Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Caroline waved goodbye to the acquaintance she'd been conversing with and leaned against the wall, watching the sea of dancers before her. Perhaps she could convince Luke to share a dance before they left. The first time they'd danced had been like a dream, she'd very much like to experience the feeling of being in his arms as they glided across the floor again.

Despite her earlier distress, he'd made several sound points.

The more time that passed, the safer she felt in his company and the more she sank into the rightness of being in his arms.

He was trying to give her the space she needed just as she was learning to trust. It was going to take both of them time.

But that didn't mean that she needed to rule out a future with him. In fact, the more they were in each other's company, the more she thought she might like to stay in his arms for a very long time.

And once the child came, it would be so nice to have a partner, another person who helped her care for the little one.

Her hand drifted over her stomach wondering about the small life growing inside her.

Was it a boy? A girl?

"Caroline," Luke's rumble pulled her from her thoughts, the rough nature of the sound startling her.

Her gaze lifted to his, but his eyes didn't meet hers. Instead, they stared off hard and angry into the crowd, the sharp edges of his jaw and rigid set of his shoulders making her blink in surprise. "What's wrong?"

His gaze scanned the crowd even as he grasped her elbow, pulling her closer. "We shouldn't have come."

"To the ball?" she asked, trying to search for who or what he looked for. "Why?"

"Come on," he said, tugging her into motion. "We should go."

"Go? But we've hardly arrived."

He didn't answer as he weaved them through the crowd, the fierceness of his stare seeming to part the masses, people moving out of their way.

"Luke," she hissed, trying to slow him down. What had happened?

"I'll explain in the carriage," he replied, letting go of her arm long enough to wrap a hand about her waist and move her toward the door at an even faster clip.

If people had noticed them before, they were gawking now.

"Luke," she tried again, a pleading tone filling her voice. "People are staring."

"Let them," he returned, his jaw somehow tightening further. "I don't care as long as you're safe."

She opened her mouth to tell him she cared, but the last word penetrated her irritation. "Why wouldn't I be safe?"

"He's here," Luke answered, reaching the entry and barking at the footman stationed nearby to open the door and fetch his carriage. People were still arriving, but the man still jumped to attention to do as Luke bid.

"Who is here?"

They swept through the door, and down the stairs to the circular drive.

But he didn't answer as he scanned the night. She huffed out her irritation, wondering what the devil had gotten into him as he pressed her close to his side.

Just when she'd felt safe…

"I know you know about the club," he whispered. "But did Chloe tell you about Adam?"

She gasped in a breath. Her friend had mentioned Adam. He'd stolen Chloe from an event and almost really hurt her friend. Chloe's husband had reached them in time but if not for that…

"He's here."

"Here? At the ball?" Cold fear washed down her spine.

"Here. At the ball," he repeated. "Which is why we are leaving."

She nodded her agreement, even as the carriage arrived, rolling to a stop on the other side of the carriages still unloading.

He nearly lifted her off the ground, darting between the first row of carriages as his footman snapped open the door.

With no stairs for loading, he did pick her up and set her in the vehicle and then jumped in after her, with nothing but a whispered word to the footman.

The carriage jolted forward as Caroline slumped against the seat, relief washing through her.

After what had happened with Chloe, she would actually be glad to stay at Luke's home tonight. He was certain to have more staff and likely better fences.

From what little Chloe had told her about this Adam fellow, he was no one she wished to trifle with.

"How much danger do you think we're in?"

"If I have my way, none," he answered reaching for her hand. "I will not let that man touch a single hair on your head."

She touched his hand. "I appreciate that. I never asked Chloe… how did he manage to take her?"

"She and Helmsworth had a disagreement, and she left his side at White's."

Caroline shivered, sliding her fingers into his. "Were you very worried when you left me?"

"Even more so because I spotted him near you."

She gasped, fear shivering down her spine. She was even more glad she'd be at his home. "What does he want with you?"

Luke sighed. "Adam and his compatriots think we are the cause of society's ills."

Her brow furrowed. "Why is that?"

Luke scraped his hand through his hair. "Our club. The things we do in the name of fun. Likely our power. He claims we are morally corrupt."

"So he kidnaps innocent women?"

Luke looked at her. "I've retired from the club."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "What?"

"There are points of his that I actually agree with. And with a child on the way, I won't participate in such degradation."

Everything in Caroline turned to pudding. He'd retired from the club? Because of their baby? "But I thought you were their leader?"

"Was. Not anymore." He gave her a small smile and then he leaned over to kiss her. "Taking care of you, of our child, of the dukedom will be my life now. As much as you'll allow me, anyhow."

She grinned in return, kissing him again. She really did appreciate how dedicated he was to her care.

And when their child arrived… she felt herself shifting again. Her child was the child of a duke.

If she married Luke, all the options in the world would belong to their offspring.

She was about to confess how she might like to truly be courted by him. To make it official when the wheels of the carriage began to rumble as though they were passing over slats of wood. "What…"

She sat up, even as Luke winced. The wince spoke volumes, and her stomach dropped as another question tumbled from her lips. "Where are we going?"

He cleared his throat. "I want you safe, Caroline."

But that answer didn't make her feel better this time. In fact, it made her insides twist into knots. "Where are we going?"

"My country estate in Yorkshire."

She gasped, sitting back. "What?"

"The city isn't sa?—"

"You're telling me that your home in London would be dangerous?"

He held out his hands. "Likely not but I can't take the chance. I need you?—"

"You needed to ask my opinion. My permission." Her voice was rising like the tide. "You cannot sweep me out of London without even informing me."

"Caroline, he's a danger."

"The man stalking you is the danger?" She could hear the hysterics rising with every word. "What about the man who brought the trouble to my door in the first place? The man who is forcing me from London against my will?"

He sat up stiff and straight then. "I am not forcing you. I just neglected to tell you."

"Then turn the carriage around. I want to go back."

* * *

Caroline was asking him to do the one thing he couldn't do. "No."

"Why?" she huffed back.

"Because," he scrubbed a hand down his face. "If what happened to Chloe ever happened to you…" He knew he was losing his grip. His need to protect her becoming this overwhelming force that was overriding every other instinct.

But he'd never had anyone in his life like Caroline.

No one to care for, no one who truly cared for him. No one to… love.

The word hit him like a sucker punch to the gut. He loved her. He was in love with her. He'd never even considered the possibility.

But it was in the way, no other woman caused even a stir of interest since he'd met her. How he couldn't get enough time with her. How he could spend hours just watching her sleep.

He was in love.

"Turn around," she said again, her hand smacking on the seat. "You've promised to listen to my wishes, Luke."

"Not on this," he said, jerking his head. "I won't let him hurt you."

" You're hurting me," she cried and then she slumped back into the corner of the carriage. "Every time I think we might be able to move forward, you remind me of all I'm giving up if I choose a future with you."

"What are you giving up?" he asked, regret already tugging at his chest.

"I can't be with a man who treats me like a possession. Like a bag to be tossed in a carriage at the owner's whim."

"You're not a bag. You're a precious jewel?—"

"That's still an object," she huffed. "I am a person. With thoughts and feelings, and I want them to be considered before major decisions are made in my life."

He pressed his fingers into the sockets of his eyes. She had a point. "I couldn't risk the delay. Or the possibility that we'd want different things. I didn't want to compromise when it came to your protection."

"I have existed for twenty-three years without your aid, Your Grace," she clipped back.

His hands clenched into fists, and she shrunk into the corner. He swore softly to himself. "I am an ass sometimes, but I would never physically hurt you."

"I know," she whispered back. "But I still wish to return."

He let out a rumble of frustration. He didn't want to take her back. At his country estate, no one could hurt her.

But he knew that he'd erred. He'd reacted to the threat, not understanding the depth of his feelings and he'd made decisions without consulting with her. "We can't turn the carriage until the next village. Perhaps we should stay there for the night and discuss further."

"I wish to go back, we don't need to discuss." Her voice was quiet, but he could hear the steel.

"How is it that I have found the woman less interested in compromise than myself?"

"That is not true. I am far more willing to compromise than you." She looked out the window into the dark night, her brow marked with a frown. "But I'm about to lose myself."

"You are not."

"The only reason I survived my marriage was because I knew I'd have a whole life after he was gone. He was old and I was young. I promised myself that when he died, I would use my time wisely and that I'd be no man's object again."

His eyes drifted closed as he leaned back in the seat. The problem was, every time she spoke, he could clearly see why she resisted. Or maybe that wasn't a problem at all.

"Can we stay in the village tonight?"

"I'm in a ballgown."

It had to be well past midnight. "We won't reach home until near sunrise. You must be hungry."

"Not hungry enough to stop being angry."

"Just let me tuck you into a warm bed with good food. We'll go back in the morning."

"Fine," she shook her head. "But we're never going to have a future if you keep taking my choices away."

He winced. "I understand." How did he tell her that he'd fallen in love? But this was one part of life in which he had no idea how to proceed.

No one had ever taught him the rules of loving another person.