Page 24 of The Duke Who Dared Me
“Well, at least he’s not you, Ali.”
Silence again.Heavy.Searing.
Then footsteps passed in the hallway.They both froze as the latch wiggled.
Verity’s eyes went wide.“Don’t let them open it.If they see us…”
He rushed forward, bracing one hand above her shoulder, pressing her gently back into the pile of coats.The door creaked open a few inches until a sliver of light poured in.They stayed pressed together, hearts racing.
“I hate you,” she whispered.
“I know.”
His mouth hovered a breath from hers.And if she leaned up, if she closed the space between them…
He would’ve let her.
Instead, she turned her head and cleared her throat.“We should leave,” she said hoarsely.
“We should.”
Somewhere in the house, a door slammed.Voices echoed down the hallway.Soon, someone would come looking.
But neither of them moved.
Alistair finally understood what it meant to want something he couldn’t have.And it was going to destroy him.
CHAPTER5
One carriage.Two enemies.And a storm no one saw coming.Sources confirm: Thunder isn’t the only thing that shook the countryside last night.
- The Polite Observer
A footman foundVerity just as the soup course was cleared, bearing a silver tray and a letter with her name scrawled across the front in her brother’s unmistakable hand.She hesitated, just long enough to peek up and catch the swift glances of guests pretending not to watch, before slipping her finger beneath the seal.
Her heart dropped.Colin, sweet baby Colin, was gravely ill.
“Is something the matter, dear?”Lady Quinlan leaned in with concern.
Verity swallowed hard, the letter shaking in her hand.“My nephew is ill with fever.My brother’s asked me to return to London immediately.”
“Oh, my dear.”Lady Quinlan waved over a footman.“Take my carriage.”
Verity began to protest, but the countess dismissed her concern with a graceful flick of her gloved hand, glittering with rubies.
“I’ll escort her,” Alistair said, already pushing back from his chair.“He’s my godson.”
Lady Quinlan blinked at him, then smiled.“Very well, Your Grace.Safe travels, both of you.”
She personally led them through the marbled entry as staff hurried to prepare the carriage.At the door, she pressed a blanket and a basket of sandwiches and tea cakes into Verity’s hands.“I can’t send you off hungry.Children are resilient.I’ll keep him in my thoughts.”
The rain started as Alistair helped her into the carriage, the early March wind already lashing through the trees.Thunder rolled above them.
By the time they were well on their way, the heavens had opened entirely.Rain sheeted against the windows.The road had turned to mud a half hour ago, and the wheels slid with every turn.
Verity pressed herself into the farthest corner of the seat, arms wrapped tightly around herself as another crack of thunder split the sky.
“Wonderful,” she muttered.“As if the closet wasn’t enough, now we must be trapped in a carriage.”
