Her Beastly Duke (Damsel in Distress #5)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

A s Julius scrambled to find his boots, he could hardly believe what his quiet evening had morphed into. He finally found the damned boots under his desk where he had kicked them off. He sat in the nearest chair and quickly pulled them on.

Now, where the hell was his bloody mask?

Julius’s eyes darted around the room until he located it on his desk. He jumped from the chair, donned the mask and hurled through the door. The woman was not in sight, but he could hear her swift feet plowing down the stairs, and he chased after her. He would be damned if he was going to let her escape after their agreement. This woman came to his home uninvited and invaded his library, and he would have an explanation whether the chit liked it or not.

The woman made him curious yet uneasy. Julius was alive and in good health, but much of his life was devoid of life’s simple pleasures. She surprised him and made him chuckle in a relatively short time. When their gaze locked for the first time, he felt a tightness in his chest. Her boldness was certainly stimulating, and when she threw him the rapier, his pulse quickened, and his mouth went dry. Julius had never felt such fascination in all his years, especially one provoked by a woman. .

He charged down the stairs and through the open door before he saw the woman running down the driveway. Julius made a dash in her direction. His chest heaved as the gravel crunched under his boots. He was gaining on her, and she knew it, for she cast a glance over her shoulders. To her credit, she tried to speed up, but Julius doubled down. Soon, he would have her. Julius drew in line with her for a spell before he overtook her, spun around, and she crashed into his chest.

Julius heard her soft gasp, and something hot and peculiar prickled low in his belly, disconcerting enough that he snapped his head back and was rendered motionless. He held her when she smashed into his chest. Her damnable feel stirred senses that had been dormant for years, and he stilled.

Bloody hell .

Julius dared not breathe, yet he yearned in a way he had not for a long time. It had been a while since he wanted more than the bare necessities, but desire coursed through his veins like a starving man in need of food and water. Her soft body and scent aroused him, and it was the most disconcerting awareness. She pushed her hands against his chest and twisted in his arms as she tried to flee, but she was not going anywhere.

Julius bent his knees, scooped her into his arms, and with one fell swoop, he effortlessly threw her over his shoulders. The woman squealed and immediately began pounding her fist against his back. Her tiny fist against his hard frame did not cause him any discomfort. Julius paid her no attention.

“Unhand me!” She demanded.

“Will you stop running? If you stop, I will set you down.”

She only cried out, “You beast!”

“I have been called worse.”

He spun around and headed toward the house, oblivious to the small fists on his back. He would get to the bottom of this affair soon enough. Julius entered the house through the open door and closed it gently behind him before he entered the closest drawing room on the landing. The room was dimly lit by a few candles and the smoldering remains of the fire in the fireplace. He moved closer to the warmth and deposited the woman on the sofa. She shuffled across until she could not move any further, as though she wanted the greatest distance between them. Julius was amused that after creeping around his house alone, trying to steal his painting, and challenging him to a duel, she now decided to be cautious and apprehensive.

“Would you like a glass of wine?”

The words were out of his mouth before he thought about saying them. Why was he treating her like a guest? It was nonsensical that he was being sociable … and with her.

“I do not. What I would like to be able to do is to leave,” was her defiant reply.

Her chin was held high; however, the slightest tremble was seen in her hands. Those were the very same hands that handled the rapier with remarkable skill even when he held his at her throat. Julius held her gaze, and although she called him the beastly duke, there was no revulsion in her eyes. He was surprised, shocked really, that she had not reacted in the same way as other ladies of the haut ton . No pity, no scorn, no revulsion. He detected curiosity as she crossed her arms across her chest and studied him.

Let her leave? He thought not. “I will not allow it. Not until I learn more about you and the real reason you are here. What brought you to Berkley Estate, my lady? Where were you going with my painting?” He assumed she was a lady because she spoke like one. He assumed she would disabuse him of the notion if she were not. Silence greeted him, and it was deafening.

Julius walked over to the table and poured himself a glass of wine. He was thirsty from the exertion of the duel and chasing after the chit. He took his glass and sat on the armchair across from her, maintaining some distance between them. He did not want her to feel threatened. She had an oval face that was dark and rather delicate. Her beautiful brown hair, though tousled, cascaded over her shoulders and tumbled carelessly down her back. It framed a face with prominent cheekbones, a square chin and a temptingly curved mouth.

Her face was determined, and her lips were pressed shut as if to ensure no sound came forth. She lifted her chin and met his gaze straight on but remained silent. Stubborn and defiant.

“You know who I am, the Duke of Berkley. We have not had the pleasure. I am certain that if we had met, I would remember.”

Julius took a sip of wine and gazed at her over the rim of his glass. “Since you refuse to speak with me, I could always let the magistrate settle the matter.” Julius now had her full attention.

The woman took a deep breath and punctuated it with several even gasps. “There is no need for the sheriff, Your Grace. I am Miss Briar Walcot, sister of Baron Walcot.” A polite half-smile lit her lovely face, yet the fire did not leave her eyes.

Julius’s gaze was unwavering. “You are a long way from home, Miss Walcot. What brought you to my door?”

“A rather unfortunate set of circumstances, Your Grace. Something rather desperate and foolish,” she said, then hesitated before she closed her mouth.

Those lips . He felt the whispering sensation in the pit of his belly, and he knew for sure that he did not imagine it the first time. It was more than mere curiosity. She was intelligent, devious perhaps and definitely bold. He admired her sense of adventure even though he was equally amused.

“I am all ears,” Julius said as he waited. “Get on with it. I do not suppose you want to be here until dawn.”

“I do not, Your Grace. We must return home to our family without delay.”

Julius’s brows furrowed. “ We ?”

It was only then that she recounted the tale. He was initially skeptical, but he held her gaze. Their dazzling brown depths held the truth. She did not jest. They had broken into his house to steal a forgery. He had never heard of such a ridiculous notion. Julius knew Miss Walcot’s father, the late Baron Walcot, but he had no idea the family had been in such dire straits after the baron passed away. They managed to keep up the pretext, thinking they could maintain their status, but the world was cruel, and it was not to be. He had to admit Miss Walcot’s plan would probably have worked if he had not been sleeping in the library.

Smart and resourceful.

“So, you were the one who devised the plan to retrieve the painting?”

Miss Walcot’s color heightened, but she managed to meet his eyes before quickly lowering her gaze. “I was, but you see, we had no choice.”

He heard the plea in her voice. She was clearly past the point of hostility, and the look of defiance had slowly ebbed away. Julius wondered how long it had been since he had had such a long conversation with a clever and pretty woman. It had been some time, but he could not remember exactly. He knew it was stimulating, and he would be a liar if he said he did not miss this. She made his life seem even more dull. This brief encounter enlivened him particularly as she had not reacted to his scarred face as he expected.

Am I so alone I would find this encounter … enlivening ? It was damn absurd. Yet it was a painful truth.

“Permit me to know what you are thinking, Your Grace. This silence is wretched.”

Julius’s mouth quirked. “You have seen my face, yet you have not recoiled in horror. I noticed that when you first saw me in the library.”

Her eyes widened. “I am not discomfited by your appearance, Your Grace. I consider what I heard about you to be grossly exaggerated. You are hardly a beast. You are …” A blotch of red stained her cheeks.

Julius was mildly intrigued. “You did not finish what you were going to say.”

“I have already said enough,” Miss Walcot replied.

He drummed his fingers against his leg. “I am pleased to hear you do not think me a beast. That is because I have decided how we could amicably resolve your breaking into my house to steal.” Her eyes widened in surprise before her shoulder slumped in relief. “You have? Of course, I understand we must make amends.”

He offered a bemused smile. “Indeed. I would like you to be my companion. I am sure you are up for the task.”

Miss Walcot’s delicate mouth dropped open. “A companion ?”

“Yes.”

“Your Grace … I do not think this is possible.”

Julius knew he had the upper hand, and he pressed his advantage. “It is. You will be my companion until you have paid your debt. I am sure this is a more favorable alternative than those open to you if I called the magistrate.”

Her fingers rushed to her parted lips, and Julius’s gaze lingered on them for too long. Full and lush.

“Oh.” She sat up straighter and cocked her head to the side, no doubt thinking of the possibilities. Miss Walcot had enough of an incentive to do his bidding.

“If you accept my offer, we could forget about this little escapade,” Julius said, although he did not think he needed to state the obvious. “I am astonished you are reluctant.”

“It is most unusual for a gentleman, even if he is a rumored eccentric duke, to have a … a paid companion!”

“I am an unusual man,” he drawled, almost smiling at how she narrowed her eyes.

Earlier, he had been thinking about a companion, although it was a thought for later in his life. Someone he could play chess with, perhaps engage in witty discussion about themes in certain books, and take long walks in the woodlands, even hunt together. He could tell she was well-educated and came from a reputable family. Her actions today went to the heart of her character. Earlier, she was not someone he would think could fill the role of his companion, but this opportunity fell into his lap, and he would take advantage of it.

“Although your offer is tempting, Your Grace, have you considered this unconventional arrangement would be highly improper? A young woman working alone with an attractive, eligible gentleman. It is highly …”

His heart stuttered, and Miss Walcot met his gaze before she realized what she said. Her cheeks were stained red, and she quickly looked away. Julius studied her with intensity. Her gaze returned to him with unabashed curiosity. It has been years since anyone had described him as attractive. He liked it. Earlier, when he read Baxter’s letter and said he was satisfied with the way things were, it was pure bravado. He wanted a lady’s attention and liked how it made him feel.

Miss Walcot folded her hand across her chest and gave him a stony stare. Her gaze said she wished she had a rapier. “If we are in a close, intimate space, I am bound to lose my reputation.”

Julius chuckled. “Miss Walcot, to which reputation do you refer? Is your reputation not at stake for breaking into my home in the dead of night to steal after your family has already collected a small fortune for fake art? There would be no need for a trial and conviction to ruin you. There would be worse fates than ruination after a trial.”

The fire reignited in the depths of her eyes, and she took a deep breath. He heard the door open and looked up to see a gentleman he did not know.

“Come in.” Julius beckoned. “I am the Duke of Berkley. I will leave you with your sister. I am sure there are things you wish to discuss in private.”

Julius stood as the gentleman replied. “I am pleased to meet you, Your Grace.”

Julius left them alone and climbed the stairs to his bedchamber. He wondered if Miss Walcot would decide that spending time with him would be the lesser of two evils.