Page 16 of Good Duke Gone Wild

“Dashing out of the house—”

“You saw that?”

“Sneaking behind the carriages—”

“You saw that, too?”

“Yanking the carriage door open—”

“Ugh.” Her hands flew over her face. How mortifying.

“The question is, what the devil are you doing?”

“I already told you. I need some real life experience.” She was now sitting awkwardly next to him on the squabs, doing her best to hold onto her dignity. But her hands blanketed her face anyway. That’s when she realized at some point in the evening she had lost her mask. This was not going well. This was the worst thing that could happen because surely he was going to send her home before any adventure could take place. “You wouldn’t understand,” she muttered resentfully. Her heart felt like a pillow that had lost a good portion of its feathers. Not even a good fluffing would do.

“What wouldn’t I understand?”

And with that question she had a choice, unburden her deepest fear wrapped in her most vulnerable of desires…or…lie. Something about his simple question and the way his head was leaning against the cushion, just slightly tilted toward her, was so unintimidating that she decided to try honesty.

“The need for a different life.”

She expected a sigh or irritation. A rant. A grumble. Anything resembling the grumpy, arrogant, domineering man that had graced her with his presence thus far this evening.

Instead, the not-so-fake pirate turned his head so that it was facing the roof of the carriage, and then he closed his eyes.

Waiting for far too long in the silence made her uneasy, but then she realized that the carriage hadn’t changed directions, so not wanting to risk uttering any words that might change his mind, she sat still.

After what felt like multiple London seasons had passed, the carriage finally jolted to a stop.

Gradually, Jude opened his eyes, and without a passing glance in her direction, he alighted the carriage.

Were they really—

“Are you just going to sit there after you went to all that trouble of sneaking around?”

Agatha popped her head out of the carriage door and saw the port. Mouth agape, she couldn’t believe her luck. He hadn’t sent her home.

“Before you get any fantastical ideas, I’m sending you home.”

“But—”

“You may as well see the ship first.”

“But—”

“Let’s go before I change my mind realizing that this is the most asinine thing I’ve ever done.”

And since she was a glutton for humiliation, of course she asked, “Even more so than earlier?”

“Don’t remind me.” Jude scrubbed his hand down his face. “This evening is full of asinine behavior. Must be a full moon.”

They both looked up at the crescent moon, neither one acknowledging it.

Jude huffed and started toward his ship.

“Wait—”

“Keep up,” he barked.

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