Page 7 of A Duchess to Unravel
“Wait,” It sounded more like a plea than a demand and curse it if that didn’t make Theo long to obey even more.
“Thank you,” she blurted out instead, hurrying to the door.
She flung it open and left, walking briskly through the hall of private of rooms, past the dance floor and to the exit, cursing herself the entire.
Thank you. Thank you?!The man’s kiss had stolen every thought from her head, made the voices and worries go blissfully blank and she’d saidthank you?
Outside, Theo dragged fresh air into her lungs and continued her hurried walk away from the house. Once further away from it and seeing no one had followed her, she groaned and shook her head trying to clear the hypnotic daze that her masked man had put her in.
“Carriage,” she murmured, taking a look around the pristine lawn she wondered onto, “Where did they put the carriages?”
TheDevil’s Masqueradewas known to move. Last year it had moved to one of the outer streets of Mayfair, where the estates stopped and townhouses began. This one had been coordinated out of proper London, situated on an estate that was just a few minutes ride away from the bustle of the city. When she had first arrived, she found the new location a relief since the last had been found out by her brother. Now though, as she was trying to find her means to leave, she found it rather frustrating.
Deciding to search behind the large house, Theo hugged her bare arms around herself and took toward a gravel path lined with trees. She didn’t make it far before she heard the crunching of footsteps behind her. The sound sent goosebumps over her skin and her spine went straight. She stopped.
Was it Vulcan? Had he not left? Or was it Cernunnos? She was frightened of Vulcan, even if she hadn’t shown it earlier and was deeply embarrassed by the way she’d just acted with Cernunnos. She drew in a breath, readying herself to face either.
“How dare you--”
The angered words she’d prepared to say died on her tongue as she turned and saw it was neither man, yet still someone she knew. Her eyes widened, she bit her bottom lip, and winced as she met his cold, angry stare.
“Tristan,” she breathed.
CHAPTER TWO
“Oh no,” Theo whispered.
Her brother’s nostrils flared as his brow furrowed deeper, the breath he’d just taken seeming to freeze in his lungs as he worked his jaw back and forth and stood jarringly still. Utter rage poured from his eyes.
“Tristan,” she repeated, her voice steadier this time, “It is not what it looks like. I--”
“Do notdarelie to me right now, Theo,” he growled, cutting her off.
He moved, fast and with intent. He snatched her wrist and without breaking his quick stride, began hauling her further down the path that led to the stables. Knowing there were no words to soothe his anger, Theo decided to not speak again, instead putting her focus into keeping up with him. His grip on her wrist was not painful, but it felt like a shackle and hewas dragging her with a quickness back to the numbness she’d wanted to escape from in the first place.
Tension roiled between them as Tristan curtly ordered the stable boys to fetch her carriage and their driver. When they were readied, he opened the carriage door for her and released her wrist, quietly fuming as he waited for her to climb inside. The carriage then began taking them back up the drive, then out of the gates. It was only when they reached the road back to London that he exploded.
“What in God’s name were you thinking, Theo?” He demanded.
Theo hung her head. What could she say? What words could possibly defend her? She had lied to him outright. She’d made a promise, and she’d broken it.
“Answer me,” he snarled, “What is happening to you?”
And suddenly her ability to speak came roaring back.
“I do not know!” She shouted, snapping her eyes up to him.
Confusion ate at some of the anger in Tristan’s gaze, and he sat back in his seat studying her. He took a deep breath. Two. And when he spoke next, he sounded calmer, but still angry.
“Do you have any idea how precarious you have been with your reputation these last two years? How many times I havehad to save you from unsavory situations such as these?” He demanded.
“Then stop saving me,” she shot back, ripping off her mask.
Tristan looked at her, startled.
“It is mine, after all, is it not? It ismyreputation to ruin if I wish. You are not Father. He is gone. Now so too is Mother. You have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do.”
Tristan blinked, his jaw working once more as he studied her.
