Rescued by a Duke (5 page)

Sasha arched an eyebrow.
Proceed? What in the world?
So far, Garrett had not done anything to show she was not safe in his home. Quite the opposite. She'd feared, upon their first conversation in the bedroom, that he'd desired her for a mistress. No. He'd been nothing but a perfect gentleman. She bit her lip. But when he'd touched her hand, rubbed his coarse thumb across the sensitive skin of her hand… part of her wished he
hadn't
been so gentlemanly. Scooting over, she kept her legs covered with her skirt as she hoisted them toward the edge until they hung over the side. Wincing at the discomfort, she gritted her teeth and closed her eyes for a second.

When she opened them, Garrett was leaning closer. "Are you well?"

Sasha inhaled his earthy scent. "Quite…. um… yes."

"Wonderful." He leaned down farther and slid his arm under her legs at the knees, between the outside of her skirt and the bed.

Sasha yelped.
What is he doing? This isn't good
. Before she could form the words with her lips, Garrett had swept her up into his arms. Lightheaded, Sasha flung her arms around his neck, pulling close to his chest.

Garrett laughed. "Hold on."

She wouldn't have let go for anything. For one, because she didn't want to re-injure herself. Nightmares plagued her from falling in the well. But also, being this close to Garrett under better circumstances was quite wonderful.

She was bounced up and down a little as Garrett carried her the length of the hallway, and even more so as they descended the stairs. She peeked over the duke's shoulder. Maryann followed them, her teeth over her lower lip.

The staircase seemed to go on forever. She didn't remember a thing about how she'd gotten upstairs a few days before. Surely he must have carried her then, too?

Sasha wanted to pull her head farther away from his chest so she could better see the house, but dizziness threatened, so she waited. The handrail passed slowly. But even watching that brought lightheadedness. She closed her eyes and buried her nose in his neck. His scent caused tingles down her back. She inhaled, picturing trees and earth and sky.

Garrett's voice rumbled into her hair. "All right. To the bottom of the steps, now."

Sasha whooshed out a sigh, nearly wilting in his arms.

"Were you concerned I would drop you?"

She shrugged, but her heart still raced, pounding out quick beats like the patter of rain on a roof.

He pulled away. "What? You were worried?"

Sasha widened her eyes.
Oh no
. She'd insulted him. Again. Tilting her head back, she was relieved when the corners of his mouth pulled up.

"I would never drop you. Surely after I rescued you from the well, you believe that?"

His eyes were breathtaking, with rings of dark gold around the green. Why had she not noticed it before? "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just a little—"

"Frightened from your fall?"

"Yes."

His breath whispered across her forehead. "It is understandable."

"It is?" Her muscles relaxed; her fingers, in a death grip while she'd been on the stairs, straightened. To be helpless was foreign. It had always before been her showing bravery in the face of obstacles.

"Of course." Garrett made his way across the carpeted entryway into a study with a large desk, chairs, and settee. Laying her on the cream-colored settee, he stepped back to lean against the front of the desk. "I think anyone would be such."

Sasha tugged her dress down over her ankles. What must Garrett think of her, letting her ankles show? Smoothing her hair away from her face, she peeked up.

"Comfortable?" He tilted his head and crossed his arms. His white shirt fit like a second skin over his muscular frame, his shoulders massive beneath the thin fabric.

Shoes squeaked on the floor as Maryann entered the room and sat in a corner chair.

"Yes. Thank you." Sasha's heart rate calmed to a steady rhythm. She peered around the room, from the desk to tall bookcases to a large picture window with a view of the front lawn. Green grass and tree branches swayed in the breeze, as weak sun peered around white clouds. Such beauty. How much money must a person have to own such a place? The cottage she'd once shared with her family long ago had been simple, with only four rooms. "Your home is lovely."

"Why, thank you." He beamed. Didn't people of his station normally compliment the duke? Wouldn't visitors comment daily, in awe, on such a delightful house? And the small bit of the house she'd seen surprised her. Did the duke live here alone, save his servants? A house this large was meant for an entire family.

Sasha glanced down and fingered the material of her dress, her ragged fingernails scratching the fabric. "I wanted to thank you for… all you've done. The room, the clothes, and well… the
well
."

"You don't need to thank me. I already told you I am in your debt because of where your accident happened."

He pushed away from the desk and walked the few steps to the settee. Sitting down on the opposite end, he angled toward her and crossed one leg over the other. The shiny boots caught a reflection from the light outside the window.

"But it was my fault." She slumped into the back of the settee. "If I hadn't been on your property—"

Garrett clasped his jaw, working the muscles in and out. He clenched his hand into a fist and smacked it into his other palm. "There is no excuse for what happened! How easily it could have been avoided!"

Sasha gulped in air and trembled. Maybe there was a side to him he'd not allowed to be visible until now. So far, he'd been sweet and kind. Now Sasha's heart raced. Perhaps she was
not
safe. Swallowing, she leaned as far away from Garrett as she could without falling off the settee.
Is he displeased with the trouble I've caused?
Garrett widened his eyes. "Oh, dear. I didn't mean
you
. Please don't be afraid. I am livid about the well being open, but my anger is not directed toward you. I'm angry with myself." He glanced away. "I was so frightened when I heard you call up from the well. And then, I wasn't at all sure I could get you out. What if I couldn't have saved you? If that would have happened…"

Sasha's fear drained away like the sea at low tide. Yes, Garrett had a temper. So had Samuel, which caused so much trouble for him when he went to the inns. But for Garrett, underneath a gruff exterior lived a kind, thoughtful soul. "What do you mean?"

Garrett's face softened, as one corner of his mouth lifted. He scooted a few inches closer to her, but did not touch her. "Miss Douglas, I—"

A knock on the open doorframe preceded the butler, who widened his eyes briefly before erasing all emotion from his thin face.

"Yes? What is it?" Garrett frowned.

"Pardon me, your grace. You have a visitor. Shall I show—?"

A tall, portly woman in a dark green dress brushed past the butler, nearly causing him to stumble. "Oh now, you know I don't need to be introduced to the duke. Why I—" The woman gasped. Clutching her collar with a gloved hand, her face reddened. "I see your grace isn't
alone
."

Garrett darted a glance down at his proximity to Sasha. Scooting away, he stood, jostling Sasha's leg in the process. A pain shot from her knee to her toes. She gasped. Garrett seemed not to notice.

"Lady Johnsing, how… delightful to see you." Garrett glanced sideways toward Sasha. "To what do we owe this impromptu visit?"

"Never mind that now, your grace. It seems I've come at a…" She grabbed her fan from her reticule, furiously waving it in front of her chubby face. Her cheeks flushed scarlet.

Deep pink colored Garrett's cheeks, as well. He cleared his throat. "No, no, of course not." He turned halfway toward Sasha, with what appeared to be a forced, pleasant expression.

Lady Johnsing frowned. "Your grace, I've been around a long time. I know when… something is…
going on
." She sputtered out the last two words as if she couldn't wait to get rid of a bite of spoiled meat.

Footsteps filled the silence, as Garrett hurried to Lady Johnsing's side. He took her large hand and bent to place a chaste kiss on the back of her glove. "Please forgive my rudeness, my lady. Allow me to introduce Miss Douglas."

Sasha did her best to smile, but imagined it appeared as more of a grimace. Her ankle pounded, with throbbing spikes of pain traveling up and down her leg. She knew the polite thing would be to stand and curtsey, but she couldn't have gotten up by herself if she'd tried.

Sniff
. Lady Johnsing held her handkerchief to her pointy nose as she peered down at Sasha. "I am quite pleased to meet you, Miss Douglas."

Sure you are.
Sasha would bet every one of her years living on the earth that the woman meant nothing of the sort. "It is my pleasure as well, my lady." But then, neither did she.

Garrett took a step closer to Sasha. "Lady Johnsing, Miss Douglas injured her leg—"

Sasha gasped. Garrett paused and turned toward her, raising his eyebrows, but didn't finish his sentence. Sasha pleaded with him through her eyes not to say anything further. Garrett cleared his throat.

Lady Johnsing cleared hers as well. "Yes, your grace? You were saying?" She angled a glance toward Sasha, then back to Garrett.

"I, well… she tripped." Garrett wrung his hands together.

Suspicion flooded Lady Johnsing's face. She narrowed her eyes and focused on Sasha. "Tripped, you say? On what?"

Sasha eyed the older woman. "I tripped on the hem of my dress, my lady."

Lady Johnsing frowned. "I don't think—"

"Of
course
you don't." Garrett rushed forward, taking her arm. "My lady, thank you so much for stopping by." He spun the woman toward the doorway to the hall. "Always a pleasure to see you." The knob on the front door rattled as Garrett continued. "I would not want to take your valuable time away from Lord Johnsing."

If only Sasha could slip over to the doorway and take a peek at what was happening! But if she tried, she'd end up in a heap on the floor. And how would she explain
that?

Mrs. Johnsing sputtered. "B-but, I-I—"

The front door opened with a creak. Garrett was probably pushing her out the door by now. He raised his voice. "Truly lovely to see you, my lady." Was the woman now outside on the lawn… on her butt? The door closed with a thump.

Sasha sputtered and bit her lip. She angled toward the window and glanced outside. Yes, Lady Johnsing now stood out on the front path, staring up at the house. Sasha hadn't known a person's face could be the actual color of a beet. It appeared Garrett had more spunk under those well-fitting clothes than she'd realized.

Behind her, a man cleared his throat. Sasha swallowed hard and slowly turned toward the doorway. Garrett stood in the doorway with his arms crossed and his eyebrows raised. Was he upset with her?

A one-sided smile appeared, softening his features. Sasha whooshed out a breath. No. He wasn't upset. Even though she had acted in an inappropriate way by spying on a visitor to his house. She would have to watch how she acted. For however long she was here, she owed it to Garrett not to embarrass him any more than she already had.

Garrett strolled to the settee and sat down on the other end. "Sasha, I'm sorry about what happened. Lady Johnsing and my mother were girlhood friends. After my mother passed away, Lady Johnsing took it upon herself to keep an eye on me, even to the point of coming through my door unannounced. I've kindly tried to dissuade her, but she won't budge." He tilted his head. "Why didn't you want me to tell Lady Johnsing how you hurt your ankle? She's the town busybody. If she knew how you hurt yourself and why you were here, it might go a long way toward protecting your reputation."

Sasha lowered her chin. "I was afraid."

Garrett lifted her chin with one finger. His green eyes stared back at her. "Afraid of what?"

"The magistrate. I… That he would come here to question me about trespassing on your property. It frightens me to my core that he will arrest me
." I can't tell you the real reason for my fear.

"No. I would never let that happen."

"It might be something beyond your control. I'd just feel safer if no one knew. Is it all right?"

Garrett frowned. "I assure you, nothing would happen to you. Do you not trust me?"

"I trust you. It is others I do not trust. They have never caught the man who killed Samuel. How can I believe that they would mean me no harm? I must consider these things, since I'm alone now, after my brother…" She held back a sniff, not wanting to cry.
Please take me at my word. I don't want anyone to connect me with Samuel's debts!

"I know. And I am sorry about your brother. So sorry. I can… imagine losing a sibling as you did."

His face fell. Was it on Sasha's behalf? Or had Garrett lost someone too? "Garrett, why—"