Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

Chloe woke to the feeling of her stomach cramped with nerves. She’d hardly slept last night, despite the amazingly comfortable bed, because her thoughts had refused to quiet.

First, Mildred had barely spoken to her after they’d left the masquerade. Chloe could ill afford to upset the only person who cared for her. Her need to be settled in a comfortable marriage swelled in her chest once again.

Mildred was wonderful but a husband could not leave her when he became irritated the way Mildred could. And might after last night.

Which led her to the second reason for her nerves. Today was the day she’d meet the duke. His support could make her dream come true. Or send her hopes crashing to the ground.

But she had yet another reason to be worried. Yesterday, the duke had been the man to determine her entire future. But today…

He might have been trumped by the one who’d kissed her last night. That man would not make her life, but he might destroy it.

Or was she the person in danger of ruining her own future? She’d been so eager for the adventure he’d offered even though she’d known better. He’d been so handsome, and she was exceptionally lonely and inexperienced. Still, it was no excuse. Mildred was right about that. Chloe pushed back the covers and rang the bell for a bath. She might as well be fresh for whatever the day brought.

An hour later, she was bathed and dressed, with her thick hair getting twisted into an elaborate coif as a light blue muslin gown for her to wear was laid out by the maid.

A knock sounded at the door, then Mildred swept into the room with her tall regal stature, and fit for a woman half her age. “Good morning.”

Mildred no longer sounded angry. In fact, she was her usual chipper self. “Good morning.”

The maid put the final pin into Chloe’s hair and then crossed the room to prepare the dress. Chloe followed, Mildred stepping around the bed to help as well.

“You slept well, I hope?” Chloe asked, nipping at her lip as she stepped into the skirts.

“I did. I’m feeling much refreshed and looking forward to the day. We have tea with my dear friend, the dowager Countess of Strasmore.”

“Excellent.” The maid finished fastening the gown’s row of intricate buttons and then curtsied as she turned and left the room.

Silence fell between Mildred and Chloe as she turned to the one person who’d held her up all these months. “Please say you forgive me.”

Mildred made a pishing noise, sweeping her hand. “Already forgiven. You think I didn’t kiss my share of men?”

Chloe blinked in surprise before a small smile tugged at her lips. Even older, Mildred still cut a striking figure. “I’m sure you did.”

“I was the sister of a duke. I have always been able to afford freedom, Chloe. You do not have that luxury. You’re going to have to be smarter, I’m afraid.”

Chloe’s fingers knotted together. “I know. You’re right. I won’t let it happen again. I just got caught up in his good looks and charm. There are no men like him in Durham.”

Mildred’s shoulders softened. “I shouldn’t have allowed you to wander off last night, untrained as you are in men of his ilk. There are a thousand like him here in London. Handsome, charming, but rakes. They’ve been hardened and they’ll take what they can get without giving you anything in return. You can’t just give any man free liberties. He has to earn them.”

Chloe shifted, hearing the truth in Mildred’s words. “I’ve heard every word you’ve said, and I’ll stay out of trouble in the future. I promise.”

“Good girl.” Mildred patted her cheek with a brilliant smile. “You’re smart enough to learn. Now…” The older woman dropped her voice. “My friend knows all the gossip, so she’ll know if there are any rumors.”

“Will we have to tell her what I did?” The butterflies beat in her stomach again as her chin dipped with her embarrassment.

“We will. But we can trust her with the information.”

Chloe didn’t wish to tell anyone but she had no choice. Mildred knew best how to survive here in the city. “Whatever you think best.”

“Let’s go down to breakfast and meet your new guardian.” Mildred laced her fingers in Chloe’s and began walking with her toward the door. “All you need to do is nod and smile. He’ll provide what I ask of him. Don’t you worry.”

Chloe was worried. But she pushed those fears aside as she followed Mildred out the door. Facing the duke was the moment she’d been waiting for.

* * *

Ryker raked a hand through his hair, knowing he was ruffling the carefully combed strands. But the gesture had become a bad habit when he was agitated.

First, he’d had too many drinks too close to bedtime, so his head ached this morning. After he’d left Mildred’s room, he’d imbibed several more. The events of last night had been too… personal.

He’d dreamed of the woman he’d kissed all through the night. Broken dreams that had been fueled by alcohol, but nonetheless, in his sleep, he’d held her and kissed her, until she suddenly slipped away, leaving him as lonely as his mother had always left him feeling. And then his father— Ryker hadn’t dreamed of the old duke in years—had appeared laughing at his son and proclaimed that Ryker was even more useless than he himself had been.

Ryker shook his head. He knew better than to drink that much so close to bed.

The dreams had shaken him. He didn’t get emotionally involved with anyone.

He was in no state to deal with club business. Still, he had a meeting with the Emperor this afternoon, where he’d have to explain how little he’d discovered about Adam.

His correspondence still sat in front of him, the letters he’d received waiting to be opened. His head ached, his temples throbbed, his mood too sour to open anything now.

He shuffled past the king’s note and the unmarked envelope until he saw the bit just under it. A bill of sale from a dress shop.

His aunt had spent a king’s ransom on dresses. Why in the bloody blue blazes had she needed so much?

He rose from the desk, the bill in hand, and started for the breakfast room where his aunt’s laugh filtered down the hall.

His head gave a decided throb as his long strides carried him down the hall.

Turning into the dining room he saw his aunt in her usual seat at the opposite end of the table from his place.

But she wasn’t what caught his gaze. Because sitting with her back to him was another woman.

Not a girl.

Her thick blonde hair was twisted up in a beautiful style that highlighted the lushness of the locks and the delicate column of her neck. One graceful hand rested on the table. Her entire visage looking very familiar.

His stomach dropped, beginning to churn.

She turned then, her profile coming into view. The high arch of her brow, clear blue of her eye… the fullness of her petal pink lips and… He’d forgotten just how beautiful she was and he knew exactly how sweet those lips tasted. How in the hell could he hide this from his aunt? “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath, but he could have sworn Mildred heard him the way her gaze narrowed.

He looked back over at his new charge, seconds feeling like an eternity until she rose from her chair and turned to fully face him, her gasp filling the silence, her eyes clashing with his. Familiarity sparked in them, as her lips parted in surprise, her brows lifting as her hand came to her throat.

There was no denying who stood before him. It was her. Even more lovely in the morning light, she might have been a radiant goddess crafted from the finest marble having been pulled from Greek mythology.

“Your Grace,” Mildred’s voice echoed about the room as all the color drained from Chloe’s face. “I’d like for you to meet your new charge, Miss Chloe Fairchild.”

His teeth gnashed together, his hands clenching into fists as he tried to process all these events. The woman he’d kissed, the one that had filled his dreams. She was his charge? It was too ridiculous to be true. “You said she was a girl,” he said.

“Did I?” Mildred didn’t sound the least bit concerned.

“She called you a boy,” Chloe whispered, her voice trembling as she gripped her chair for support, her face as white as the linen on his bed.

“Chloe? What’s wrong?” Mildred asked as she quickly stood and stepped around the table.

Chloe wobbled on her feet. With another muttered curse, he stepped closer, wrapping a hand around her back. “Stay with me.”

Her eyes seemed to focus on his face again, widening as she stared at him. “I think that might be my sentiment, not yours.”

“What does she mean?” Mildred demanded, her hand coming to his arm to give it a decidedly hard squeeze. “Ryker?”

But his eyes were fixed on Chloe. The girl who was no girl at all. His charge was a debutante and the most beautiful woman he’d seen in a very long time. Maybe ever.

But the ridiculousness didn’t stop there. She was also the very lady from whom he’d stolen a kiss. And any moment now, his aunt would discover the truth.

“Ryker,” Chloe whispered, her hand coming to his other arm, a far more gentle touch. “Ryker… I think I might faint.”

He pulled her against his chest a moment before she went limp.