Page 62 of A Virgin to Tame the Duke
The idea of being sequestered in a carriage with only Sebastian for company made her skin crawl, and she shook her head. “I’m perfectly well, Sebastian.”
He took her arm, his fingers digging in painfully. “Will you accept any man other than me?”
“This is not the place to be having this conversation.”
“I’m trying to look out for you,” he hissed, shaking her. “You may fancy the attentions of Lord Routley, but he’s not the marrying kind.”
That was always the risk, she supposed, but she pulled her arm from Sebastian’s grip with a flash of anger that flared through the numbness. “You may insult every one of my other suitors, Sebastian, but that does not make me more inclined to wed you.”
His face darkened. “Must you wait until you have exhausted every other option?”
Several gazes were on them, so she merely shook her head and pushed her way through the crowd. There had to be a door somewhere—she didn’t care where it led as long as it went somewhere other than here, where the lights pierced her skull.
“Charlotte,” Sebastian called from behind her. “Wait. You don’t know where you’re going.”
“Leave me alone,” she managed, bursting through the doors into the hallway. The front door stood at the very end of the hallway, beside a set of sweeping stairs that rose to the first floor, but Charlotte didn’t want to venture out onto the streets. Instead, she rested her back against the wall and pressed a hand against her aching head. A vase on a table kept her company, and she half laughed at the absurdity of the situation.
“Charlotte.” Sebastian loomed above her, and for the first time she really appreciated how much larger than her he was. “You can’t run away from this.”
“I told you to leave me alone.”
“Stop fighting the inevitable.”
“If it’s a choice between marrying you or remaining an old maid, I will not be marrying you. I don’t love you and I never will.” She dropped her hand from her head and held it out in front of her. “Please, Sebastian. Let me have a moment to gain my composure.”
He grabbed her hand and forced it to one side, pressing up against her in the same movement. She only had time for a squeak of terror before his mouth was pressing against hers. He tasted of alcohol and a wave of helplessness overcame her. Trapped against the wall as she was, there was no way out, and no matter how hard she struggled, he was too strong, too heavy, too persistent, and—
He ripped away from her, and she stumbled forward.
“Howdareyou,” Aaron thundered, grasping her cousin by the lapels and planting a fist across his face. Charlotte gasped, one hand pressed against her mouth, as Sebastian landed like a fallen tree. Aaron stood before her, his chest heaving, his eyes wild. She’d never seen him so furious—not even with Constance or her—but although corrosive fear had coursed through her body just moments before, she wasn’t afraid.
“Did that brute hurt you?” Aaron asked, cupping her face with his hand. “Lord, I should have got here sooner. I never thought he would try something like this. I—” He broke off and swayed on his feet.
“Aaron!”
“I’m fine. Are you all right?”
She shuddered before she could help herself, but when his fingers tensed on her cheek, she pressed into them. “He only kissed me. But why—why are you here? I thought you despised me?”
“I could never despise you. I—” He coughed and shook his head. “A week apart was enough to convince me my happiness lies with you. An entire evening of watching another gentleman flirting with you only convinced me more. As for the Earl—” He broke away again and braced one hand against the wall. “Tell me the truth, Charlotte. Did you know about your mother’s scheme?”
“No.”
“Then will you—” He coughed again, and something splattered against the floor. Blood. After a couple more seconds of struggling for words, Aaron collapsed.
* * *
Lights flared beyond Aaron’s eyelids. Agonizing pain stabbed through his torso, and he retched. Voices. Hands pressed on his forehead. He opened his eyes, but the candlelight was too bright and smeared his vision.
“Charlotte,” he mumbled. His last clear memory had been of her and the concern in his eyes as he’d collapsed. He searched through the confused information his senses provided, looking for her, but nothing stayed still long enough for him to make note of it. The world was spinning. The pain in his stomach increased, and he vomited into a basin provided for him.
“Aaron,” Charlotte said, taking his hand and pressing it against her cheek. He couldn’t focus on her, but he would have known her voice from anywhere.
“Please, My Lady, you should—”
“I will remain with His Grace,” Charlotte said coldly. “Thank you.”
Another wave of agony swept over Aaron, and he lost his fragile grip on the world as darkness overcame him once more.
