Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Marina spun around to look at the large man behind her. He seemed to tower over her, with cool blue eyes and black curls that perfectly framed his face. But she could not linger too much on his good looks when he was looking at her in a way that sent a shiver of wariness down her spine.
Even though he did not look particularly angry, his expression was unreadable to her, and that was somehow even more disconcerting. “Where did you come from?”
The man gestured behind him. “From Pemberton Manor. What are you doing here?”
“You’re from next door, then. I’m a guest at Heeway Manor.
” Judging by the expensive cut of the man’s suit, he was definitely not a servant, but most likely the duke himself.
At least, she thought she heard someone mention a Duke of Pemberton.
She did not exactly have the names and titles of everyone in the ton memorized.
He held out his hand. “Allow me to help you to shore, my lady.”
She jerked away from his hand like it was a snake and almost lost her balance in the process. “No, thank you. I think I have caused enough scandals for one day.”
The last thing I need is for the ton to see me holding hands while my dress is in such a disheveled state. Even if the reason is innocent, they would rather have a scandal to gossip about.
She picked up her skirt and tried to trudge out of the river, but it was difficult to keep her balance with the water weighing down her skirt. Even worse, she thought she felt the front of her corset shift downward ever so slightly. She could only hope that this stranger did not notice.
The faint sound of approaching voices reached her before she could take two steps, and her cheeks burned as dread filled her stomach. What a horrible predicament to be in.
Just then, the man stepped forward and put his hands on her waist. She yelped in surprise as he picked her up and put her on solid ground with one quick move.
She looked up at him, shocked and indignant. “This is most improper,” she hissed, even as her cheeks warmed.
No one has ever touched me like this before. It feels almost … reassuring?
That could not be right. Her thoughts and emotions were simply confused by the embarrassing situation.
His touch lingered for half a second more before he dropped his hands and stepped away from her. “You realize that Prince William cannot understand you. Do you not?”
She blinked at him, wondering if he had simply lost his mind. Perhaps the Duke of Pemberton is mad, and that is why he is not attending his own neighbor’s engagement party. “I beg your pardon?”
“You were talking to Prince William when I arrived. Do you understand that he cannot comprehend words? Because he is a dog?” He raised his eyebrows as he spoke more slowly to her.
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and irritation as she realized what he was asking her. “There is no need to mock me.”
“I am not mocking you, my lady. You might have hit your head on the rocks and become confused. Are you experiencing any other symptoms?”
“I am fine, thank you.” Were the voices in the distance still getting closer? How much longer before they found them?
He put his hands in his pockets as the dog—Prince William—walked forward to sniff the duke’s shoes. The man paid him no mind. “You really should not be swimming out here.”
She crossed her arms in front of her, cringing at the way her wet bodice squished from the pressure of her arms. “I am not swimming! Does this look like swimming attire?”
“Not particularly. However, I am not up to date on current ladies’ fashions, and some of them can be a mite impractical.”
She rolled her eyes, still not sure if he was joking or being completely serious. “I was saving the dog.”
The duke raised an eyebrow at her. “He did not need saving. He’s a dog. He knows how to swim.”
“He is a little dog, and this is a fast river! I saw his head go underwater.” She looked at the creature in question, who was currently sitting at his master’s feet but looking up at her with his head cocked to one side, as if he knew they were discussing him.
“Yes. He was going after the ball. Have you ever owned a dog?”
“No …” she huffed. “I thought he was going to drown.”
“You exposed yourself to the ton in a most improper way for a dog?”
“Yes, for a dog!” She snapped. “Why am I the only one who does not wish to see a dog drown?”
“You are acting irrationally. The dog was never in any danger.”
“Well, I did not know that, did I?” She glared at him.
“You could catch a cold.”
He said it with such sincerity that she could only stare at him. He could not actually be concerned about her well-being. Could he? He might be stranger than me.
She fought the urge to squirm under his gaze.
He stared at her as if she were a fascinating puzzle for him to figure out.
Usually, when she stared at this long, there was mockery or derision involved.
Instead, he looked intrigued by her. She was not used to someone paying attention to her for so long, especially without yelling at her.
“Oh, there she is!” Someone shouted, laughing.
Evan looked in the direction of the voice. “I believe you are the one who might need rescuing now.” He smirked, which only infuriated her.
She turned away from him, ready to make a run for it, but his hand circled her wrist and held her still again. “Your lips are turning blue,” he said quietly. “You have to change clothes.”
“Stop looking at my lips!” She blurted out. Why did he have to notice everything about her? She doubted anyone had ever paid this much attention to her before. She yanked her hand away and took three large steps away from him before a small crowd of partygoers sidestepped the bushes and saw them.
Lord Heeway was one of the people who saw them.
Annoyance flashed in his eyes at the sight of his future sister-in-law before he startled slightly at the sight of the duke.
“Your Grace!” he said. “I did not see you there. How are you? I assumed you were feeling unwell when you rejected my invitation to my engagement party.” Despite the polite smile on his face, there was a hint of condemnation in his tone.
“I am perfectly healthy, Lord Heeway, thank you for asking,” the duke said smoothly. “I simply did not want to come.”
Marina’s jaw dropped at such a blunt answer. She barely stopped herself from letting out a bark of laughter.
Ladies from the party quickly surrounded the duke. “Your Grace, it is so good to see you!” One of them simpered. “How heroic of you to save her from the river!”
“Yes!” another one said. “It was very fortunate that you were there to save such a reckless young lady. Oh, my goodness, what a cute little dog you have!”
Marina felt herself relax as she looked at the spectacle. She might have made a fool of herself, but no one was acting as if they had been found in a compromising position together, and it looked like people were already starting to ignore her again.
I might have caused a scandal or two, but nothing that I cannot come back from with time.
She reached behind her in a halfhearted attempt to salvage her hair. As she did so, the duke’s eyes slid to look at her, and he froze. Others turned to follow his gaze.
Horror dawned on Marina when she realized the water had loosened the laces of her dress. When she lifted her arms up to fix her hair, the dress had slid down, exposing her chest.
People gasped as they stared at her. “Scandal!” Someone whispered.
“Her dress!” Another person said.
“Poor girl,” said a condescending voice. “She is truly ruined after this.”
Marina silently agreed. There was no coming back from this. She closed her eyes and wished she could wake up from this nightmare, but she knew there was no chance of that.
The one time people notice me, and it has to be now.