In Bavaria, Bamberg lived in the manner that was required of a nobleman of his standing. While in London or Edinburgh or one of the capitals on the continent, he kept a handful of servants. But when he traveled like this, he went alone. No servants. No carriage. He’d learned, as an explorer, that traveling unencumbered was often the best way. And though he was teasing Dermot, he’d roughed it many times. The thought of staying in a cottage sounded perfect.
“Tell me more about this island.”
FROM AN UPPER WINDOW, Taylor watched the duke arrive. No carriage, no valet, no formality. He traveled on the same ebony steed she’d seen him riding the first time they met.
He seemed taller. His hair longer, his chest broader, his face handsomer. Taylor could see Millie and Dermot standing beneath the window, waiting to greet His Grace. Bamberg handed his mount’s reins to a groom and strode toward the house.
He smiled at them, and Taylor clutched her chest and backed away. The chaotic entanglement of their first meeting was still fresh in her mind. His touch, their bodies dancing against each other. She wasn’t strong enough to meet him again. She couldn’t retain her outward indifference to him, and that would surely lead to disaster. Taylor didn’t want to wake up one morning and find herself married to someone who only wanted her money, and left alone in some cold, ruined castle in Bavaria.
Evasion. That was still the best response.
But
When Millie arrived an hour later, Taylor told her what she’d decided.
“Well, you can put that thought out of your head. You’re not leaving. I’ll not allow it. I could be delivering this baby any day now, and you promised you’d be here for me.”
“But your whole family is coming. Your sister Jo is a five-minute walk from here. Your husband is a doctor.”
“Stop whining. I refuse to accept any excuses. You’re my friend. Two days ago, you swore that you had come to the Abbey for me…but now…”
Guilt squeezed Taylor’s heart. Last year, when Millie had gone through the frightening operation to have a breast removed, Taylor didn’t hear about it until later. Since then, she’d tried to find some opportunity of helping her best friend. She wanted to be here when she was needed, whatever the circumstances.
She put an arm around Millie’s shoulder. “I saw you greeting the duke. Does he know I’m here?”
“He does. If you recall, the two of us decided that your best course of action was to meet him.”
It was true. She had to explain to him why he must withdraw. Millie had been coaching her for the past couple of days. It wasn’t that she was afraid of him. She was afraid of herself.
Still, Millie’s words echoed in her mind.
Taylor had thought she could do it. That was until she saw him ride up and wedding bells began to ring in her ears.
“How long do you think he’ll be staying?” she asked tentatively.
“Probably as long as you’re staying, or until you reject him and send him away.”
Taylor walked off and looked at the ceiling as she paced. How could she possibly face the man and reject him? She couldn’t.
“I don’t know what to do. I’m torn. All those reasonable strategies we talked about suddenly seem frightening.”
“
“You had one brief introduction, and now you’re under his spell too.” Taylor threw her hands up.
“He has placed no spell on me. I’m only relaying my observations.”
Taylor shook her head and resumed her pacing. “The man may be impossible to resist in person. I’m afraid I shan’t be able to say no to him.”
Millie sat on a chair and watched her go from the window to the door and back again.
“Promise me that you’ll stay, and I’ll make the arrangements so you won’t have to see him.”
It took a few moments for Millie’s words to sink in. “How?”
“I’ll lie for you. I’ll make some excuse about an urgent letter arriving. I’ll tell him you needed to depart for Edinburgh.”
That would be another snub to the duke, but as much as she hated it, she didn’t know what else to do. “I’ll stay here in this room. I’ll hide until he’s gone.”
“Not here. I can hardly lie when everyone else knows you’re here. I have a reputation to protect.”
“Where should I go?”
“Do you recall the loch that is surrounded by forest just beyond Jo’s house? You and I walked there. It has that pretty island in the middle.”
The shimmering lake had been their morning destination several times the first week after Taylor arrived. Since then, she’d been walking the path by herself on almost a daily basis. Millie was uncomfortable going so far. “I remember. Why?”
“I didn’t take you to the island, but a quaint little cottage stands on the far side of it. Do you think you might be able to stay there until the duke is gone? It would only be for a day or two, I’m quite certain.”
“Is it livable?”
