Chapter 3
“My goodness, that is high!” Alice raised a hand to her chest as he looked up at the small wooden frame where her daughter’s head had been only moments before. Her heart began to pound as his palms beaded with sweat.
“There is no need to fear, my son is quite an adept climber. He would have helped your daughter up,” the duke said with an air of pride, although his brows knit together in a frown.
Alice took a deep breath before releasing it again as she rubbed her palms against the sides of her dress.
“An adept climber, your son may be, Your Grace, but my Clara has never been allowed to climb trees. Quite frankly, it is a rather dangerous pastime even for adults,” she said in a shaky breath, looking up at what seemed like a rickety old ladder that led to the top above their heads.
The treehouse itself seemed sturdy enough. It held in place as the breeze rustled the leaves back and forth, yet Alice could not shake the feeling that her stomach was turning the longer she looked at it.
“It is not so dangerous when you know what you are doing, Mrs. Voss.” His tone held a slight hint of reproach, as if he had taken offense to what she was saying. “If you like, you could stay here while I go and fetch them. Climbing trees, after all, is not for everyone.”
Swallowing hard, Alice tore her gaze away from the wooden structure and looked at him. Was he implying that she felt that she was too good or even superior to climb a tree? His tone had certainly implied that that was what he was thinking.
She pulled herself up to her full height and pushed her fears aside. “I am perfectly capable of retrieving my own daughter, thank you very much, Your Grace.” She turned away from him and marched to the foot of the tree.
“You do not have to…” His words trailed off when she marched right past him.
Alice had always been afraid of heights ever since she was a little girl, yet she was not about to allow a duke to imply that she was not capable of climbing a tree.
I shall show him.
She lifted her gaze up the ladder again and froze. Her legs began to tremble slightly as her throat suddenly felt too dry.
I do not think I can do this.
Sweat continued to bead her palms, making her wish she had not allowed Clara to run off in the first place. Composing herself, she placed one hand on the rung of the ladder and paused. “Clara… could you come down please?” she called out.
Silence met her ears.
“Clara… it is Mama, please come down this instant. You should not be climbing trees. You know better than that.” She raised her voice slightly.
More silence followed until a pair of giggles floated on the breeze.
The duke came to her side. “Perhaps I should…” he started, but quickly stopped when she turned around and glared at him.
“As I said before, Your Grace, I am perfectly capable of fetching my own daughter. I am her mother, after all.” She bristled and turned back toward the ladder. Her breathing quickened, and her heart skipped a beat.
If there was one thing that she hated more than anything else, it was the implication that she could not do whatever she set her mind to. People had said that she would never make it on her own after her husband died, yet here she was in a new position proving them all wrong.
I can definitely do this.
She took a steadying breath and swallowed, placing her other hand on the rung. The world around her began to shift as she wondered what it would look like at the top of the ladder. Her heart raced as her knuckles turned white from gripping the wooden rung.
“I am happy to go and fetch them…” the duke said gently from beside her, his voice one of understanding.
Alice considered his suggestion for a moment but ultimately decided against it.
I cannot look weak in my new post.
She did not know how the duke was connected to the family, nor how often he would be around, but she knew for certain that she did not want to appear lacking in front of anyone.
Taking another steadying breath, she gripped the ring until her fingers hurt.
She lifted one foot, and then the next, until her body was lifted from the ground.
Just do not look down. I can do this.
Her breaths were shaky as she slowly began to climb the ladder one movement at a time. Before she knew it, she was halfway up the ladder. It was then that she made the grave mistake of looking down.
A startled gasp escaped her throat as she quickly shut her eyes and pulled her body as close to the tree as humanly possible.
The rough wood of the ladder scraped against her clothes, but she did not care about her dress being ripped and pulled.
“I cannot do this…” she whispered with her cheeks pressed against the ladder.
“Are you by any chance afraid of heights?” The duke called up to her.
Feeling her entire body tremble, Alice swallowed hard. “I… um, I…” She could not find the right words to describe exactly how she was feeling.
Terrified.
The word flashed across her mind. She was not afraid of heights; she was terrified.
The duke muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like ‘stubborn woman’, but Alice decided to ignore the remark, given her predicament. “Very well then, I shall come up and help you.”
Her eyes shot open in an instant. “No, you cannot…” She looked down again and quickly shut her eyes. She was far too high above the ground to refuse any kind of help.
The ladder shook ever so slightly, making her pulse jump as she could feel the duke climbing up below her. A strange thought crossed her mind, making her eyes shoot open again.
How is he going to help me?
Before she could protest again, she suddenly felt strong arms pressing around her on either side of the ladder.
“I am here now. Open your eyes and climb back down. I shall be here every step. It is not that far to the ground,” he whispered behind her head. His voice was surprisingly soothing as she leaned back and felt his solid chest against her back. “Just take a deep breath and start climbing down.”
Her hands trembled slightly as she forced herself to let go of a rung and move one step down.
The duke moved with her, matching every movement as if he were her shadow.
It seemed like an eternity had passed when her feet suddenly touched the hard earth below. She let out a shaky breath and gripped the ladder tighter with one hand as she steadied herself. Her heart was racing uncontrollably.
The duke gently placed his hand over hers, unexpectedly sending a warm sensation through the fabric of her glove. “You can let go of the ladder now, you are safe.” He pulled her fingers away and gently placed her hand beside her hip.
Realizing what a precarious situation she had placed herself in, she quickly cleared her throat and took a step back.
If anyone had seen what the duke had done, they could have gotten the wrong idea.
There was no telling how scandals would start among the ton.
She hurriedly looked around before looking back at the duke. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
The duke simply nodded. “I do not recommend that you try to go up again. I shall go and fetch the children down.” He did not seem to be judging her at all as he spoke in a kind voice and turned back toward the ladder.
“Your Grace!” Alice suddenly blurted out.
Turning slowly, the duke looked at her with a great deal of concern. “Is something the matter? Did you get hurt on the ladder?” He looked down at her gloves, seemingly checking if anything had ripped.
She quickly shook her head and reached up, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly.
“I just wanted to thank you, and to ask that you please not mention this incident to Lady Ashby. I have just started, you see, and I need this position. Both Clara and I need it.” She felt a little foolish for revealing so much to someone she had only just met.
The duke hesitated for a moment as his eyes softened.
“I highly doubt that Lady Ashby will be requiring your tree-climbing skills,” he paused for a moment as the corner of his mouth lifted into what could have easily been mistaken for a smile.
“Even if a ladder is involved,” his tone was light and teasing, something that seemed quite contrary to his handsome and polished appearance.
Alice nodded, feeling her breath return to normal.
Once again turning away from her, the duke began to climb the ladder. His movements were quick and calculated, and before too long, he was in the tree house and had disappeared from view.
Alice looked away, unable to bear the sight. She was not even certain why she had wanted to prove herself on such a silly matter, yet instead of proving herself, she had gone and done the opposite in front of a duke.
Yet he had been so kind.
She took a deep breath, recalling the way his coat had smelled of paint and old books. He was certainly a strong man; there was no denying that. She had felt his strength in the way his arms encircled her, and even his slight limp did not seem to keep him from doing whatever he wanted.
Soft giggles made her look up as the children slowly began to climb down the ladder. The young boy was first, followed by Clara and then the duke.
Her shoes hit the ground with a thud before Clara came running toward Alice. “I saw you climbing, Mama!” Her round little cheeks were flushed with excitement as her eyes sparkled mischievously.
Pulling herself up straight, Alice pursed her lips and gave her daughter a stern look. “What have I told you about climbing trees or anything else for that matter?”
Clara stopped right in front of her and placed her hands behind her back, looking every bit as guilty as someone who knew they had done wrong. “But I was with Arthur, Mama. I was safe. Honest.” Her big green eyes grew even wider as she stared up at Alice.
“We were both safe, Miss. Honest.” The boy repeated the sentiment from behind Clara, his blue eyes growing just as wide as Clara’s.
These two will be trouble together.