Page 59 of A Virgin for the Duke of Thorns

“You are right,” he told her. “My father was a fine hunter and one who most often got his way. But what good is it for the little bird that got in his way?”

He dropped the rifle as he turned to face her. “Turn around and go back to your sister and your friends,” he growled. “Go back to your picnic and your revelry.”

“But what about you?” she insisted. “You haven’t caught anything yet.”

“I am feeling most unwell, Alice,” he retorted sarcastically.

He watched as her eyes widened in hurt, wincing when she stepped away from him with a wary expression.

He had scared her. Just like his father had done to his mother. He had seen that look in his mother’s eyes far too often in the past to not recognize it for what it was.

He cursed himself inwardly. He should have been gentler with Alice. He should have taken more care.

So many should haves. He wondered if his father thought of them, too, and then nearly laughed at himself.

In the end, it did not matter—things still ended up the way they did, regardless of what his father thought.

“I see.”

Those two words pierced through the air between them far more efficiently than any bullet could have. He watched as Alice defiantly lifted her chin and smiled coolly at him.

“I hope that you feel better in my absence then,” she bit out before turning on her heel and heading off in the general direction of the picnic grounds.

Colin watched helplessly as she walked away from him. Inwardly, he told himself that this was for the best, that her disliking him was for the best.

That letting her go was the right thing to do.

If only every fiber of his being did not rebel at the thought, it would have been nice, too.

CHAPTER 24

Men are truly the most confusing creatures to exist!

Alice could only shake her head as she headed back to where the other young ladies were situated in the gardens of Fitzroy Hall. The entire ground was festooned with banners and ribbons as gaily colored as the guests themselves.

Picnic blankets were laid out with canopies above them to filter out the harsh sunlight, and the most sumptuous fare had been laid out for the young women to enjoy while excitedly awaiting the results of the gentlemen’s hunt.

She spotted Scarlett and the others seated under one of the canopies and hurriedly walked over to them.

“My dear, why the long face?” Scarlett exclaimed as Alice sat down beside her in a bit of a huff. The redhead looked at her with some concern but could ill conceal the merriment dancing in her eyes. “Do not tell me that you have been pricked by the Duke of Thorns?”

At the mention of her brother, Evie immediately perked up. Her eyes narrowed as she leaned towards Alice as well. “You must tell me if he has done anything untoward, Alice,” she told her with a shake of her head. “Fake betrothal or not, Grandmama and I shall sort him out for you!”

Alice laughed at this and patted the younger lady’s hand, her spirits immediately buoyed by their company. “Come now, where is your sense of your loyalty towards your brother?”

“My loyalty to him includes calling him out when he is being an odious beast,” Evie scoffed with a defiant tilt of her chin. “And I know very well just how exasperating he can be, so you need not be shy on my account!”

“I am sure you do, my dear. But it is nothing I cannot handle, I assure you.”

Those words seemed to mollify Evie for a bit, and she settled back, her gaze returning to the tree-lined edge of the woods that the gentlemen had disappeared into earlier with their rifles slung over their shoulders.

“You look like you hardly slept a wink,” Scarlett remarked in a low voice. “Is it possible that he…” she trailed off, her meaning as obvious as the glint in her eyes.

Why did everyone just assume that?

Alice shook her head. Was that regret she felt? She could hardly tell, for Scarlett immediately let out a faint noise of approval.

“Well, he certainly knows how to conduct himself properly at the very least,” she said with a pleased smile. “I cannot say that his behavior towards you has been exemplary as of late, but at least he was gentlemanly enough to refrain from sullying your reputation right under his roof.”

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