As the footman handed her up into the carriage, she flashed him a smile. The man had been nothing but kind to her, the very opposite of the person inside the carriage. Taking her seat, she noticed he watched her, or rather his cloaked face was looking in her direction. For all she knew, he could be asleep.
She jumped when he banged on the roof, and they were off again. A chill ran up her spine, and she shivered. Before she could fasten her cloak tighter against her, the silent man pulled a blanket off the seat and hooked it over her shoulders, making sure to tuck it around her. His gloved hands moved over her as if he had a right.
Fear snaked through her at his proximity and his lack of respect for her person. He could do anything to her, and she wouldn’t be able to stop him. The thought made her ill. Was she wrong in believing that Mr. Avery had hired the man to bring her to him? Then he moved away, and she allowed herself to breathe again. Had that been compassion from the man? She could hardly believe it.
“Thank you,” she said, hoping to draw him out. Perhaps if he would talk to her, she could relieve her fear of him.
He didn’t respond. His stoic silence irked her.
“I must ask, does your silence come from a dislike of me personally, or are you incapable of speech?”
Again, he didn’t respond. Carolyn let out a long sigh. She was definitely looking forward to arriving at their destination. After a while, the lull of the carriage sent her back to sleep.
She awoke when someone gently shook her shoulder. Blinking back her confusion, she realized the carriage had stopped. Had they finally arrived? After allowing the footman to assist her down, she surveyed her surroundings. The cottage before her didn’t look like anything she’d ever seen in London.
She swallowed. Gretna Green. Glancing around, she searched for Mr. Avery. He didn’t appear, nor was there another carriage about. She didn’t know what was going on. This was nothing like she’d expected when she had agreed to elope with Mr. Avery.
Turning around, she faced the cloaked man. He stood frozen, facing her. She put her hands on her hips. Now was the time for him to speak, for she could take his silence no longer.
“What is going on? Where’s Mr. Avery?”
“He’s not coming.” His muffled voice betrayed nothing but anger.
“Why not?” she demanded. “You were supposed to deliver me to him.”
“The plan changed.” He held out a coin purse to her. “You will pay the parson and speak at the appropriate times, or you will not like the consequences.”
His words, as well as the hate radiating off of him, confused her further. What was going on? Why on earth would she pay the parson? His meaning became clear when he took her arm and led her towards the cottage.
“Why are you doing this?” Her voice emerged strong, although fear raked her entire body. She’d heard of women being kidnapped and forced into marriage for their dowry, but she’d never expected it to happen to her. Tears threatened to escape.
He shoved the coin purse into her hand then pulled her the last few steps into the building. The only thing she saw was the anvil as he led them toward it. She knew many marriages had taken place over that anvil, but she never imagined such a thing for herself. She couldn’t contain her shaking. Each and every step echoed in her mind as though an eternity passed between each one. She stopped breathing, willing this to not be real.
The man exchanged words with others in the room, but she couldn’t focus on anything as the edges of her vision became foggy.
“State your names and addresses for the record,” the blacksmith said loudly as he looked at her.
Forcing the words through her dry throat, she managed to do as he bid.
Glancing at the man beside her, one word from his mouth made it through the haze and turned her world upside down. Demoon. Had she been kidnapped by the Duke of Demoon? That was impossible.
“Are you both unmarried?”
Seeing her one chance of escape she opened her mouth, but her kidnapper answered for both of them and the coin purse was retrieved from her hand. With a nod, the blacksmith continued with the ceremony. Fear clogged in her throat. It was too late.
Her thoughts swirled around her like a jumbled mess. The words uniting her to the stranger beside her only adding to the confusion in her mind.
What God joins together let no man put asunder.
The words echoed in her head, and she couldn’t concentrate on anything else as she tried to keep herself upright.
Then, she couldn’t hold herself up anymore. She felt weightless as she fell to the ground that never came.
~ ~ ~
Carolyn opened her eyes and frowned at the unfamiliar surroundings. Judging by the furnishings, she had to be in an inn. Sunlight streamed in the windows, so she hadn’t been out long. It was perhaps midday.
Memories assaulted her, and as she brought her hands up to cover her face, she caught sight of a ring on her finger. The golden band held a stone the color of an emerald surrounded by rubies. She sucked in her breath at the beauty. It reminded her of a flower.
The door opened, and the cloaked man walked in. Her heart stopped at the slamming of the door and the finality of the bolt sliding into place. The Duke of Demoon, her husband, stood there, staring at her in silence as he had done for days now.
He removed his gloves and tossed them on the chair. As his hands went to his cloak, all she could see was his signet ring. Dear God. How could this have happened? And, why?
“I demand to know what is going on.”
“All in good time, Your Grace. First, I believe introductions are in order.”
Your Grace? Her stomach turned. She truly had married the duke.
He pulled the scarf from his face, and she saw touches of blond hair. Then, he removed the cloak, and she gasped.
“Edmund?” Relief poured through her. How had he found her? Would he be able to save her from the duke? Yes. He would help her get this marriage annulled.
“So good to know you remember me.”
The bitterness in his voice felt as though he’d slapped her. “I don’t understand. What is going on? How did you find me?”
“I suppose your confusion only makes it fair. After all, you’ve left me in the dark for far too long now, but that discussion is for another time.”
“Edmund, I—”
He held up a hand to silence her. “Please, allow me to introduce myself. Edmund Marsham, Duke of Demoon, at your service.” He bowed.
“W-What?” The room began to spin. “How can you be the duke?”
She closed her eyes and pressed her hands against her aching temples. As she thought back over their association, so much clicked into place. The ball. The duke’s study. The hunting cabin. Of course he’d been able to access them all, he owned them. Nausea and anger warred within her.
“It’s simple. I was visiting my garden when we met. That day you spoke so unfavorably of me, I chose to not reveal my full identity.”
Shaking her head at her stupidity, she could hardly believe she had not realized it before. “Is that why you sent the chocolate? You felt responsible for my sickness?”
His hands clenched at his sides. “I had no idea who you were at the time. Had I known . . . Well, it doesn’t matter now.”
“When did you discover who I was?”
“The second you got in the carriage.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Now that we’ve cleared that up, would you mind telling me why you thought you could run off to marry my cousin?”
The anger was back in his voice, and she swallowed. She certainly didn’t want to tell him. How could she? He never wanted a child.
She lifted her chin. “I still plan on marrying him. Just as soon as we get this joke of a marriage annulled.”
“Never,” he
growled. “You belong to me now, and I fully intend on consummating the marriage.”
As if to back up his words, he shrugged out of his outerwear and began unbuttoning his waistcoat. She wished she was afraid, or angry, or anything other than what she was feeling right now. Despite everything, she wanted him.
“Now?” she squeaked the word out of her dry throat.
“I think I’ve waited long enough. After all, it’s been two months since I’ve seen you.”
“Wait.” Panic gripped her. “You don’t have to do this. Remember, you didn’t want to marry. We can still fix this.”
He shook his head. “You have that wrong. It isn’t marriage I didn’t want, it’s a child. But, that doesn’t matter. I have both now.”
Sucking in her breath, she wrapped her arms around herself. How had he found out? Mr. Avery had promised that no one would know the truth. She supposed there was nothing to be done about it now.
She lifted her chin in defiance. Now she understood why he’d married her. It hadn’t been from a desire for her or even to prevent her from entering into a passionless relationship with his cousin. She refused to have his sense of honor forcing this.
“You’re wrong. This child isn’t yours.”
~ ~ ~
“What do you mean, the child isn’t mine?” Edmund demanded, nearly choking on the fury threatening to escape.
Carolyn thrust her chin in the air and looked at him as if he were daft. “You want to know why I agreed to marry Mr. Avery? Well, it’s because I am carrying his child.”
Mixed emotions swirled through him. Although he already knew Thomas hadn’t conceived the child, jealousy still simmered within him. For over a year, his cousin had set his eyes on Carolyn. The two of them shared a relationship Edmund would never have with her.
Then, from his anger grew hurt. The two went hand-in-hand since they both came about by her decision to keep his child from him. Did she think he would be like his father? If so, she couldn’t be further from the truth. His temper was hot, but he’d never bring harm to an innocent soul.
And, although he didn’t want to admit it, he found himself a little excited by the new situation and it bothered him that she did not. After all, Carolyn was his now. There would be no rushing off to see her, and no end to their visits. He could have her whenever and wherever he chose.
“Is that so?”
She nodded. “He and I . . . became close after you abandoned me in the garden.”
He growled. “I did not abandon you. Now, you and I both know whose child you are carrying, so I’ll not hear another word about some other man touching you.”
The very thought had his fingers itching to cause bodily harm.
Her shoulders relaxed, and he knew she was giving in to him. “But, you don’t want a child. Let Mr. Avery claim this one. No one would ever know the truth.”
Unable to help himself, he laughed. “What do you suppose my hesitation is with a child? It matters little who claims the baby, it is still my blood flowing through his veins.”
“That is a good thing. According to my sister-in-law, both sides contributes to make the child important. You see, when I think about the child—our child—a certain uncomfortable flutter begins in my stomach. Had Mr. Avery been the father, I don’t believe I would feel like this.”
Her admission stole his breath. She actually wanted this child, because it was his. The part of what distressed him, actually brought her comfort. For the first time since he found out she was pregnant, hope for their future filled him.
Overcome with a strange feeling, he crossed the room, and pulled her into his arms. She willingly came to him, meeting his kiss with a passion that rivaled his own. God, he had missed her.
When she pushed him away, he reluctantly released her.
“Wait. We can’t do this. What about Mr. Avery? I’m betrothed to him.”
“Not anymore. You are my wife.” The words echoed in his head. His wife. The foreign thought felt good.
“But, Mr. Avery—”
He put a finger over her lips. “Right now, I don’t want to hear another word about him. Thomas will be overjoyed to discover I have decided to see to the dukedom myself.”
“So, my wants or desires on the subject are completely irrelevant?”
Fighting anger again, he locked his jaw. “Nothing about you is irrelevant. What would you have me do, Carolyn?”
A sly smile transformed her lips. “For one, I’d like you to ask me to marry you. That part seemed to be left out earlier.”
“Will you marry me?” he asked, unsure why she insisted upon something so pointless. After all, he had no intention of allowing her to escape, regardless of her answer.
“Yes, Edmund, I will marry you. However, I have one condition.”
“Anything.”
“Take off that mask. When you are with me, I want to see your face. Your whole face.”
Joy overwhelmed him as he gripped the mask, then tossed it aside. He’d been wearing it so much lately, he’d forgotten it had still remained on his face. He recalled how wearing it had felt odd after so many free hours with Carolyn in the garden. He supposed he was equipped to become used to any situation, regardless of how horrible it was.
“Much better.” She ran her hands down both sides of his face.
He closed his eyes. Knowing she cared nothing about his scars made her unique. An ache formed deep within him. He yearned for her. Pulling her back to him, he captured her mouth. She melted in his arms.
Backing her up, he led her to the bed, then he proceeded to show her one of the benefits of being the Duchess of Demoon.
Chapter 10
Nerves engulfed Carolyn as the carriage rumbled forward. The journey back home had been the opposite of the one to Gretna Green. Gone was the cold, detached man who had joined her before. He’d been replaced with a husband who couldn’t seem to keep his hands off of her, not that she minded.
They hadn’t talked about the child since he’d admitted to not wanting his bloodline to survive, but she supposed they would have time for that later. She desperately wanted to ask him why, but hadn’t had any desire to upset the comfort they had fallen into, at least not yet.
“Are you nervous?” Edmund took her hand and pulled it to his lips. “You already told your family that you were to marry, so that is no surprise. The bridegroom has only changed.”
She swallowed. “It’s not as simple as that. I hadn’t exactly spoken to them. I tried, multiple times actually, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
He leaned back in his seat as he studied her, his jaw tight. “Then, what were your three days for?”
“How do you know about that?”
“I may keep secrets from Thomas, but he doesn’t keep anything from me.”
Glancing out the window, she thought about how Claire had reacted to their conversation. Although Carolyn hadn’t told her of her plans, her sister had made it very clear she’d expected Carolyn to marry for love. Her eyes cut over to her husband.
She desired him, that was obvious, but love? She didn’t think so. After all, she had agreed to give him up and marry another man. It hadn’t been the easiest decision, but she’d made it.
“I used the time to accustom myself to my decision. After my comments and actions toward my family, I’d imagine they were not surprised to receive my letter.” She squeezed her eyes shut, recalling every word. “I never should have lied.”
“What did you tell them?” Edmund’s voice was calm.
“That I was in love with Mr. Avery, so we decided to elope.”
To her surprise, he laughed. “No doubt my cousin could have played the part. So, my dear, how do you intend to explain me?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t plan on doing it
alone.” She met his stare. “You did this, so you will be joining me.”
“No. As planned, I will see you to Dailey to gather your belongings, then return two hours later to collect you.”
“You can’t hide in the castle forever. You—”
“What do you call this?” He spread his arms to indicate the carriage. “Over this past week, I’ve been across England and all the way to Scotland. I’ve done enough.”
Seeing a hint of fear in his eyes, she placed her hands on his knees and leaned forward. “Edmund, as much as I am grateful for your interference, I didn’t ask you to do that. But, I’m asking you for this. Please.”
Determined to ease the panic on his face, she slid her hands up his knees, then brushed up against the growing bulge in his breeches. He sucked in his breath.
His eyes locked on hers, passion swimming in their depths. “I won’t allow you to manipulate me. To use my desire to have your way.”
She reared back so fast, then winced as she hit her head on the carriage wall. “That wasn’t what I was doing.”
Disappointment darkened his face. “Don’t lie to me, Carolyn. I will not have secrets between us.”
Her mouth fell open. After all their time together, she thought he knew her better than that. Angry tears welled up in her eyes, and she turned to look out the window to prevent him from seeing. Ever since becoming with child, she couldn’t seem to control her emotions.
“Believe what you will,” she forced out. “I changed my mind. I won’t have you there with me, in any case.”
The remainder of the short trip they sat in silence. Relief flooded her when they finally came to a stop. Unwilling to spend another minute in his company, she threw open the door and jumped from the carriage unassisted. Without looking back, she knocked on the door to her brother’s house.
Once inside, she listened, hoping to hear Edmund approach. The clomping of hooves on the gravel stabbed a knife into her chest. Forcing her head up, she allowed the butler to lead her to the drawing room where she waited for her family. She didn’t want to do this, and certainly not alone. Not having a choice, she sat as her nerves ate at her. It felt as though an eternity had passed before they arrived.
Enchanting the Duke of Demoon (Touched by Fire Book 4) Page 12
