Stealing the Duchess

by Marie Higgins

  She nodded and perched on the very edge of the bed.

  He lost his breath gazing upon her beauty. Long, flowing hair cascaded over her shoulders in an alluring manner, tempting his fingers to caress her locks. The lightness of her wrapper against her skin made her appear innocent, but very enticing. Perhaps he should convince her to meet him on the sofa after all.

  As he held her hand, he stroked the pad of his thumb across her knuckles. “What do you want to tell me?” His voice was low and husky with his rising emotions.

  “Well...” Her throat jumped as though she was swallowing hard. “I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your protection today, first in the coach as you held me while we rolled, and then when you carried me up from the ravine to the road. You were so very tender and considerate, even though I knew you were injured.”

  He smiled. “I hated to see you in pain. I’d do anything to protect you. I hope you know that now.”

  She nodded and touched his hand still stroking hers. “I realized that today. I also realized it doesn’t matter if you hid your identity from me, you are still the man I had come to know before the truth was finally revealed.”

  “And pray tell, my darling, what kind of man do you think I am?” Perhaps he shouldn’t have asked that question, but he just had to know her feelings. He desperately had to know if she experienced the same emotions as he was.

  A shy smile graced her lovely face. “You are the kind of man who puts others before his own needs. You cradled me in your arms to protect me from the worst of the crash, taking the brunt of the impact yourself. You ignored your own pain to see me safe. How could I not see you as the caring man I had known before? Though I was blinded by what I thought was your betrayal, I now see the truth. You have protected and cared for me from the start.” She released a deep sigh. “I realized how much I enjoy your attention and the fact that you worry over me for small things. I believe you are the kind of man who I want worrying about me...forever.”

  Happiness burst inside of him and it was all he could do not to shout for joy and pull her into his arms. Once she was in his arms, he’d not stopped kissing her so he could confess his feelings. He must do it now or the moment would be lost.

  “Oh, my love.” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “You don’t know how I’ve longed to hear those words from you. Truly, you have made me very happy.” His heartbeat thumped an irregular rhythm, and suddenly found himself as nervous as a schoolboy, imagining how he could confess his love for her. Never in his life had he said this to a woman.

  He swallowed the lump of fear growing in his throat. No matter how anxious it made him, he must say the words. Now. “Lexie—”

  “And because of how I feel about you now,” she continued as though she hadn’t heard him, “I feel it is time that...” She licked her lips again. “I feel I should now be a proper wife and share your bed.”

  Her startling announcement had him nearly jumping out of his skin with anticipation. He couldn’t have heard correctly, could he? Yet, the tender expression on her face as she stared at him told him he had indeed, heard correctly.

  Gingerly, she touched his bare chest. Shivers of warmth ran through him, igniting the feelings he had since meeting her but could never act upon.

  “Are you...certain?” His voice squeaked, so he cleared his throat. “I won’t take you if you’re not ready.”

  Her smile relaxed. “I’m ready, Julian.”

  He couldn’t wait another second. His arms shook as he pulled her closer to him. She slid her palms over his chest, and then up to hook around his neck. A deep groan escaped him. Her touch brought such sweet pleasure to him.

  Their mouths came together in unison. Alexandria’s lips were just as eager for him as he was for her. Sweeping her into his arms, he brought her across him and laid her on the bed. He leaned over her and continued kissing her with the urgency running through him that controlled his every touch, every breath, and every kiss.

  He had to have more of her. Much more.

  He moved his mouth from hers and trailed kisses down her neck. She threw her head back, arching for him to take more. He didn’t disappoint. The thunderous beat of his heart slammed in his ears, and against his lips her pulse kept the same rhythm.

  “Julian,” she sighed over and over again.

  He wanted nothing more than to please her so that she thought of him as her hero, once again. He lifted slightly and gazed down into her passionate face. “Lexie...love me,” he said breathless.

  “I do love you.”

  Once more, his heart burst with happiness. He caressed her face as he laid the top part of his body on hers. “I love you, my darling wife.” Her eyes widened in surprise, so he continued, “I think I’ve loved you for a while now, but I dared not admit it. Never have I felt this way about any woman, and the thought of sharing myself with one woman for the rest of my life was terrifying.”

  “And what do you think now?” she asked sweetly.

  He grinned. “I’m eager to get started, my love.”

  “Julian, I have never loved any other man.”

  “Then our hearts will beat as one starting now.”

  “Now and always.” She leaned up and sealed their words with a kiss...a kiss that would last all night long.

  TWENTY-SIX

  Alexandria couldn’t stop smiling. A few weeks ago if someone had told her she would find a man and actually talk to him, and then become his wife, she would have believed that person was insane. But now as peace and exhilaration settled over her, she never realized being in love could feel this glorious. She never wanted this emotion to end.

  Last night with her husband as they shared their love had been magical. He’d taken her to paradise and back. Recalling every moment made her cheeks burn with delight as a giggle sprang from her throat. He’d asked her if she would move her personal items to his bed chambers because he wanted her next to him always. She agreed. She never wanted them to be separated again.

  Just as she’d done all of her life, she’d risen early this morning as the sun crowned in the horizon. She decided to allow her husband to rest. He appeared so handsome lying on the white pillow, contrasting greatly with his tanned skin and day’s growth of whiskers on his chin. His dark hair was tousled, but he looked adorable. She was tempted to crawl back in bed and wrap his arms around her, but she resisted. The poor man needed rest—and to stay off his leg. They needed to follow the physician’s instructions by keeping Julian off his leg.

  Just thinking about the wound festering and becoming infected made her stomach churn. Imagining the infection getting so bad he might lose his life brought a sharp pain to her heart. She didn’t want him to be like Johnson’s cousin.

  However, with everything that was going on in Julian’s life with trying to find evidence against Martin, her husband might not adhere to the physician’s advice. So, perhaps it was up to Alexandria to talk some reason to him. She’d make certain he was kept off his leg for at least a week...even if she had to keep him in bed all that time.

  Being as quiet as she could, she dressed into her favorite deep blue riding habit and ventured downstairs for breakfast, realizing her ankle didn’t hurt any longer. Once again, she thought of the wonderful night. Another laugh bubbled up from her throat and she covered it with her hand. She didn’t want the servants to know what had happened between her and Julian in his bed, although she feared they already knew because as she headed toward the dining room, many of the servants gave her a cheesy grin or a knowing wink.

  As she ate her breakfast, her gaze wandered out the window. Another beautiful day beckoned her to go riding. Although she shouldn’t go without her husband, she didn’t dare wake him and get him on his leg. But if she went riding by herself now, her husband was still asleep and would probably not wake until later. Her ride wouldn’t be long, anyway. She’d take a short ride just to get out and breathe in the fresh air.

  She hurried and finished eating her breakfast, en
thused to finally ride Buttercup again. But from out the window, something caught her attention. The figure of a woman crept around the outside wall of the stable, the woman’s gaze snapping everywhere.

  Setting her fork down, Alexandria peered intently out the window, narrowing her eyes in an attempt to determine who the intruder was. The woman wore a light green riding habit with a large hat that shadowed her face. When the woman stopped and threw a cautious glance over her shoulder, recognition hit Alexandria fully. What was Miss Theresa doing here?

  Anger fueled Alexandria into hurrying out of the house and toward the stable. She’d give that woman a piece of her mind. How dare Miss Theresa think she could sneak on the estate without a proper invitation? And who in their right mind would invite the woman who had been ruined by Julian? Certainly not Alexandria, and she knew very well her husband wouldn’t have invited her, either.

  She slowed her steps when she neared the stable, listening for any noises inside. Miss Theresa was in there, she just knew it. Where else would she have disappeared to?

  Alexandria peeked her head in the opened door of the stable. Immediately, she saw the woman standing by Buttercup. Her back was toward Alexandria, so she couldn’t see exactly what the woman was doing.

  Taking quiet steps, she moved closer. She wasn’t paying attention to where she was walking, and her foot bumped against an empty pail. The tinkling sound startled Miss Theresa, and she swung around, facing Alexandria. In the other woman’s hand was a chisel. She moved her stare to the saddle on Buttercup. It appeared that Miss Theresa was trying to damage the billet straps.

  Gasping, Alexandria aimed a glower at the woman. “I would ask what you are doing here, but I can see by the tool in your hand exactly what your purpose is in my stable.”

  Miss Theresa glanced at the chisel. Her expression changed. No longer did she appear stunned, but as she straightened her shoulders and lifted her arrogant chin, Alexandria could literally see the confidence growing inside the other woman. This was the self-assured lady she’d met the other day.

  “Indeed. Asking me about my presence would seem presently futile.” Miss Theresa seethed.

  Alexandria was hit again with the rude demeanor of the woman, as though Theresa thought everyone was beneath her. “I cannot imagine why you would want to damage my saddle,” Alexandria pointed to the chisel, “but since I caught you in the act, I shall report you directly to the local magistrate.” She searched the stable, but couldn’t see the servant that was usually here bright in early in the morning.”

  “John?” she asked, hoping he was close enough to hear her voice. Yet, as she waited for an answer, silence stretched in the stable. Even the horses remained quiet. Panic filled her, but she tried not to show any fear. “John? Where are you?”

  Miss Theresa released an eerie laugh. “Unfortunately, he cannot hear you at this moment.”

  Alexandria did not like the other woman’s tone of voice. Alarm rushed through her faster now, creating a painful throb in her skull. Frantically, she searched the stable again, praying Theresa was wrong and that John—or any servant—would hear her.

  Near one of the stalls on the floor, she noticed legs from shins to boots lying very still. The rest of him was hidden by the wooden gate.

  A sob caught in her throat, and she placed her fist to her mouth. Tears swam in her eyes. “Why...” She tore her gaze away from John’s still body to glare at Theresa. “Why did you harm a defenseless boy?”

  She flipped her hand. “He will be fine when he awakens. He shall only suffer a headache, I assure you.”

  Alexandria’s hands shook as she pointed toward the stable’s double front doors. “Leave now. You are not welcome at my estate.”

  Another evil chuckle came from Theresa as she moved from stall to stall in a leisurely stroll as though she didn’t have a care in the world. “At one time, I had imagined all of this to be mine, you know. I had captured the attention of a wealthy duke’s son, and I was in hopes of marital bliss.”

  Alexandria arched an eyebrow. “I don’t believe my husband shared the same feelings as you. In fact, he told me what really happened, and it’s nowhere near what you would have others believe.” She breathed deeply, trying to stay calm—if only on the outward appearance. “You were trying to trap him into marriage, and he would not have that. For shame, Miss Theresa.”

  Theresa swung and faced Alexandria with an angry stare. “Trap him? Oh, I think not. He wanted to meet me in secret, and he hinted toward that every time we talked. I could tell that he wanted to kiss and hold me—just as much as I wanted him to. I wasn’t blind, and I knew he was avoiding marriage. She shrugged. “So it was up to me to convince him otherwise.”

  Alexandria nodded. “Exactly my point. You had set out to trap him.”

  Huffing, Theresa stomped toward Alexandria, halting only a few inches away. “I was not trapping him, I tell you,” she repeated with a blunt voice.

  “Listen, Miss Theresa, we can stand here and argue all morning, but nothing will ever be resolved. You have your idea of what happened, and I know the truth.”

  With a growl, Theresa grasped Alexandria by the shoulders and roughly shook her. “You are very wrong, Miss Templeton. Why can you not admit that your husband was once attracted to me?”

  “Because he wasn’t interested in you at all. He told me so himself.” Alexandria pushed the woman’s hands away. “And you, Miss Theresa, may refer to me as Her Grace, the Duchess of Linden. Or, as most people would address me, Your Grace.”

  “Ah!” Theresa lunged forward, wrapping her fingers around Alexandria’s throat.

  Fear escalated inside Alexandria as she struggled to release the other woman’s hold, but her grip was too strong. The more she struggled, the tighter Theresa squeezed.

  She couldn’t swallow, and breathing became more and more difficult. Alexandria’s body weakened, and her lungs burned, needing air. If she couldn’t break away soon, she’d surely die. No, her mind screamed. Not when she had finally found happiness. She fought harder. She would not allow this insane woman to take her away from Julian.

  Dizziness assailed her, and she struggled to keep alert. Out of desperation, she kicked her leg, connecting it with Theresa’s knee. The demented woman cried out, which thankfully, loosened her hands.

  Alexandria sank to the ground, taking in deep breaths as she tried to refill her lungs. She focused on one spot where her hand braced against the hay scattered on the floor of the stable. If she closed her eyes now, she feared she’d lose consciousness. Her throat burned as she swallowed, and her body ached as she tried to breathe in the air her lungs had lacked.

  A movement out of the corner of her eyes made her aware of Theresa moving away. Alexandria prayed the woman would leave, because for certain, Alexandria would alert the local magistrate to the woman’s threats and she’d be arrested.

  “I’m sorry, Your Grace,” Theresa said calmly.

  Surprised at the woman’s apology, she dared peek at her. Theresa stepped closer, her hands hiding something behind her as she stared angrily at Alexandria.

  “I’m sorry, but I just cannot allow you to take my place as the duchess. I belong with Julian. Not you.”

  Before Alexandria realized what was happening, Theresa pulled a wooden pail from behind her back and swung it toward Alexandra. The heavy pail smacked the side of her head. Pain exploded in her skull. A flash of light streaked through her mind before she fell to the ground and surrendered to darkness.

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  Julian jerked to an upright position in bed, feeling disoriented. What had startled him and brought him awake in such a fashion? He’d been sleeping so soundly, but now...

  He shook his head and glanced at the space next to him in bed. Lexie was gone. Her absence must have been what woke him. Then again, he didn’t feel her leave his bed at all. He knew she was an early riser. Usually, he woke with the sun, but not this morning. Exhaustion had taken over his body and he slept so well last night.
Of course, with Lexie in his bed, that had kept him awake and active. Lying next to her had been a dream come true. Being her husband fulfilled him on so many levels.

  Yawning, he stretched his arms above his head, releasing the morning kinks. He tried to think of what had woken him so abruptly. Was it a noise? Yet, he didn’t recall hearing anything. Something was in his mind and heart...an impression of Lexie being in danger. Of course, until Martin was in jail, Julian feared both he and his wife would never be safe.

  Today he’d make certain the magistrate was informed of Martin’s crooked dealings. Justice would be served. Then, and only then, would Julian and Lexie be safe. Full happiness was so close he could taste it. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t happen soon enough.

  He climbed out of bed and wrapped a robe around him. Cautiously, he tested his leg. It didn’t hurt as much as it had yesterday. That was a good sign. Perhaps he’d be on his feet a little more than planned, but he’d rest his limb if the pain increased.

  Forty-five minutes later, bathed, dressed and fed, he walked down the stairs, listening for the angelic sound of his wife’s voice. Instead, the house echoed with emptiness. He hurried to the library, thinking she was curled up on the sofa reading, but the room stood empty. Every room he peeked into greeted him the same way.

  When he passed her lady’s maid, he stopped her. “Pardon me, Johnson, but is my wife visiting with her sister this morning?”

  “No, Your Grace. Mrs. Hinsdale is still asleep.”

  “I thank you.” He nodded and continued through the house until he reached the front door. When he walked outside, he immediately stopped on the limestone steps. Birds chirped, their songs drifting with the morning breeze, but he didn’t hear Lexie’s voice. His heart dropped. She hadn’t gone riding, had she?

  His worry heightened, pushing him toward the stable faster. Once inside, he stopped suddenly. Buttercup was still in her stall...and wearing a saddle. Had Lexie already been out riding this morning?