Page 4 of Wedded to the Scottish Duke

He put her down at once, and she tried to dance away, but not before she felt something being pushed into her hands. It was his shirt. She hastily pulled it over her head, knowing her chemise and robe were too far away. In the time it took to find them, he might be able to glimpse all of her.

She pulled it over her body, before turning back to face him, searching for something bold to say.

For the first time in her life though, she was completely tongue-tied and flustered. The sight of his figure so tall and strong left her speechless.

“Thank you,” she said hurriedly. He inclined his head slightly, in acknowledgment of her gratitude. “But… there really was no need for you to interfere.”

She turned on her heel and marched around the lake, trying to reach her robe and chemise as quickly as she could.

“No need?” She couldhearthe smile in his voice as he followed her. “Ye could have drowned.”

“I meant your shirt.” She looked for excuses, waving the hem of his shirt at him as she marched away, all too aware that thoughit was much longer on her than it was on him, her legs were still very much on show. His shirt was now also sticking to her curves, as she was wet. “If we were seen… oh my Lord, I could have been ruined.”

Celia covered her mouth with her hands in horror as she slipped repeatedly on the shingle, trying her best to get to her clothes.

What whispers there were about her had never been confirmed. Her reputation was still mostly intact, for there had been no outright scandal, but if anyone heard about this, she would be done for.

Ma would never forgive this.

She could just imagine Marianne’s disappointed face and the tears in her eyes.

“Wait, ye’d be ruined just because I didn’t let ye drown? Aye, that makes sense.” His voice was still following her.

“I wouldn’t have drowned. I’m a skilled swimmer, and I would have gotten myself out.”

She found her robe and picked it up from the ground, wrapping it around her shirt-clad body as quickly as she could.

“So ye say.” He didn’t sound remotely convinced. “Ye’re shaking. Go back inside before ye catch yer death.”

“Are you giving me orders?” she huffed, unwilling to show that her shivering had much more to do with the fact that she had just been pressed,naked, against a shirtless man with armsthatstrong.

“Were ye planning on taking another dip before ye retired for the night?” he asked, the wryness in his voice obvious, though he didn’t laugh.

She huffed and turned on her heel, ready to leave and forget this night had ever happened, but then she hesitated.

He can’t say anything to anyone. If he does…

“Are you sure you didn’t see?—”

“I didn’t see anything,” he said, somewhat harshly. “I was rather preoccupied with saving yer life.”

She felt guilty for her sharp tone, but she couldn’t apologize for it. Part of her was still furious that she felt any attraction at all to a half-naked man she couldn’t even see properly.

“Fine.” She sighed with relief, tying up her dressing gown. “I… I will find a way to return your shirt to you, Sir,” she said quickly, turning away and intending to walk away from him again.

“It’s ‘Yer Grace’ to ye.”

She hesitated, her foot slipping on the shingle.

He cannot be a duke.

She hadn’t been introduced to a duke she did not know that evening when she had arrived. There had been no new face.

Is he lying?

“Of course, you are a duke.” She actually laughed as she tried to step away.

“Wait.” His hand suddenly caught her arm.

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