Chapter 8

Keeping A Secret

Nicholas took a deep breath, his chest puffing out as he tasted the early-morning air. It was simply a wonderful day. The morning had just the right amount of chill in it to warrant a cloak, and when he was in full gallop, he would be warmed by the beast beneath him.

He did not know the area well, but half the fun of being out for a ride was the exploration. He headed for the stables to have his horse saddled.

"Your Grace, I have your horse ready for you as requested," the stablehand informed him when he reached the small stone building at the rear of the stately house.

The Duke pressed a coin into the boy's hand. "Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to be up so early to do that for me."

"Thank you, Your Grace," the boy replied. "Much appreciated."

Nicholas mounted his steed and trotted out of the stables. He was about to pull the reins to guide his horse toward the open barley field when he spotted someone else emerge from the house. Everything had been quiet when he had risen, and he had not expected someone else to be up so early.

As the person spotted him, she hesitated. She half turned to go back into the house, but then decided against it now that she was caught. Instead of heading for the field, the Duke steered the horse toward Bridget.

"I did not expect anyone else to be up so early," the Duke said from atop his horse.

"Neither did I," Bridget replied.

She was wearing the same outfit she had been wearing the first time he had met her on the moors. She had intrigued him back then, and she intrigued him again.

"Michael is very excited for the wedding," the Duke said, trying to make small talk.

"That is good." Bridget nodded. "Margaret is, too. I am so glad to see her this happy. Your brother is a good man."

"He is," the Duke agreed. "A much better man than me. It will be a fine wedding."

"It will," Bridget echoed.

It felt weird for them to make small talk after they had spent most of their time arguing or bantering. There was an awkwardness between them.

"How are you feeling?" the Duke asked.

Bridget looked worried at being asked. "I'm fine. You needn't worry about me."

"I don't worry about you, but I am concerned. You were not yourself on the beach yesterday," the Duke pointed out.

"And how do you know what I am? How do you know that it is not exactly like me and that all the other times have been lies?" Bridget challenged.

It felt wrong for Nicholas to be up on his horse, towering over Bridget from a position of power. He dismounted in one fluid motion and stood before her.

"If you would like—" he started.

"I don't need your help or your sympathy," Bridget snapped. "I made a fool of myself, and I told lies because I was annoyed at something else, and I don't need you trying to take advantage of me because my life is a mess."

"I don't need a woman to be in any sort of state to take advantage of her," the Duke said, hoping to break the tension.

It did not work, and he received a glare from her.

"I did not want to take advantage of you yesterday. I only wanted to comfort you. I don't care what is going on in your life, but I did care that you were upset."

"I wasn't upset," Bridget claimed.

"You were," the Duke insisted. "You were upset, and I comforted you, and that is all it was. Now, we can go back to being annoyed by each other because that is much more fun than whatever this is. I always feel far too gentlemanly when I speak of the weather or feelings."

"I only want you to know that my father was not drunk when he arrived home. He was in a business meeting, and someone else must have been drinking," Bridget claimed.

"Your father?" Nicholas asked. "Is he here? I don't remember seeing him."

"He—" Bridget stopped herself when she realized what he was doing.

"There is so much to keep track of and think about that it is hard to keep track of anything else."

"Yes," Bridget agreed.

Her mask slipped for a moment, and she looked grateful to the Duke for what he was doing. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled a little brighter before they dulled again, and she looked down at the ground.

Nicholas wanted to take her in his arms again and tell her everything would be fine, but he knew that would only make things worse.

Instead, he said, "This is a stressful time for everyone. You are there for your sister, and I am here for my brother. If any problems arise, I am good at dealing with people. Say the word, and I will take care of them for you."

Bridget looked up at him, and the fear was back in her eyes.

"I mean, if a vagrant should walk in and try to make trouble," the Duke clarified. "These large, empty houses are easy pickings. If someone enters the house, and it is better they are not there, then you only have to give the word, and they will be gone, alright?"

Bridget nodded. "I prefer you when you are being annoying. This feels like you are trying to make me one of your conquests by being nice to me."

Nicholas burst out laughing, and when he realized he was being too loud so early in the morning, he quieted down.

"I will only make you one of my conquests if you wish to be one," he teased.

"I do not," Bridget huffed.

"Then it will not happen," the Duke said, holding his hand out.

Bridget was tentative, but she took his hand and shook it gently.

The Duke brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed the back of it.

Bridget wanted to pull her hand back, but there was nothing untoward about his behavior, and she did not want to antagonize him.

"I am sure all of this works on other women, but it will not work on me," Bridget warned him.

"And what works on you, Lady Bridget?" the Duke asked, smiling.

"I much prefer some intelligent conversation to having my hands kissed or being hugged. I am immune to your charms."

"Oh, please don't say that, Lady Bridget. You'll only make me want to try harder. I do love a challenge," the Duke said. "Perhaps I will discuss Swift and Defoe with you or Fielding and Blake. You must appreciate the works of Mary Astell."

Bridget looked shocked. "How do you know about Mary Astell?"

"I know about a lot of things," Nicholas replied.

"Yes, well, I shall be happy to discuss any of them with you at the dining table. I am very interested in what you have to say about them."

"That is the first step," Nicholas teased. "Find some common ground, and it can open the door to romance."

Bridget shook her head. "You are an infuriating man. You might have me interested, but you have done nothing to charm me. If I were not bound to this estate, I would leave and never see you again."

"Why do you think I say such things? I don't have the chance with anyone else. It is fun to verbally spar with you, knowing that you can't escape my clutches."

"That is exactly what I am about to do," Bridget told him. "If you will excuse me, I must go for my morning ride."

"Where are you headed?" Nicholas asked.

Bridget flashed him a wry smile.

"It is only so I don't go in the same direction, Lady Bridget," Nicholas claimed. "I would not want to disturb you on your morning ride. Unless you would prefer the company? We could talk together about the wedding."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but no, thank you, Your Grace," Bridget replied. She walked off toward the stables. But before she got there, she turned around and called out, "I am riding east toward the river and estuary."

Nicholas watched her enter the stables. He could not tell if she told him where she was going so he could avoid that spot or if she really wanted him to follow.

The wedding preparations were all fine and well, and he was glad to see his younger brother so happy, but he was thoroughly bored. There was little to do in town, and there were only so many times he could go for a swim. They were a couple of days in, and he was aching for entertainment.

When Bridget emerged on her horse, he knew he had to follow her. He knew she was a challenge, and he had never been one to shy away from a challenge, but it was not only that. It was seeing her on her horse again.

She was magnificent. An Amazonian warrior about to ride into battle. The Duke wanted to get to know her better, and because she resisted his charms, he needed to break through her defenses to discover the woman she really was. Perhaps he would have a word with her father and ensure he left the estate. That might endear him to her. Or, she might be frustrated that he was trying to solve her problems.

Bridget seemed like the type of woman who liked to be independent.

She glanced at him before she rode out. The Duke watched her ride toward the edge of the estate, and when she had almost left the grounds, he rode after her.

He pushed his horse close to its top speed as she switched to a gallop at the edge of the estate. He hung back for a while, watching her.

She moved in one fluid motion, her back arching as she bobbed up and down on the horse. She leaned forward more, and the Duke became impressed by her riding skills. He did not know a woman who was her equal on a horse, and when he thought out it, he knew few men who could ride as well as Bridget. She continued to impress and intrigue him.

He rode a little behind her for a while before closing in. She wore a riding cap on her head, and there was something magical about the way her golden hair fluttered in the breeze behind her. Back at the estate, she had been shackled by the wedding and her father, but out on her horse, she was free.

Nicholas felt guilty for following her. He enjoyed their rivalry, and it brought some fun to an otherwise all-too-pleasant stay on the coast, but when he looked at how her body moved, he saw the freedom and relief she gained.

I should not push my luck with her. She needs this time to better deal with what she will face when she returns to the estate.

He was about to turn his horse around when Bridget looked over her shoulder and spotted him. She immediately pulled on the reins and slowed her horse, turning the beast to face him. He could not back off now, and he slowed his horse and brought it to a stop before hers.

The horses snorted at each other and nodded their heads.

"You are following me," Bridget stated.

"Oh, was this the way to the river and estuary?" the Duke asked innocently.

"You know full well it was," Bridget said, her chest rising and falling gently as she caught her breath.

"I wondered if it were you or some other rider, but now that I see it is you, I shall turn around and go the other way."

"Why do you keep approaching me?" Bridget asked.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"I've seen the way you look at me. You have been with many women, and I will not be one of them. I shall not fall into bed with you because you are handsome and a duke. That is not who I am. I am not a challenge to be accomplished."

"I do not see you as one," the Duke assured her. "Not in that way. I must admit that you have a certain charm, and it draws me in. When I say I want to get to know you better, I mean exactly that. I want to understand what makes you tick."

"You think pestering me enough will get you that?" Bridget asked.

"I have not meant to pester you, even if it has been fun to tease you a little. Perhaps I do see you as a challenge, but only because you put up so many walls. When I find something I want, I don't easily back down, and I want to know who you truly are, Lady Bridget."

The Duke could not be sure, but he was certain Bridget's already pink cheeks darkened a little. He had caught her attention, and that was the first step to knowing this beguiling woman.

"You are certainly entertaining," Bridget told him.

Nicholas was unsure if it was a compliment or not.

"Now, I must continue my ride," Bridget said.

"To the river?"

"To the river," she confirmed.

"I shall race you there," the Duke challenged.

"Race me there? Are we children?" Bridget scoffed.

"Was that a no?" the Duke asked.

"I didn't say that. However, we both know your horse is much faster than mine. It is not a fair challenge."

"Yes, my horse is swifter, but I do not know the way. And I shall give you a thirty-second head start," the Duke offered.

Bridget considered it.

"And to make it more interesting, if I beat you, you must spend an hour at the river with me," the Duke added. "The two of us alone."

"Fifteen minutes," Bridget countered.

Nicholas smiled now that he had her on his hook. "Forty-five minutes," he bargained.

"Fifteen," Bridget said, holding her ground. "And if we have any conversation, I get to choose the topics."

"I would expect nothing less."

Bridget rolled her eyes. "And we shall not sit too close to each other."

"Of course not," the Duke drawled. "It would be scandalous if we did, and we don't want that.

Bridget thought about it. "You are to remain silent all throughout supper tonight. No matter the conversation, you are not to say a word unless spoken to, and even then, your answer must be as brief as possible."

The Duke chuckled. "Now, that is a challenge, indeed. I accept your terms."

Win or lose, there was fun to be had.

"Thirty seconds?" Bridget asked.

"Thirty seconds."

"Alright," she said.

"On my word," the Duke stated.

Bridget turned her horse around and took up the reins. She leaned forward, ready to take off.

"Go!" the Duke shouted.