Chapter 4 #2
“And my cousin Robert,” Charity said, “was there. The one whom I was to marry, of course, and he didn’t look pleased.
I don’t think he wanted it, but he didn’t stop it either, and I was furious and frightened and…
” She took a breath, then pressed on. “My uncle threatened my sisters and said if I didn’t behave sensibly, he’d take a more active role in directing their futures. ”
Just repeating the threat made her shudder. She could take anything when it came to herself, but with her sisters, she could not bear to think that anything should happen to them.
“Why have you come to tell me your family affairs?” Duncan said. Once again, she could not make out his true feelings.
“I need you to understand because…” she steadied herself again, “the only person who benefits from me being removed at this exact moment is my uncle. He wants my inheritance under his control. If I refused to marry Robert, then it might not have gone his way. But if I am gone, or if I am disgraced, or missing, or presumed to have fled, then he can change the plan.”
“Explain.” Duncan’s eyes held hers, unblinking.
“Augusta,” she said. “My sister is much younger than me. If I’m out of the way, my uncle could decide to marry Robert to Augusta instead. He could argue it’s the only way to keep the inheritance in the family, or to keep the household ‘protected,’ and because she’s younger….”
She did not even want to think of the possibility.
“He could claim it’s necessary or could claim he’s acting as a guardian. He could sell the story however he likes, really.”
“You think your uncle arranged your abduction?”
“I don’t know,” Charity admitted, sighing. “But I can’t believe he didn’t know something. It’s hard to believe a man like him, who plans everything down to the day, would be ignorant of something that removes his biggest obstacle.”
Duncan stared at her for a moment and then abruptly burst out. “Stop. Why are you telling me all this, instead of your solicitor or your sisters or whoever handles your affairs?” he stepped closer to her as he spoke, and the movement made her heart beat faster.
“Because I’m trapped here, and I don’t know how to get home safely, and I don’t know if the moment I step outside your gates I’ll be taken again,’ she said, feeling frustrated herself.
“That doesn’t answer the question,” he replied.
“You said earlier you needed to know whether this was an attack on me or a threat to you. I’m trying to tell you what I know so you understand that this is not some random accident,” she went on.
“And you think that makes it my problem?” he said, still close to her.
Charity’s chest flared with anger. Was he being serious? How selfish could a man be?
“It became your problem because you brought me to your castle; you’re involved now, whether you like it or not. My sisters are in danger, and I’m sitting here in Scotland with no idea what’s happening in York,” she burst out.
Duncan studied her for a long moment and did not remove the distance between the two of them. She hoped that there was no way that he could know how fast her heart was beating.
“You still haven’t told me why you came here.”
Charity’s hands shook, and she knew that he was far smarter than she.
“I need your help,” she said finally, “I need your protection when I go back home. I must guard my sisters into safety, and I cannot do that alone.”
“You think I’m going to ride into England and threaten your uncle for you?” he asked.
“I think you have more authority than I do,” she said. “Men listen to men, especially men with titles, and if you escort me back, then my uncle will not see me as so vulnerable.”
For a long moment, Duncan did not answer. He was contemplating, surely as he had not yet outrightly refused. But Charity’s desperation made her reckless, and she took a small step closer. “
“Please,” she said, “I don’t ask lightly, as I don’t even know you. But you’re the only person here who can help me with certainty.”
Duncan’s gaze stayed on her face. Then, unexpectedly, he lifted his hand. His fingers came up to her chin, and he tilted her face slightly as if he needed to see her properly.
She hated that her pulse jumped at the contact.
Duncan’s eyes searched her face, and Charity did not look away either.
“You came into my castle half-dead, and now you’re asking for protection.”
“Yes.” What else could she say? That was the honest truth of it, and he had laid it out well. Duncan’s fingers remained at her chin for one moment longer before letting go.
The loss of contact startled Charity more than the contact itself, making her feel suddenly cold. Duncan stepped back, his expression returning that old hardness.
“No,” he said simply.
“No?” Charity blinked. How could he just say no?
“You will leave in the morning as I told you, and handle your uncle with your solicitor and your own household. I’m not involving myself in English inheritance schemes.”
“So that is it?” Charity said, “You will not even consider it?”
“You’re asking me to step into a situation where I have no standing, no knowledge, and no reason to trust anyone involved. Why would I invite such trouble to my life?” he sparred.
“You’re telling me you can’t help an Englishwoman get safely back to her family?” She stood her ground. “You should be more of a gentleman.”
“I’m telling you I won’t,” he rolled his eyes at her. “Not that I can't.”
Hah. He was trying to be clever about it now. But Charity felt blinded by the urgency she felt. In her mind, this was her only chance.
“I will pay you,” she said sharply. “I can give you money. If you want money, I have it.”
“No,” Duncan laughed at that.
“Then land,” she said. “I can give you lands. Estates. I can grant you property, holdings… whatever you want, you can name it.”
Duncan’s eyes narrowed slightly in irritation.
“You cannot bribe me, woman.”
Charity felt panic claw up her throat. Sure, he was a duke himself and not in need of money like an average man would be. Running out of options, she did something unexpected. She stepped forward and grabbed his hand.
Duncan went still instantly, as Charity’s fingers wrapped around his. His hand was warm, larger than hers and she tightened her grip and pulled just enough to force him to look at her properly.
“You look at me and you listen. I will give you anything you desire. Anything. But you must help me.”
Duncan’s eyes dropped to her hand on his and Charity’s breath caught because the expression on him changed in a way. He turned slowly toward her.
“Do you know what you just said?”
“Yes,” she said, though the truth was she understood only halfway. It did not matter, though, as long as it got her what she wanted.
Duncan stepped toward her, and immediately she took a startled step back. But Duncan did not relent and backed her up against the wall. Her mind was racing with the sudden realization that she had walked into something dangerous without meaning to.
Duncan’s eyes stayed locked on hers, and he was too close now.
“Never say that to a man again,” he said. “Never, in your life, offer ‘anything you desire’ the way you just did. You have no idea how that comes across.”
“I didn’t…” Charity’s cheeks burned.
“You did,” Duncan cut in. “And you did it with your hand on me. If you think men wouldn’t take that as an invitation, you’re either na?ve or reckless.”
“I…” she sighed, feeling helpless now. “I just wish to make a deal with you.”
“And how serious are you about holding up your end of the terms?” he demanded, scrutinizing her. “Of this deal?”
“Depends,” she swallowed quickly. “What is it that you want?”
“I do want something,” he admitted, looking as though he was making a rather difficult decision.
“What is it?” In this moment, Charity was willing to give her whatever material thing he demanded.
“I need a wife and an heir.”
Charity went still. That was not what she had expected to hear. Marriage was exactly what her uncle had tried to force on her. But marriage to a Scottish duke would change everything. It would place her under the protection of a title stronger than her uncle’s.
But…
It would also bind her to Duncan, a man she didn’t know.
“Fine,” Charity said before she could change her mind. “I shall provide you with both of those things.”
Duncan’s brows drew together slightly, and for the first time, she saw an expression on his face that looked like genuine surprise. They exchanged a glance, before Duncan spoke again.
“Fine. We leave early tomorrow morning.”
Oh heavens. What had she just agreed to?