Rescued by a Duke (12 page)

He'd had a start when bumbling Lord Phillbush had shown up on his front lawn. The audacity of the man! Acting as if Garrett wasn't even standing there as he ogled Sasha. Garrett clenched his fingers on Ashe's reins. The thought of another man, any other man, being with Sasha in any form set his blood to a boil.

He rode into the courtyard of the stable block and dismounted. How foolish he was being! What was to stop Sasha from marrying some other man? Certainly not Garrett. True, her reputation might be in question since Lady Johnsing had undoubtedly already spread word that Sasha was staying at his house without a plausible reason, but if a man of means were desperate for a wife…

Yes, Garrett had let Sasha know he was fond of her, and that he enjoyed her company, but had he ever said anything to have her believe he'd like their relationship to go further? That he fancied having her for himself?

Garrett walked back toward the house, shaking his head. He frowned. Surely Phillbush wouldn't make another appearance after being chased off by a cat? Garrett smirked at the memory. The pudgy man racing from the bench toward his carriage, tripping and rolling like a large ball of string. It was a wonder Douglas hadn't chased after him and batted at the man's ridiculous excuse for hair. No, Lord Phillbush was no threat.

The door opened before he'd reached for the handle. Maryann stood at the threshold, her eyebrows lowered and her bottom lip between her teeth.

He stepped into the shadows of the entryway. "Maryann? What has you looking so worried? Is Sasha well?"

The maid stepped back to allow him room to enter farther into the entryway. "Your grace, Miss Douglas had a… visitor."

Garrett raised his eyebrows. A visitor? She didn't know anyone from nearby. No… surely not… He waited, but Maryann did not elaborate. He sighed. "Well, who might this visitor have been?"

She glanced toward the stairs, and then back to him. "Your grace, it was Lord Phillbush." Her expression made her appear as if she'd tasted something the cat had dragged in, still squirming, from the meadow.

Garrett almost laughed at the thought of the bumbling lord. "Oh, him. Well, I shan't be too concerned about it."

"But…" She twisted her hands together in front of her waist.

He let out a sigh. "Yes?"

"He came to
call
on Miss Douglas." She widened her eyes, as if trying to convey much more than she'd said.

"Call? You mean as in…?"

She nodded. "Yes, your grace, I'm afraid so."

He waved a hand. "Even so, I don't think he would—"

"Pardon me, your grace, but he actually did."

"Did what?"

"He told Miss Douglas that he was looking for a wife, and he would see her again soon. Quite soon, if you understand my meaning."

"Yes, yes. I understand it." He ran his hand down his face. It was worse than he'd feared. The bumbling lord was trying to lay a claim right under Garrett's nose. "And how did Sasha react to all of this?"

"She didn't want to entertain him, of course, but I told her if she didn't, the man would just keep coming back."

"Well, you're probably right there, Maryann. You did the right thing."

She glanced down at her hands. "Thank you, your grace."

"And what… transpired at this… call? I assume you were there?"

Her face reddened. What in blazes did that mean? Had something gone awry? "Yes, your grace, I was… in the room with them the
entire
time."

Garrett frowned. He wasn't sure what she was so agitated about. If she had been there the whole time, then nothing could be amiss. "Good, that's good." Although the woman did have a tendency toward naps. He darted a glance toward the stairs. "Thank you for telling me, Maryann. That will be all."

Maryann curtsied. "Thank you, your grace." She turned and headed up the stairs. Would she now tell Sasha that Garrett knew about the visit? Of course she would. Those two were thick as thieves.

Garrett wasn't too worried about Phillbush, although just the thought of the man calling on Sasha, especially in Garrett's absence, made him uncomfortable. Even though the
ton
would never approve, his greatest desire was to make Sasha his wife. But he hadn't wanted to rush her, since they hadn't known each other all that long and she was in mourning for her brother. Still… the time had come for him to offer for her hand.

Until he'd met her, he hadn't given a thought as to whether something had been lacking in his life. He'd managed his home, his property, his tenants. His life had progressed in an orderly fashion. Then that day, that tumultuous, heart wrenching day when he had found her trapped in his well, his whole world had changed. Now, with Sasha in his life, Garrett was finally whole. And he could not for the life of him imagine life without her by his side.

He wanted his proposal to be enchanting. Flowers, bon bons, and candlelight. Then he would kneel in front of her and ask her to be his wife. Yes, it would be special and beautiful. Was tomorrow evening too soon? No, not with Phillbush sniffing around like a nearly-hairless dog. It would truly be a nightmare if for some strange reason Sasha accepted the lord's offer. Or an offer from some other man.

Tomorrow evening it would be.

Chapter Nine

Sasha's leg still throbbed, but not as much as the day before. She'd need to leave Garrett's home quite soon, as there would be no need to be a burden to him any longer. Guilt plagued her for not working and contributing to his household. It had never been in her nature not to pay her own way. Since her parents' deaths, she and Samuel had always worked for their keep. She knew nothing different and she wasn't afraid of hard labor.

Where would she go? She needed to find employment. Or if it weren't possible, someone to marry her.
No.
She didn't want to marry anyone for
that
reason. Especially not Lord Phillbush! Even though the repulsive man had made his intentions quite clear.

She longed to marry for love. But it seemed unlikely. And what if she couldn't find employment? What if her only recourse
was
marriage? If only Garrett wanted to marry her. But that would never happen, not with the difference in their stations. It would be improper and frowned upon, to say the least.

Thinking of a man, a stranger, having the privilege of… having his way with her. It was easy enough to imagine hugging and kissing, but beyond that, there was a foggy idea of a man and woman without clothes on, doing… things. She knew next to nothing about that. And no one who could teach her. What was to become of her?

Maryann bustled around the room, after having just helped Sasha to bathe and dress. Sasha tilted her head. Maryann? Would she be someone Sasha could ask for advice? Her face heated. But how did one go about asking those types of questions? Sasha knew so little on the subject that she didn't even know what to ask. No, she couldn't bring herself to even form the words.

When would Garrett make an appearance? Sasha glanced toward the door. He'd not missed a morning yet, and she'd been here for a week now. Sasha sighed. It was just a matter of time until she'd be deemed fit enough to leave. Would Garrett allow her to take the clothes he'd so generously given her? And food? What about money? If he wouldn't let her work here, maybe he'd be kind enough to give her a small sum, which she could pay back once she found work
. If
she found work.

Knock. Knock.
Sasha grinned.
Garrett.
Maryann hurried to the door and opened it. Sasha couldn't see past the large maid, but knew who it was. Besides Garrett, who else would it be?

Sasha lifted her bandaged leg and scooted until she was sitting on the side of the bed. It was the same thing she'd done every morning in preparation for Garrett to carry her down the steps. Brushing a curly tendril away from her face, she waited.

"Good morning, beautiful."

She gasped. Not Garrett's voice. She darted a glance up.
Lucien.

He raised his eyebrows. "Ready to start your day?"

Sasha's eyes widened. Garrett had asked her not to spend time alone with his brother. What should she do? She leaned around Lucien. Maryann would give her guidance, but the maid wasn't there.

Lucien leaned toward her. "I shooed your maid away. She won't be back for several hours. I'll be seeing to you myself."

"What?"
This can't be happening. What would Garrett say?

"You get to spend some time with me, Miss Douglas."

"But—" Her breath caught in her throat, allowing only tiny puffs of air to emerge as she exhaled.

"Garrett has been called away."

"I—"

"Don't worry. I'll take great care of you."

Sasha sucked in a large breath. What should she do? Garrett had told her one thing, but his brother stood before her telling her something else. Should she trust him?

Large hands scooped her up from the bed. "Wait!" She should struggle, break free, but what if he dropped her? She'd be injured again, and—

Lucien carried her as Garrett had done. But Lucien held her much closer. Too close. "I'll soon have you downstairs."

She closed her eyes, taking another deep breath. Soon they'd be downstairs and she could sit on the settee again and relax. And be
away
from Lucien. Away from his solid chest and arms. Away from his handsome face so close to hers. She held onto him as loosely as she could, only grasping with the ends of her fingers to his shirt. Would it not be a betrayal to Garrett's trust if she clung to his brother?

Lucien's breath fanned across her forehead. "Almost to the entryway now."

Sasha sighed. Soon he would put her down. Hopefully Garrett would not know of this, for surely he would be livid if he did. Could she trust Lucien not to tell him?

"Just a few more steps." He sucked in a loud breath and mumbled a curse. "
Oh!
" Lucien's chest smacked against her cheek, jolting her from head to painful foot. From the corner of her eye, the railing sped by much too fast. Her stomach dropped as they fell. Had Lucien missed a step?

Gasping, Sasha dug her fingernails into Lucien's arm. She no longer cared how close he held her. Memories flashed in her mind. Falling… falling through the well. Crashing against the brick wall. Cold, dark. Pain in her head… nausea roiling in her stomach. Her leg… hot flames of pain.

She and Lucien landed in a heap on the floor. Pain shot through Sasha's ankle.
No!
Had it been re-injured? Just when it was healing? Her vision blurred, tears hovering on the edge of her lower eyelids. What if her ankle was worse than before? Why hadn't she shouted at Lucien, beat on his chest? Anything so he wouldn't have picked her up in the first place? What had she done?

Sasha widened her eyes. Lucien sat beneath her. She was on his
lap
! His muscular thighs and something else she didn't want to fathom pressed against her. Struggling to break free of him, she leaned to the side, pulling, straining.

Lucien's arms tightened around her, pulling her close. "Where are you going, Miss Douglas? It's just now getting interesting."

Sasha ground her teeth as she squirmed. The man's arms were surely as strong as tentacles!
I must get away from
him!
Her first impression had been right. He was a
cad.

He held her even tighter, massaging her lower arms with his fingers, kneading her skin, muscles and bone. "Stay here with me. Doesn't this feel good?"

Sickened, she pried at his arms. "Let me
go
!" She kicked at his leg, pain lancing through her own. If she bit his hand, would he loosen his grasp? Sasha bent down and opened her mouth
. I'll chomp
down hard. He'll have to release me!

The front door slammed, its vibrations pulsing across the floor. Sasha gulped in air then closed her mouth. She straightened and whipped her head around. Garrett stood a few feet away. Glaring. At her? Surely he wouldn't think…

"What's the meaning of this?" His yell bounced off the walls and ceiling, his eyes questioning Sasha. Did he think she'd planned this because he'd been gone? That she would even do something so low?

"Oh Garrett, I—" Her heartbeat pounded against her ribs.
Please don't let him think I wanted this.

Garrett raised a hand, silencing her. He stalked toward them. A vein pulsed above his eyebrow. What was he going to do? His face reddened, his jaw clenched. "Lucien, release her.
Now
."

Lucien chuckled. "It's not what it seems, brother." He pulled her closer to his chest. Heat from his lap burned into her. "On second thought, maybe it is."

Sasha pivoted to stare at Lucien from the corner of her eye. She dropped her lower jaw. The
audacity
of the man. She whipped her head back toward Garrett. "But—"