Page 50 of The Duke's Pet

Glancing to the right, she tried to see through the dense greenery. But she couldn’t, there was no way of knowing if James was there—if it was even him.

“Come down from the tree this instant.” The duke raised his cane and slapped at a small branch. Leaves shredded and landed around him. “Now.”

“I can’t.” Her belly quivered, her heart was pounding. How had it come to her being naked, done up like a cat, and stuck in a tree at this grand estate?

“If I have to come and get you, and I will, mark me, your punishment will be even more severe.”

“But surely you do not wish James to see me like this either. You said my nakedness was for your eyes only.”

He scowled at her then disappeared from sight. When he returned, he propped his cane against the trunk and rammed his hands onto his hips. “There is no one there, and if there was he has gone now. If indeed it was James you saw, he will be following the deer, and not coming anywhere near me and you.”

“How do you know?”

“I just do, do not question me.”

He was really mad now, she could tell by the rise of color on his cheeks that hadn’t been there previously.

“I’m coming to get you.”

“No, please, I’ll come down.” She paused. “If you’re sure there is no one around.”

“I am sure.”

I can’t stay up here forever.

She had no option but to take his word for it. She carefully reached her foot down to the lower branch.

But for some reason she couldn’t quite stretch that far. She twisted, holding onto the trunk. But with the plug and the tail in, she didn’t have the confidence to close the gap while holding nothing.

“What is keeping you?”

“I... Sir... I... it’s too high.”

“Yes, it’s high. You climbed like the naughty kitten you are.” He paused. “Are you stuck?”

“No...” She tried again, no good, she couldn’t make the gap. “Yes, I am.” She paused. “I’m stuck.”

“For the sake of the dear Lord above.”

In an instant he was climbing the tree, at least as fast as she had if not quicker. His long arms and legs made short work of covering the distance between her and the ground, and he easily spanned the gaps between the branches.

And then he was there before her.

His face softened and he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Don’t fear. I’ll help you down safely.”

“Thank you.”

He pushed at a twig that was clipping his ear then took her hand. “I’ll hold you while you get your foot to the next branch down.”

She nodded and gripped him.

This time when she reached down she had the confidence to overstretch. His grip was firm and strong. He had her.

She made it to the next branch and he followed.

“Good,” he said. “Now take it slow, I don’t want you falling, we’re still high.”

“Yes.” She swallowed. The taste of fear was abating. “I’ll be careful.”

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