Page 27 of The Duke of her Dreams

Theodore leaned forward, offering to help her when she swayed. “You do not seem fine, Miss. Perhaps you need somewhere to stay for the night.”

“Sir,” she said with a groan and made her way forward before turning. “I do not need your help!”

Theodore was stung by her words, but he persisted. She looked flustered and afraid, but there was intent in her eyes. It blazed bright even in the fading sunlight. He looked to the stream and caught the sight of red before it was washed away by the current. Theodore thought it was a trick of the light until he saw it again. And again.

Tracing the origin, he looked to her right hand as she marched off. Blood was dripping from her hand into the water. She was injured. Theodore dashed over and grabbed her by the shoulders.

“You are bleeding, Miss. Immediate attention is needed lest the wound festers into something unimaginable. My steward is quite knowledgeable about the administration of first aid.”

She huffed a sigh, blowing a wisp of blonde hair from her face. “First, you stopped me because you thought I was in a race with you. Now you are accosting me and forcing me to your house? And you expect me to blindly follow you?”

Theodore was not used to being rejected. Shame crept up his spine as he watched her leave. “Forcing you? I am merely concerned for your welfare. And I stopped you because you interrupted my hunt and let my target escape.”

“So that is what this is? Payback because I interrupted your little hunting game? And why would a common stranger be concerned about my welfare? We are strangers to each other after all.”

He continued following her, slinging his rifle over his shoulder. With a frustrated grunt, Theodore tapped her on the shoulder once again.

“Where are you headed to, then? Perhaps I can help you reach your destination?”

She laughed in a sarcastic tone that made Theodore’s countenance become marred by a frown. “I am sure that I can find my way, Sir. You can get back to chasing your game.”

Then she continued downstream, towards the darker part of the woods. Theodore was concerned, but he could not force her into doing something she certainly did not want.

He turned around and sighed, the frown disappearing from his face. Theodore restrained himself from running after her. For some reason, she did not even remember the face of the man that kissed her. It was dark, but her face was still ingrained into his mind.

A scream made him turn his head. He could still see her purple satin by the bank, but her figure was unmoving. Fear rammed into Theodore’s gut as his instincts kicked back in. He threw the gun on the rocks and raced toward her.

“Do you need my help now?” he asked. Slowly, she got up to her feet. Groans and sighs escaped her lips as her blood pooled slowly on the smooth stones. Once she was up, she shook her head. But when she tried to walk, there was a limp in her step.

“I do not see a lady’s maid. Are you married then?”

“No!” she shot back, the pain evident in her voice. Her face contorted into a grimace as she limped.

“Where are you headed then? Since you are bent on traveling through the woods, I must at least give some directions. You are but a stranger after all.”

“Bath,” she replied softly, her shoulders sagging. “I am heading to Bath.”

“Then you are going the wrong way, Miss. Bath is not even close if you follow that direction. Moreover, you are severely injured and would never make it to Bath on foot. Let me help you. Stranger to stranger.”

Theodore watched as she pursed her lips, reminded of their time in the garden. She was in thought, her mind working tenaciously. But he had lied to her. Bath was in that direction, but she would never make it on her own.

“Fine,” she panted. “But if you will spare me a room and some food, that is all I require.”

“Making demands with your condition? You are highly spirited for someone who was walking into the woods at night without a weapon.”

She clenched her hands into a fist. “These are my weapons. They might look quite insignificant, but a hook is enough to throw my enemy to the ground.”

Theodore burst into laughter, unable to shove it down anymore. He was enjoying the show, but the light was fading fast. The woods were getting darker by the second, and that only meant that danger was fast approaching.

“Come,” he gestured, hand waving through the air. “My horse is right over there.” She hesitated, watching him with careful eyes. Theodore stared at her too, forcing himself to keep his eyes on her face.

“You are in no state to go anywhere, Miss. Also, you are in the middle of nowhere. Moving beyond the tree-line at this hour will endanger your life.”

There was a resigned look on her face as she took in the situation. It was enough for her to give in to the thought of a warm bed and some food. Perhaps it was all she needed. A step forward, and pain flooded her body. She crashed into Theodore, and he held his ground. Swiftly, he carried her in his arms and through the woods. He navigated the path to his horse as fast as he could. His horse nickered, agitated from being tied up for a long time. Carefully, he helped her onto the horse.

Theodore waited for Perceval. His heart was racing at the sight of her on the horse, and he tried to keep his inclinations in check.

“Why are we waiting?” she asked in a haughty tone that made Theodore smile.

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