Page 12 of Unraveled By the Duke
She was innocent. She had been afraid and then relieved to be safe. It had led to a moment of sheer madness.
How can someone be pilloried for a moment of madness when they were not in control of their actions?
She tried to keep herself occupied with drawing or reading the books her mother and the twins brought her. The evenings were the worst. She dined alone while the sound of the pianoforte drifted down to her from the dining room windows, which were always open on summer evenings. Evenings were when loneliness and despair threatened to overwhelm her.
On the third evening, she lay on the bed she had chosen. It was in a small room facing away from Banfield House, towards the trees and tall wall that marked the boundary of the property. She drew the blankets up to her chin and blew out the candle on the windowsill.
A moment later, a sharp crack came from outside, as if something had just struck the window pane.
Celia looked up. The sound came again. This time, she saw the small black shape that made it. Someone had thrown a stone at her window.
Thinking it some mischief of the twins, she went to the window and hauled it up, looking out and down. It was not the twins. Below stood the Duke of Cheverton, cloaked in black, his hood drawn up.
As he looked up at the window in the moonlight, she could see his face clearly. For a moment, she stared.
It was like looking into the face of David. Beautiful but with the hard cruelty of stone. Unyielding with high cheekbones and slightly slanted eyes. He could have been an eastern prince. A savage warlord from distant lands.
Celia had to swallow before she could speak; her mouth was dry, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“Trying to speak to you,” he replied.
“Did you try the door?”
“It is locked. Could you perhaps unlock it?”
Celia was reluctant to admit that she was a prisoner. Besides, she did not think it would be sensible to allow this man into the house, with her alone.
Because of the risk of being caught together once more? Or the risk that I might lose my self-control again?
The idea sent shivers of anticipation through her. She tried to focus on her anger at his unexpected appearance instead.
“It is the middle of the night, and you should not be here!” she hissed.
“I must talk to you. I have tried to talk to that obstinate father of yours, but every time I am told that he is indisposed. I do not believe that he is, but I can hardly challenge it!”
Celia shushed him furiously. “What could you possibly want to discuss with me?”
“What do you think?” Alexander huffed, exasperated. “May I remind you that I was an engaged man until I met you. Now, my engagement has been broken off, and gossip flows around me like the Thames. And just as poisonous. And you are to blame.”
“I was terrified!” Celia protested. “And you did not protest. In fact, I thinkyoukissed me.”
“It was the other way around, I assure you,” Alexander said wryly.
Celia gritted her teeth against a flare of irritation. His tone implied that he could not possibly have been tempted to initiate the kiss.
“Why were you terrified? Of whom?” Alexander asked after a pause, as though his curiosity had gotten the better of him.
“I do not want to discuss it,” Celia muttered, making to close the window.
“Wait!” Alexander called out, far too loudly.
Again, Celia shushed him.
“Are you mad or just drunk?” she hissed.
“A little of the second,” Alexander admitted with a sudden grin.
