Page 25 of Wicked Is the Duke
"I'm sure my cousin, the Prince Regent, might have something to say about that."
Carlisle threw his head back and laughed. "You really expect me to believe you're related to royalty?"
“I don’t care what you believe. If you truly knew anything about me you’d know the Prince and his brothers and sisters to be cousins.”
He stood there stunned, at a loss for words as he realized what she told him might be true.
"The duke and I are betrothed, and you, sir, are out of line. Please unhand me."
"In a moment. First, I intend to seal our fate." He grabbed the front of her day dress and ripped it down to her waist.
As hard as Anna tried to escape, the harder his hold on her became. She screamed, only to be struck in the jaw by Carlisle. "Let me go!"
"You're mine. Blackmont will never marry you now."
"Release me now, you pig!"
Anna knew Henry better than that. He didn't trust why the earl was here in the first place. She screamed again. Hearing rustling along a second path, she was relieved to see Henry sprinting toward her. Behind him, Lady Caroline and Jane trailed.
"What in the name of hell is going on here?" Henry bellowed.
"He was trying to compromise me, so I'd be forced to marry him," Anna said.
The earl smiled. "I can assure you, Your Grace, it was quite consensual. Look at her dress; she couldn't wait to remove her clothes to tempt me with her womanly goods."
Lady Caroline gently placed her hand on his arm. "You can't marry her, Henry. She'll ruin you."
He stared coldly at her and removed her hand from his person.
Henry took Anna by the hand and led her next to his sister. He stared coldly at the pair. "I believe you'll find the inn in the village suitable. My man will take you."
He led Anna away, walking toward the house.
"You're making a huge mistake, Henry," Carlisle said.
"I'm Blackmont in case you've forgotten, and you're lucky I don't call you out," he said dryly. He nodded to his sister. "Come, ladies, Mr. Abernathy will see the earl and Lady Caroline are taken to the inn."
"Do you really think you should send them to the village?" Jane whispered as they walked toward the main house.
"I can't imagine Norwood allowing them to spend any time under his roof once he hears what happened."
Anna, who'd been quiet since the confrontation, pulled away from Blackmont and stopped. "I agree with Henry on this matter, Jane. To allow them to stay would be as though Carlisle did nothing."
"It's not that I don't agree, Henry. I was merely trying to be as discreet as possible. They go to the village, and there’s no telling what they might say or do. Especially Carlisle once he's had something to drink."
Norwood came rushing down the path, the look on his face changing between concern and anger. "I just heard Anna had been compromised by the earl? Please tell me it isn't so."
"I was not compromised, though if Carlisle had had another minute, I have no doubt he would have done more."
Norwood stared at her torn dress. "Your dress..."
"He ripped it to make it appear I'd been compromised. I can assure you nothing untoward happened. If I'd had another second alone with him, I would have made sure he never fathered any children."
A look passed between the two men. "Remind me to never cross you, sweet," Henry murmured.
"I can thank my brother for teaching me ways to defend myself from pigs such as Carlisle."
Jane neared. "Come let's get you out of this dress while Norwood and Henry make sure the earl and Lady Caroline are escorted off the property."
