Page 20 of A Lady Never Tells
He’d won the boon at archery. Of course he had… She hadn’t thought she’d actually win. What frightened her was that he hadn’t asked for his boon and she didn’t like that one bit. What if he asked her for something she couldn’t give him? Or…what if he asked for something she desperately did want to give him? She wasn’t sure which would be worse… Hell, she was starting to suspect both of those options were the exact same thing. Eden wanted to throw herself into his arms and beg him to bring her to the brink of ecstasy over and over again.
She stood next to the mounting block waiting for one of the stable hands to help her onto the horse. Once she was safely in her saddle, she pressed her knee into the horse and flipped the reins. Before long she was galloping through a nearby field with the wind whipping around her. This was exactly what she’d needed. It was a boost of freedom that reminded her of everything she’d gained once her husband had died. She had never wished or his death, but she wasn’t so foolish as to ignore what his demise had done for her. It hurt Roslyn far more than it ever would Eden. Roslyn still needed to find a husband. Eden didn’t wish to ever marry again. It was enough for her to have her life back and choices she’d never been afforded before.
She slowed her horse down to a walk and decided to ride along a trail that led into the woods nearby. Exploring more of the Wyndam estate seemed more appealing than returning for whatever entertainments had been planned for the guests. She stopped when she reached a pond. Did she dare dismount and explore more around her? What if she couldn’t get back on her horse? No, she couldn’t do it. It would be beyond imprudent, and Eden tried to be smart about all her decisions.
Eden sighed and decided to turn around and return. Clouds had started to form overhead, and she feared they were in for a storm. A loud crack echoed around her, and her horse whinnied at the sound. The mare hadn’t liked it one bit and reared back sharply, causing Eden to slide from its back. She landed on the ground hard. Pain filled her hip, and she cried out as the pain ripped through her.
The beat of hooves on the ground caught her attention. It wasn’t her horse, but another nearby. Her horse, the ninny, wandered over to the pond and began to drink. The other rider came into the clearing and stopped when he noticed Eden on the ground. “What are you doing?”
She glared at the duke. Why was he so bloody handsome? “I thought I’d take a break and inspect the grass over here. It looked like a lovely place to sit.” Her sarcasm spilled out of her before she had time to stop herself.
His lips twitched. “Is that so?” He slid off his horse with more ease than anyone should have. “Do you mind if I join you?”
Why was he out riding? She’d gone out hoping to avoid another encounter with him. Had he known she’d be out this way? How could he possibly have known? “I certainly cannot stop you, if that is what you’re asking.” She could barely move. The pain in her hip was excruciating. Eden didn’t think she could ride back to the estate, and walking. She nearly groaned at the thought.
He narrowed his gaze. “You’re not telling me something.”
There was a lot she wasn’t telling him. “I can’t imagine what that might be.” And she hoped neither could he…
“Are you hurt?” he asked in a soft, soothing tone. Had he noticed that she winced whenever she moved? “Tell me what happened, love.”
Why did he insist on using endearments with her? It gave her hope when it was the last thing she could afford to have. “It’s nothing.” She tried to brush off the accident.
“I doubt that.” He leaned down and lifted her into his arms. “Let me take care of you.”
Her heart melted a little at his words. It wasn’t his fault she had trouble trusting men. He’d been good to her. Always. Even that night when he didn’t know her name, and still didn’t realize how they were connected. “I don’t think I can,” she said in a low tone. “I wish I could.”
The duke frowned. Rain started to fall from the sky. Lightly at first, then the heavens opened up and drenched them completely. He shook his head and water sprayed even more around them. He was a handsome man, but wet, good lord he was a sight. He chose to ignore her last words. “We need to get out of this rain.”
She couldn’t argue with that. “There is nowhere to go.”
“That’s not true. There is a hunting cabin nearby. I will take you there, then come back to secure the horses.”
Eden had no idea there had been a cabin nearby. “All right,” she conceded. She couldn’t very well walk anywhere in her condition.
The duke carried her to the cabin, which hadn’t been far at all. How had she not noticed it before? He opened the door and once they were inside, he set her down gingerly. “I’ll start a fire once I return. See if you can find some blankets and get out of your wet clothes. You’ll catch your death if you don’t dry soon.”
Eden doubted that it was that dire, but she didn’t want to stay in her wet riding habit. She’d much rather be warm and dry. Instead of stripping it off though she decided to start the fire herself. She found some dry wood and put it in the hearth, then used the nearby tinderbox to start the fire. Once the flames were crackling against the wood, she decided to remove her wet garments. She found a blanket to wrap herself in and slowly removed her riding habit. She’d just wrapped the blanket around herself when the door opened again.
The duke froze once he was inside. His gaze roamed over her. She’d undone her hair and let it fall over her shoulder in wet blonde waves. Eden was naked underneath that blanket. Her insides heated and wetness pooled between her thighs. She wanted him. Desperately.
Maxwell groaned. She was a delectable sight. God help him, he didn’t think he could stop himself from kissing her. He strode over to her side and lifted his hand to caress her cheek. She looked so lovely and soft, and he’d never wanted anything as much as he wanted her. “Are you warm?” His voice was husky as he spoke. She’d started the fire on her own, and he was grateful she had known how. Not for himself, but so she would be comfortable. He wanted his wet clothes off too, but didn’t want to make her feel uneasy. Maxwell would remain dressed until the rain stopped. Then he’d retrieve the horses while she donned her riding habit again. Until then, he had to try to keep his distance from her.
He moved away from her and went to sit on a wood stool near the fire. He held his hands near the flames and then rubbed them together. Cold and seeped inside and seemed to wrap around his bones…
“Aren’t you going to take off your wet clothes?” she asked.
He lifted his gaze and met hers. There was something there, but he couldn’t pinpoint what. She had always seemed so familiar to him. Even more so now... Eden was standing before him with nothing but a blanket between them—it was almost as if he’d seen her like this before.
“I don’t think that is wise.” His voice cracked a little. He’d give anything for a decanter of brandy. It might warm him and it would give him something else to hold in his hand. He itched to touch her again.
“Perhaps not,” she said in a soft tone. “But it is perhaps even more of a risk for you to not remove them. You shouldn’t risk illness any more than I should.” She lifted a brow, then gestured toward another blanket. “If you’re worried I’ll take advantage of you I promise I won’t do anything untoward.”
His lips twitched. As if he would stop her if she did something that scandalous. “What if I want you to compromise me?”
She tilted her head to the side. “Do you?” Eden took a step toward him. She flicked her tongue over her bottom lip and he groaned.
“I’d like nothing more,” he said in a guttural tone. “But I won’t use you like that.”
