?” she asked Garrett who had a thoughtful gleam in his eyes.

“He is usually quite calm.”

Calm?  Didn’t they realize Silver could have died?  Daniel turned from his friend’s pensive gaze to give his ruby-haired nemesis a sour look.  And for the first time, he noticed what she had been reading.  “What is this?”  He leaned forward and plucked the book from her hands.

Annoyance flashed across her face as she tried to take it back.  “A book,” she replied when he moved it out of her reach.

He flipped through the pages and frowned.  “But it’s written entirely in Greek.”

She held out her hand.  “May I have it back now?”

Snapping the book closed, he found her lips tight with agitation, but her blue eyes held a fair amount of discomfiture.  Then he remembered what Society thought of women scholars.  He smiled.  Excellent ammunition, that.  “Surely,
you
wouldn’t allow Society’s peculiar rules to govern your life.  There’s no shame in attempting to learn Greek.”  He paused and shook his head sadly.  “It may prove a hindrance in locating a husband, though.”

She gave a forceful sigh.  “Would you
please
be kind enough to return my book?”  Her words sounded as sweet as vinegar.

That disappointed Daniel.  He thought there would have been more to it than that.  With a shrug, he extended the book to her.

“Thank you,” she clipped, then spun on her heel.  “By the way, Your Grace,” she said over her shoulder, “I’d rather be boiled in oil than wed.  It would be a quicker, less painful death.”

Marching away, she held her chin high and her spine straight.  Ah, what a spitfire!  Brutal honesty rather than annoying prattle.  What a refreshing change.  Daniel couldn’t hold back his grin.

Garrett turned with his lips set in a grim line.  “You are the Duke of Huntington.”

Unreasonably perturbed by the reminder, he sobered instantly.  “What the devil has that got to do with…?”  He stopped and narrowed his eyes.  “Are you saying I should ignore Silver?”

“That certainly has merit,” his friend said with a nod.

“Pray, you haven’t an interest in her?”  The very idea made his ire swell.

Garrett, curse his ruddy hide, smiled wide.  “Perhaps.”  He turned serious again.  “Speaking as your friend, I bid you to consider you aren’t the sort who would pursue a woman without the most honorable of intentions.”

Daniel crossed his arms.  “I am not pursuing Silver,” he stated, adding a bit of warning to his tone.

Garrett nodded, looking relieved.  “That is good.”  He turned and scanned the ocean.  “That is good because I would like to pursue Silver.”

“Like hell you…”  He halted when he realized how unreasonable he sounded.

“I thought as much.”  Garrett shook his head then turned from the water, his eyes solemn.  “Allowing Silver to believe she has a future with you when she really does not would be utterly cruel.” 

Daniel watched his friend stomp away, then he turned to the rail.  He tipped his face up to the cool breeze and unusually bright sun.  Why in the hell could he not stand the thought of Silver and Garrett together?  He shook his head.  It made no bloody sense.

Drawing in a deep breath, he had to admit his friend was right.  Silver and he would never have a future together.  Perhaps he should keep his distance and forget all about the ruddy woman.  That should not take much effort.

Chapter Three

Silver ground her teeth in frustration.  Where were they?  She slid her gaze from the crowded dock and glanced at Prudence.  The woman, calm as usual, helped to ease the anxiety knotting within her chest.  She turned again to the people milling about, hoping to see a familiar face heading in her direction.  “They’re late.”

“Obviously.”  Prudence snapped open her parasol.

Silver bit her lip.  “They will be here,” she said with false bravado, praying her words were true.

“Indeed.”  Her aunt sat on the scarred old chest.

“I should box some ears when they arrive.”  Her gaze darted from one stranger to another.

“Certainly.”

“And you’ll assist me,” she added, her alarm increasing.

“Of course.”

She twisted her hands together.  “Perhaps we should hire a coach.”  Looking at the grimy men who wouldn’t cease staring at her, she decided not to ask any of them how to go about hiring a coach.  One of the louts with thinning hair and bushy gray eyebrows gave her a toothless grin.  She turned away, hoping he didn’t see her grimace.

Prudence gave an audible sniff.  “We should petition His Grace for assistance.  After all, we are traveling to the same location.”

Silver glanced over her shoulder and frowned.  “I-I would rather not.”  Ever since he’d given her that kiss, the duke had been ignoring her.  A tingling heat crept over her cheeks, and she pushed the memory away.  No doubt, the duke had been too mortified with the thought of kissing an untitled miss to speak to her after that.

“They have procured a coach and are about to leave.”  Her aunt closed her parasol with a snap and took the handle of her valise.  And before Silver could halt her, Prudence walked to the duke. 
Oh, rot!

Daniel listened as Prudence completed her request.  But before he could respond, he heard Silver.  She sounded angry.  He turned to his left and carefully scanned the crowd.  Then he saw her.  And, damn it all, she stood there arguing with a couple of large, grungy men who looked as though they had no good intentions.

He swore and hurried in her direction, his heart in his throat.

“I insist you leave me alone.  My brothers shall arrive at any moment and will not take kindly to you pestering me.”

“Oye, now, tart.  Don’ be like tha’.  We jus’ needs tae sheath the dirk a wee bit ‘s all.”

“Miss MacLaren,” Daniel called before the filthy seamen could move any closer to her.  “Are these men bothering you?”

She gave the men a pointed look.  “They were just leaving.”

His anger soared when he heard the slight tremble in her voice.  He positioned himself between her and the offensive dock workers.  “You have no business with this lady.  Now be on your way.”  He deliberately rested his hand on the pistol tucked into the front of his breeches as he spoke.

The men turned and moved quickly into the throng of passers-by.

Daniel took a deep breath of relief before he faced Silver.  He hid his concern behind a deep scowl.  “Your aunt told me your brothers were to be waiting for you.  Where the deuce are they?”

“I don’t kn—”

“This is a perilous area, as you have found,” he interrupted. 

“I am well aware—”

“You cannot stay here.”

Her eyes flashed defiantly and she crossed her arms.  “Yes, I—”

“You will come with us,” he stated quickly before he could change his mind.  Leaving two women here alone would not set well with him.

Silver unfolded her arms and shook her head.  “I most certainly will n—”

“We will wait half an hour for your brothers.” He checked his watch.  “If they do not arrive within that time, we will leave together.”

“I am not leaving with you, Your Grace.”

Daniel replaced his watch and looked at the stubborn woman before him in surprise.  “You cannot wish to stay here?”

Her hands gripped the sides of that ugly cloak.  “I do not mean to stay here,” she said through clenched teeth.  “I shall hire a coach.”

Unable to resist, he smiled.  “It distresses me to say that I have procured the last one available.”  A bald-face lie.  “However, I was told another could be obtained in three days.”

“Fine,” she snapped, “when you reach the estate, inform my brothers I shall arrive in three days.”

The smile slid right off his face.  God’s truth, the woman could drive a saint mad.  “Take heed, Miss MacLaren.  You are coming with me even if I have to shackle you head to foot.”  He gazed steadily into her hostile blue eyes, hoping she’d understand just how much he meant his words.  “There are some nasty men about.”  He nodded to his right.  “Worse than those pleasant fellows you just met.  I will not leave you and your aunt alone here.”

“As you will.”

Daniel had been expecting further argument, not her sudden agreement.  Truly, the woman made him crazed.  He gave her a curt nod then spun on his heel, but her question stopped him before he could take a step.

“What of my chest, Your Grace?”

He pressed his lips together, lest he release an explosion, and slowly turned.  With reluctance, he lifted the cumbrous thing and started in the direction of the coach he had hired to carry his luggage and gold.

That horse had better be worth all this trouble, he thought as his arms started to ache.

****

Within the jarring coach, Silver attempted to focus on her book.  But her sore muscles protested their terribly cramped position.  Of course the fault rested entirely with the man across from her.  Surely, His Most Exalted Excellency didn’t have to stretch his legs
that
completely.

She sighed.  The duke’s behavior quite galled her at times.  Because of his title and probable immense wealth, he was used to snapping orders that would be obeyed without question.  How he took control on the dock proved that.  He gave the command and expected no argument.  She pursed her lips, recalling how the relief she felt warred with her anger.  Would she forever be under a man’s control?  But the duke had come to her rescue from those men at the dock, she reminded herself, and her heart gave a traitorous jolt of delight.

Then she remembered how he had carefully refrained from speaking to her for the last part of the voyage.  Just after he’d kissed her.  Her anger flared at the reminder all over again and her hands tightened on her book.  Clearly, the duke did not want to have anything to do with someone of her class.

And just when she thought she could dislike the man and set all thought of him aside, he would do something kind like offer his heavy wool overcoat when she shivered from the cold.  She snuggled further into the thick warm cloth and breathed in his male and sandalwood scent.  God, how the man disturbed her.  In more ways than she would like to admit.

Silver narrowed her eyes.  The duke hadn’t been the only one acting odd, though.  An hour ago, Aunt Prudence announced she needed some fresh air and insisted she transfer to the duke’s post beside Garrett, who drove.  Silver bit her bottom lip.  She’d place a goodly wager her aunt had lied.  But why?  She had no idea.

And now, she rode in the coach alone with…

The duke’s soft snores drew her attention.

Silver peered over the Henry Fielding novel she’d been pretending to read and noticed he had fallen asleep.  Unable to resist, she lowered the book onto her lap, removed her spectacles, and boldly inspected him.  How deliciously wicked.

His head vibrated lightly against the back of the coach, but it didn’t seem to disturb his rest.  She wondered if his thick, shiny hair felt as soft as it looked.  Then her gaze moved with appreciation over his face.  She scrutinized every feature and shook her head.  The man couldn’t be any more handsome.

Her gaze settled on his lips, and her middle burned as she recalled the kiss he had given her on the ship.  That had been unexpected, to be sure.  But completely wonderful.  She raised her fingers to her mouth.  Although loathed to admit it, she wished he would kiss her again.  Her breath hitched as she imagined him taking her into his arms and settling his lips over hers.

Then she thought of how he’d ignored her after the kiss and she scowled at the duke.

He sighed and she scrambled for her book, then raised it back into place, her heart pounding something fierce.  After a full minute of silence, Silver dared another peek.  The duke had his head turned in the opposite direction, but he slept on.  She lowered the novel and continued her appraisal.

She studied the broad span of his shoulders, encased in a dark-green waistcoat, and remembered being pressed against his hard chest aboard the ship.  His clothes needed no padding; his bulging muscles took care of that.  How did he stay in such superb condition, she wondered?  The upper classes didn’t work, having servants to perform any task they needed.  Yet, she recalled the feel of hard muscles beneath her touch. 

Her gaze continued down his sleeves to where his slender fingers were laced over his flat stomach.  The thought of those hands at her waist when he had saved her from falling overboard made her cheeks tingle.  Then she noticed his tight-fitting tan trousers, which did nothing to conceal the shape of his long, powerful legs.

Heat swirled within her quite suddenly.  Little tremors ran throughout her body, making it difficult to draw in air.  And the longer she stared at the duke, the stronger those strange sensations became.  Yet, her conflicting emotions confused her.  Why did she delight in gaping at someone she didn’t even like?  And why didn’t those feelings assail her whenever Garrett stood beside her?

The duke stirred, and Silver jerked her gaze away.  She lifted the book, having no time to put her spectacles back on.  Dear Lord, she shook rather pathetically.  She prayed he wouldn’t notice.

She heard him straighten, but her eyes remained fixed on a period near the center of the page, the words too blurry to read.  It would not do to have him see her so unnerved and then guess why.  No, that wouldn’t do at all.

“Miss MacLaren?”

His sleep-husky voice sent a prickle down her spine.  She swallowed hard.  “Hmmm?”

“Is that a good book?”

“Quite.”  She turned the page.

“You must be an extraordinary reader then.”  A hint of amusement sounded in his voice.

She frowned, suspicious of his complement.  “Why do you say that?”

“Oh, no reason.  Except, perhaps, that you are reading your book up-side-down.”

She held the book back so she could focus on the words and discovered he was right, curse him.  “I’m practicing,” she blurted out, refusing to be mortified by the truth.  She’d stick her spoon in the wall before he learned of her surreptitious inspection.

“Practicing?”

“Yes.”  She lowered the book and cocked an eyebrow.  “The ability to read up-side-down may become a useful asset.”  Keeping her expression serious proved difficult.  Oh, dear Lord, he would think her a simpleton.  Still, he couldn’t learn of her gawking on him as he slept.

His features grew thoughtful then he lowered his gaze to her mouth.  “Like the ability to read lips?”

Her pulse hammered in her neck.  “Yes, exactly.”  The air suddenly became too thick to breathe.

When he lifted his heavy-lidded eyes, their gazes fused for several seconds.  But it seemed an eternity.  Then he slowly began forward.  Apprehension and a smidgen of fear shot through her when she realized his intent.  Didn’t she wish for this just a few minutes ago?  She could not move.  His intoxicating essence filled her lungs, and her heart lurched.  She grew dizzy with anticipation.  He came close.  Her eyes fluttered shut.  Nearly there.  The heat of him enveloped her.  Another second.  His warm breath fanned against her lips.  She parted them, waiting.  Hoping.  Her thoughts scattered.  And then…  And then…

The coach stopped.

Silver opened her eyes, disoriented, her senses numb.  Her heart clamored and her hands trembled.  The duke had almost kissed her.

Hearing the crunch of footsteps approach, she jerked back just as the door to the coach flew open.  She didn’t dare glance at the duke as she scrambled out, leaving behind his wool overcoat.

Four of her brothers stood semicircle around the coach, arms crossed, wearing scowls.  Silver grabbed the sides of her cloak and took a step back.  Perhaps they didn’t want her here?  They had sent her away before.

“Silver?  Tha’ canna be ye, lass?”  Duncan stepped forward, his frown melting away.  He turned to the others.  “It’s our sister, lads!  Our sister has come home.”

Before she could absorb those words, her brothers rushed forward and smothered her in long embraces.  And that stunned her.  When they finally released her, she inspected each beloved face.  All of her brothers had black hair and dark blue eyes and stood about four or five inches above six feet with broad, muscular frames.  Pushing back her longing to see the absent brother, Connor, she turned to Duncan.  “Did you not remember my letter stated to meet me at the dock?”

His dark brows shot up.  “I ne’er received a letter saying tae meet ye at the dock, lass.”  He turned, scowling at the other three brothers.  “Any o’ ye ken summat aboot a letter from the wee lassie?”