Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

Caroline woke late, but unlike previous mornings, this morning she felt… rested. She stretched, trying to turn toward the sunlight in the window but a solid form blocked her from moving.

That's when she realized that Luke was half on top of her. His leg and arm tossed over her body, weighing her down and warming her.

No wonder she'd slept so soundly.

She smiled as she pushed her hair out of her face, trying to scoot out from under his heavy form.

"Where do you think you're going?" he rumbled closed to her ear.

She shook her head, though the smile remained. She turned to find his face barely an inch from hers. "The sun is shining."

"It is."

"For the first time in a few weeks, I think I might like a walk."

He wrapped his arm about her, turning her so that they were belly to belly. "A walk?"

She nodded, her palm skimming up his back until she settled it into the short hair at the base of his skull. "Getting some fresh air and sunshine might do me some good."

"Perhaps we should leave the city. Country air might suit you even better."

"Perhaps," she murmured without committing. She wasn't certain she was ready to go anywhere with him. Here in London, she had the means to retreat if necessary.

He rolled her onto her back, his body coming on top of hers. "I've another idea for exercise."

She laughed, wrapping her other arm about his neck. "And then a walk after? I feel like getting out."

"Are you interested in getting out again this evening?"

"This evening?"

"There is a ball. I need to attend for a business matter, but I thought we might announce a courtship, if you're amenable."

She appreciated that he'd asked. Nipping at her lip, she considered her options. Courtship was not marriage. But it was a step in that direction.

Her fingers dug into his neck as their gazes held, her indecision surely shining in hers. "You want to declare that you're considering marriage to me?"

His brows lifted. "I've asked for your hand. Why wouldn't I?"

He was so bold. So unafraid of being hurt, of making a wrong choice. "What if things don't work out between us?"

His brows rose even higher. "I'm betting that they will. I do have several powers of persuasion."

"Which are?" She was baiting him now. She knew it. But in this regard, she had no reservations.

He kissed her long and slow, his naked hips settling between her thighs, the head of his manhood pushing against her folds. "Let me see," he said, beginning to push inside her. "I'm an excellent conversationalist." And then he slid all the way in, filling her with his thickness. She arched against him. "And then there is my social circle. I keep excellent company."

She might have laughed, but he was putting pressure on the most wonderful spots, delicious tendrils of pleasure curling out from her apex. "And if I say no to this evening?"

He held inside her for another moment before he slid all the way out, almost leaving her body. "I shall have to take my conversation elsewhere."

She lifted her hips to invite him deep inside her again. He held, though, not giving her more of himself.

That was his weapon. His power was in his self-control, where hers had been in her abstinence. Without that, she was slipping further into his hold.

But her body was so ready to betray her, and she found her mouth whispering the words he wished to hear. "Fine. I'll go."

He thrust into her then, giving her exactly what she needed, and her greedy body rose to meet it, her arms locking about his neck.

It was hard and hot, and over almost as quickly as it had begun, and when it was done, she found herself languidly laying in his arms wondering what she'd just given up.

"Let me get your breakfast," he murmured close to her ear. "And then we'll take a walk. You can always rest this afternoon, so you won't be too tired tonight."

"Sounds good," she murmured.

But as he left the room, she wondered what she'd just done. She'd allowed him to take a little more of the power, of which she hadn't had much to begin with.

She was most certainly in over her head.

* * *

Caroline's hand was firmly in the crook of his arm, but for all their physical closeness, she'd never been further away. They moved through the crowd as they entered the ballroom, the noise masking the silence between them.

Something had shifted today, he just wasn't quite certain what.

He'd had his items and servants returned to his own home, clearing out her house.

And they'd even begun packing some of her things, not that they'd gotten terribly far.

She'd packed enough to stay for a holiday, not enough to really take up residence with him.

He tried to tell her that she ought to make herself comfortable. His home was her home. It was a sentiment he'd expected to warm her. Instead, she'd only grown quieter.

Now, she stood next to him, her pale blue silk gown more demurely cut than the last she'd worn, though she still looked stunning.

In fact, he might prefer that her cleavage was less exposed to other male gazes. He didn't care what anyone else thought, didn't need them to validate her attractiveness. In fact, he didn't want them to see. He knew what was underneath that fabric and it was marvelous.

"We needn't stay long," he murmured, hoping that she just wished for the comfort of bed and his arms.

She gave a quick jerk of her chin, her mouth turning down.

Clearly, that was not the reason.

They made their way through the crowd, many eyes turning in their direction. His point was being made.

He'd not publicly courted a woman in all his time as a duke, and all of society was taking notice.

Caroline seemed to shrink into his side, her chin notching down.

His mouth twitched. Perhaps that had been the error.

She wasn't ready for the public declaration. He sighed, realizing the truth. He kept trying to speed up the process and the more he did, the harder she resisted or withdrew.

"You're angry with me."

"No," she answered, her voice not holding much conviction, and her gaze fixed somewhere to the right.

He stopped, letting out a long breath. "You didn't wish to come tonight."

"I…" Her voice warbled.

He liked all the ways that Caroline was more submissive. But she did not care for those parts of herself. In her mind, they'd led her into trouble. It wasn't true. Her mother had been the one to seal Caroline's fate, and it would have gone horribly no matter what.

In fact, he'd wager her more submissive tendencies might have saved her from her marriage being far worse.

But that didn't matter because now he had a woman he wanted in his bed and by his side, but she was afraid to commit to him because of what she'd endured.

And it was his job to be more patient. More kind. "I'm sorry."

Her gaze turned to his, her eyes questioning. "You really mean that?"

"I do. I know you need time and I'm going to try harder to give it to you."

"Thank you." Her bosom pressed to his arm and her cheek grazed his shoulder. A satisfied ripple moved through him.

He leaned down, just brushing his cheek over her forehead.

He noted that several matrons took note of their moment. He could see Caroline's frustration. Even when he wasn't trying, he seemed to shape the world to his liking.

"But I do want to ask you a question."

"What is it?" She looked at him as she nipped her lip in that way that just made him wish to kiss her.

"Even that first night, you trusted me. Which when I think on it, is surprising."

She started against him. "It was odd. You're right."

"Why did you?"

"My attraction overrode my fear, I think."

He cocked his head to the side. "Or perhaps, you've always known deep in your heart, that I am a man you can trust."

She assessed him with her head cocked to the side. "Maybe."

"I can forget to let you choose. I can admit that. But I would never hurt you. You believe me on that, don't you?"

"Yes. Yes, I do."

"Good." He relaxed at that.

But he'd no more decided it was time to take a good lap around the room, really be seen, when Ironheart appeared, waving him forward.

He let out a rumbling protest. "The business I'm meant to attend seems to have arrived. Would you excuse me, love?"

"Of course."

"You're sure you'll be all right?"

She gave him a genuine smile. "I've been haunting ballrooms alone for the past two years; I can assure you, I'll be fine."

He gave her a long look before he finally pulled his arms from hers. She might be fine, but he found that he didn't wish to leave her side.

Approaching Ironheart, he scowled. "What is it?"

"I just saw several men who I know are in the order, slip from the crowd and down that hall. Let's go." And then Ironheart turned and began weaving through the crowd.

But he looked back several times to see Caroline taking a position against the wall alone. His chest tightened. She belonged on his arm, not stuffed away like some wallflower.

Still, he caught up to Ironheart, just as the man entered a deserted hall. Ironheart began stopping at the doors, pressing his ear to each.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to find which room they entered," Ironheart replied in a whisper.

Luke raised his hand. One room at the end on the left had the faint glow of candlelight spilling into the hall.

"Oh," Ironheart said with a shrug. "I knew that."

With as much stealth as two dukes could muster, they made their way down the hall, stopping when they could pick up the sound of voices.

"We've killed three in their ranks already," one man said. "By next Christmas, the Club With No Name will be no more."

Luke sucked in a breath. Did the Order really mean to kill them all?

Or just enough of them to force them to disband? The latter seemed more likely. How many lords could these men kill before someone discovered their plot and prosecuted them? Killing the elite tended to cause ripples.

"It won't take that long," another said. "We just need to cut the head off the snake."

"Shite," Luke rumbled. "You'd better be more careful."

"Me?" Ironheart turned to him. "How do you know they're not discussing you?"

He straightened up at that thought. Was he in danger? Was Caroline? When Adam had come at Helmsworth, he'd used Chloe, Helmsworth's bride, to attack the man.

He didn't wait for Ironheart to say more, didn't care what else the order might say. Instead, he barreled down the hall and out into the crowd, half weaving, half knocking people over to return to the spot where he'd left her.

What had he been thinking? How could he not realize that making their relationship public might expose her to danger?

He finally spotted her, still against the wall, amicably chatting with another woman. Relief stilled his feet, his shoulders slumping.

And then he saw him…

The man he'd come to know as Adam.

Six scars streaked across his cheeks, the distinctive marks making the man hard to miss. He stood ten feet from Caroline, his gaze intent upon her.

And then Adam turned and met Luke's gaze. His stare unwavering, the man sneered. "I'm coming for you."

The words were only mouthed, or lost in the crowd, but Luke still heard them, reverberating through him.

If it were only him, he'd let Adam come. But this wasn't just about him. It was about Caroline and the baby too.

He took a step and then two, closer, prepared to tell the man what would happen if he tried.

Luke was just close enough, to hear Adam say, "The righteous will wipe your scourge from this earth."

Every muscle in Luke's body tightened as he let out a snarl. He charged forward again, heading straight for Adam. The threat would be met with aggression.

But Adam turned and disappeared into the crowd. For only a second, Luke hesitated. At any other time, he'd lay chase. Make sure Adam understood what it meant to come at Luke.

But he stopped again. Everything was different now.

Turning, he made his way to Caroline's side.