Page 95 of A Virgin for the Duke of Thorns

She opened her umbrella and walked out into the rain, her boots squelching on the soaked ground as she looked around to see if Colin was still anywhere in the vicinity.

I certainly hope that he has gone home.

She might be angry with him, but she was not so evil as to wish harm to befall him.

When her surreptitious inspection yielded nothing, she inwardly let out a relieved sigh and turned back towards the door, when a low, teasing voice spoke out from the shadows.

“If I had known that I had to get wet before you come out to talk to me, perhaps I should have had one of the servants throw a bucket of water at me.”

Alice let out a short scream and nearly batted him with her umbrella. Standing before her was Colin, smiling at her as if he was looking at the thing he wanted most in the world.

And looking a little too pleased with himself.

She sniffed and tilted her chin defiantly. “I just feared that we would have to dispose of your corpse in the morning,” she told him acidly. “Our family could hardly bear the scandal of your demise on our estate.”

“So morbid.” He chuckled, walking over to her until he stood beneath her umbrella as well. “But that is what I love about you—among a great many things.”

She frowned as she looked up at him. Her heart pounded so loudly at his words that she feared he would be able to hear it above the din of the rain and thunder.

“Y-you are going to catch your death in this rain,” she stammered, feeling suddenly shy. “I cannot believe you would be so silly as to stay out here all this time.”

He tilted her chin so that her gaze would meet his solemn one. “I would stay out for far longer until you would forgive me.”

Forgive him? Could she really?

She sighed and nodded towards the door. “Come inside and get warm. I shall see about a change of clothes.”

She tugged at his soaked sleeve and led him to her bedchamber, where she threw him a towel and an oversized robe.

“Dry yourself and change into the robe,” she instructed him. “If we place your clothes by the fire, they might dry quicker.”

Colin smiled in thanks but then frowned when he saw that the robe in his hands was one that definitely belonged to a man.

“Who does this robe belong to?” he demanded softly.

Alice looked at the robe in confusion and then rolled her eyes at him. “Please do not pretend like you do not know the shenanigans I have been up to. Men’s clothing makes it much easier for me to slip out of the estate without being recognized.”

He smiled at her explanation. “I have almost forgotten just how naughty you can be.”

Alice shrugged. “I have done much worse. I do not deserve half the patience my parents have shown me. In any other household, I might have been whipped terribly for my mischief.”

“I do not think anyone would have the heart to beat you, little lamb.”

Her heart clenched painfully to hear him refer to her by that affectionate nickname. She blinked her eyes rapidly to chase away the tears that had begun to sting her eyes.

“Get changed, and I shall place your clothes by the fire. The sooner they dry, the sooner you can leave.”

She turned away from him, but his hand wrapped around her wrist, stopping her. She looked up at him with a frown.

“What do you intend to do, Colin?” she demanded, hating the way her voice broke. Hating the way he still managed to get under her skin after he had hurt her so, so much.

Had she not learned her lesson? Had the pain not been enough?

He raised his hand to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing a tear that fell unbidden.

“I came here to give you a gift,” he told her tenderly.

“What gift?” She laughed harshly. “Perhaps what you mean is that you brought payment for services rendered?”

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