Taken by the Duke Read Online Free PDF Page B

would share, crammed into a carriage together.
    Perhaps when they stopped at the inn, he would buy a horse and ride outside, if only to avoid her questions and stares. It would give him some time to think, at least. To escape her wiles which drew him in for such unexpected desire.
    “You are very quiet,” she said.
    “And you talk constantly,” he snapped as a reply.
    She ignored his tone. “No, just today. I have observed you over the years, you know.”
    “Have you?”
    “Of course.” She shrugged. “I would be a fool not to observe the man whose name and family were a topic of every supper at my father’s table, then my brother’s table. And I always noted how quiet you were. My brother is the center of attention wherever he goes. Or he was…” Her full-lipped mouth turned down with sadness. She shook it away. “But you have never surrounded yourself with bushels of friends. I never heard your laughter booming through halls or across ballrooms.”
    He shook his head. “I would never be so ridiculous. Your brother surrounds himself because he needs attention at all times. He is a fool.”
    He expected her to rush to her brother’s defense, but instead she smiled and shrugged one shoulder. “You say that with hate in your tone, but it isn’t too far off the mark. I do not think he is a fool, of course, but he does—or did—like to be the center of attention. In that way we are very different.”
    Christian found himself leaning closer, examining her face with an intensity he could not seem to control. She was like a puzzle to him now, a riddle he could solve if he analyzed the pieces enough.
    “You do not like the attention?” he asked.
    “No. Surely you must have noticed I am considered a wallflower. I have friends, but I can count them on one hand. They would not take up a ledger book like my brother’s do— did . I prefer quiet to the rush of a ball or the loudness of a gathering of hundreds. I suppose in that way, you and I are not so different, are we?”
    He stared at her. She was telling him all this so guilelessly, except it wasn’t without purpose at all. No, her stare was very focused. Her hands were clenched in her lap. He could all but see the wheels of her mind turning and turning on escape.
    She was trying to make herself more human to him. To arouse his sympathy and perhaps encourage her release.
    He leaned back against the carriage seat with a shake of his head. “You may stop wasting your time trying to forge a bond with me, my lady. I am taking you where I planned. This is happening. You cannot lie your way out of it.”
    Her lips parted. “I was not lying.”
    He shrugged. “I can see out the window that we are approaching the inn I discussed with you earlier. Before we stop, I would like you to understand that the man who runs the inn is indebted to my family. If you ask him or his people for help, they will only report that to me; they will not assist you. So take your ease and comfort, obtain your food and blanket, but do not think that this momentary respite will result in an escape.”
    She swallowed hard, and in her eyes there was a faint flicker of anger, of panic. But then she nodded. “I see. Well, I suppose I appreciate you saving me from wasting my time.”
    The carriage stopped and Christian opened the door. “We will stay here for an hour at most. Use your time wisely.”
    Then he stepped down and walked away, without looking back and without helping her down.

Chapter Four
    Ava tapped her foot in growing impatience. In a very short time, she would be forced back into the carriage by Rothcastle, and off they would go to their final destination, wherever that was.
    She had pretended calm with Rothcastle. She had forced herself to be accepting of this kidnapping when they spoke of it. But in truth, she was anything but. When she looked into her captor’s eyes, she saw a darkness there. He claimed he would not harm her, but he had a plan. One that made her stomach