Page 2 of Doubling Down on a Duke
Lord Hurlington continued, “Should we wait until Lady Helen awakens to ensure she wasn’t injured while being transported here?”
“Have you lost all your senses, man? No, we should escape before she regains consciousness, and we damn well better leave before Whistlestop arrives.” Heavy footsteps echoed through the room followed by the click of a latch being opened. “Let’s go.”
Her unknown captor was obviously eager to leave, but unless Lord Hurlington had managed to master the art of treading silently, there was no indication that the gentleman was prepared to exit.
From close by, Lord Hurlington replied, “I’m not leaving. Whistlestop would want me to see to Lady Helen’s well-being. I can’t abandon her until I know she is fine.”
“Whistlestop will be livid when he arrives.”
There was no mistaking the quiver of fear in the man’s tone. Bryce could be direct and intimidating, but he was never a brute or quick to anger.
She replayed the peculiar conversation between her kidnappers. Mayhap Bryce wasn’t the one who had orchestrated her sudden removal from her home. She had heard enough. It was time to act. Since her captors had left her hands unbound, she reached up to pull down the blindfold, but a warm hand covered hers. “Lady Helen, it would be best if you didn’t remove?—”
“Lord Hurlington, if you wish to remain unharmed, I suggest you…”
The man removed his hand before she could finish her sentence and she tugged at the handkerchief preventing her from opening her eyes. Helen blinked and turned to her right at the sound of multiple men approaching. Just as the room came into focus, two burly men dragged in her betrothed through the tiny doorway and deposited Bryce in the middle of the room. Fora moment she simply stared at the man she had gone to great lengths to avoid for years. The vivacious Duke of Whistlestop laid unmoving on the floor. It was a sight she never imagined. Her stomach clenched and she scurried forward to kneel next to him. Ignoring the men who quickly backed away, she patted him down from head to toe as she was trained to do, checking for injuries. No broken bones. She examined both his hands and face. No signs of a struggle. Wanting answers, she looked up only to find that they were alone. Jaw clenched, Helen rose and marched directly to the door, which she assumed was already barred. Still, she had to try.
She pushed and pulled on the door handle to no avail. “Lord Hurlington!”
Through the wood panel, Lord Hurlington replied, “The Network Council convenes later today. You shall receive all the answers you seek then.”
Ear pressed to the door, Helen counted the booted footfalls that followed. Ten. Ten paces away from freedom. She turned, pressed her back against the solid surface behind her, closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply. The faint scent of tobacco had her rushing to Bryce’s side. They were being held in one of Mr. Cadby’s back rooms, which meant it was the elders who were behind their kidnappings.
She grabbed her fiancé by the lapels and shook him as hard as she could. “Wake up.”
Bryce’s hands grabbed her by the shoulders and seconds later she found herself beneath him. She held on tight to the man’s coat and stared up at him. “Your grace, we need to find a way to escape.”
Eyes still slightly glassy, Bryce blinked down at her. “What in the blazes is going on?”
She let go of his coat and fell back against the floor. “Apparently we are scheduled to meet with the Council this afternoon.”
“Ah. I see.” Bryce let his head fall forward. “I suppose that means we have run out of time.”
“Not if we find a way out of here.” She tilted her head back and scanned the room.
Rather than agreeing with her and helping to find an exit, Bryce released her and rolled back onto his back next to her. “Running and hiding will not solve anything.Youshould know that by now. If the Council elders deemed it necessary to go to such lengths to kidnap us both, I highly doubt they are willing to accept any other resolution than for us to wed. My question is, are you willing to honor the terms of our betrothal?”
If it was merely a matter of honor, she wouldn’t hesitate to wed the man—but it wasn’t.
Was it selfish of her to want a devoted and loving husband? Mayhap it was, but she wasn’t willing to settle for a prearranged marriage to a man who had not shown a single ounce of interest in her over the entire course of their betrothal, which spanned two decades. She sat up and glanced down at Bryce, who had turned his head to face her.
She gathered every ounce of courage she possessed and asked, “What if I’m not willing?”
Bryce let out a sigh and slung his arm over his eyes, “Then I shall assist you in escaping and I’ll remain behind to deal with the Council on one condition.”
“Which would be?”
“You share with me your reasons for avoiding me all these years and how you came to the decision not to marry me.”
Needing a moment to gather her thoughts, she tucked her legs under her skirts, hugged her knees to her chest. It wasn’t a totally unreasonable request on Bryce’s part, and quite generousgiven their current situation. If only her reasoning was based more on logic rather than emotion, she could have crafted an eloquent speech, but her behavior had been far from pragmatic. She glanced down at Bryce, who now had both arms flung over his handsome features. It was as if he was shielding himself from what she might say next. Ugh. Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. The monologue she had been drafting in her head to release Bryce from his obligation to marry her would do her no good now. Knees tucked under her chin, she asked the question that had been plaguing her for years. “Why did you play my papa for terms that were unfavorable to you?”
He sat up and faced her. Head cocked to one side he answered her with a grin. “Because…even at the age of six you already had a mind of your own and I knew you would want to at least have a say in when and where we wed.”
Helen couldn’t help but return his smile. “One last question before I give you my answer.”
“Just one?” His eyebrow over his left eye raised up and down.
Perhaps she had underestimated how well Bryce knew her. “Just one.” She took a deep breath hoping her heart would unwind once she received Bryce’s answer to the question that had kept her awake most of the night prior to Lord Hurlington and his mysterious accomplice kidnapping her from her chambers. “Do you love her?”
