Oh, and Ashlyn?” She suddenly added. “Forget him, he isn’t worth it. At least not anymore. He wandered too far from the respectful boy we used to know.”

I instantly knew who she was talking about – Jared.

“I am trying Janine, I really am.”

But this time trying wasn’t as hard when all the good memories of him were replaced with the bad ones. He was like a dream – slowly paling with the time’s uncompromisingly nimble pace.

I was roused from my daze as soon as Janine’s hand tightly wrapped around my wrist. “Oh no! Dear God, anything but this!” She cried out in alarm.

“What is it?” I stared down at her paled face. The distraught woman behaved as though she has seen a ghostly figure.

“Oh! Lady Caldwell!” I could sense the gentleman’s cold, low voice as it chilled me down to the bone. “Pardon me! It’s Read now, isn’t it?” He announced mockingly.

“Lord Tinley,” I plastered a smile on my face, turning to face him with an absolute dread.

He was even plumper than when I last saw him. His double chin wobbled as jelly whenever he spoke.

“It’s an immense pleasure to see you again, Your Grace!” He barely managed to balance his wide figure when he attempted to bow in front of me.

I still didn’t grasp the fact that I was a Duchess now. The meaning of the prestigious title seemed somehow alien to me.

“Likewise, Lord,” I lied, my cheeks hurting from the false smile I plastered on my face.

“I would very much like to invite you for a tea, Your Grace. We have much to discuss,” he cleared his throat, watching me in such a manner that made my stomach roll.

I had nothing to discuss with this man and I couldn’t imagine what he wished to say to me.

“I don’t believe we do, My Lord.” I shook my head, taking a step away from him.

“But, you see, I know what a pain it must be to be near such…” He lowered his voice, as he whispered conspiringly. “Such an incompetent, foolish person.”

“I don’t know what are you talking about My Lord, but you should stop insulting my husband,” I stated sternly.

“Oh, please, Duchess!” He licked his meaty lips, while his eyes darted over my body. “Such a waste. You should have married me,” he murmured with lust simmering in his dark eyes.

“Behave yourself, My Lord!” I spat and took yet another precautionary step backward.

“For now, my dear. For now,” his voce held a threatening undertone as he looked straight into my eyes. “I bid you good day, my love!” He lowered his head, before swiftly brushing past us.

The second he was gone, I heard Janine’s relieved exhale. “What a repulsive man!”

“Most definitely. His kind are the worst. We have to be very careful not to bump into him again.”

“What did he mean when he said: For now?” She inquired. Usual joy was drained from her eyes, replaced by the undeniable fear.

“Nothing good, I am afraid. That’s why it’s of an utmost importance to stay far away from him.” I grasped her hand with urgency. “Let’s get away from here. We already wandered too far from home.” I pulled her behind me, almost mindlessly running down the street. I couldn’t shake the dreadful feeling that I was being watched and I had no wish to prove myself right.

“Miss! Wait!” Janine called out, completely out of breath when she hunched over. She placed her hands on her knees and attempted to catch her breath.

I turned around to urge her to move forward, but in that moment my boot got caught in the cavity. I cried out in pain as I plummeted to the ground, clutching my leg as the excruciating pain radiated through my ankle.

“Miss!” Janine called, whilst rushing to my side. She pulled my leg free and examined my ankle. “I don’t think it’s broken, but I am positive it’s a sprain. Can you walk?”

I nodded weakly, hoisting myself upward with her arm around my waist. I tried to take a step forward, but my leg gave way and I once again landed on a dusty road.

“I don’t think I can.” I moaned as I struggled to raise back to my feet. “Janine you must fetch His Grace or James!”

“I cannot leave you here, Miss! What if that vile man decides to come back?”

There was a sheer terror reflecting within her eyes.

“Then I will take his gun and shoot him,” I announced with dry humor. “We can’t be more than ten minutes away from home. I will be fine, I promise.”

“Oh, Ashlyn!” She wringed her hands in despair.

“Come on, Janine! Just help me to that rock.” I pointed at the barely visible rock positioned between the thick bushes. There was no way someone would notice me sitting there.

She helped me to my feet, supporting my limping figure so I could reach the safety of the hidden haven.

“I will be right back!” Janine called out hesitantly. She turned on her heel and started running down the road.

The uneasy feeling intensified with every minute that went by. The silence seemed ominous and every crackle in the forest behind me made me shudder. I wasn’t raised to be a coward, but the way that Tinley’s black eyes remained cemented inside my mind unnerved me deeply. I tried to distract myself with massaging my painful ankle, until I heard an undistinguishable sound of galloping. The sight of a disheveled Baxter Read jumping of his stallion was like seeing a light on a murky and hopelessly grim day.

He didn’t waste any time as he rushed toward me. “H-How bad i-is it?” He went straight to assessing the damage on my wounded leg which was slightly swollen and red.

“Only a sprain I believe. Thank you for coming,” I gratefully smiled at him.

“Of-f course, I w-would never l-leave you like that. You a-are hurt,” his eyes were fixated on my ankle.

“It’s not that bad. Where is Janine?”

The touch of his fingers was gentle as they brushed along my foot. “S-She stayed b-back at the h-house with J-James.”

“Oh, poor woman.” I scrunched my nose. “I hope she isn’t being scolded because of me.”

“I c-can't say for s-sure, but I-I believe s-she is,” he finally raised his head. His amber eyes were like a warm cinnamon tea on a cold wintery day. “We’d b-better get h-home. Y-You n-need to rest.”

“I am not mortally wounded, Your Grace.” I smiled when I saw the intense feeling of concern in his eyes.

I fully expected him to help me up, instead his arms swept me under my knees and lifted me up. He held me close to his chest as he carried me toward his horse. On every other occasion the man made me incredibly anxious, but now his presence was astonishingly calming. I couldn’t quite ignore his appeasing fresh scent of roses and lavender sparkled with masculine notes of leather and sandalwood.

“Your Grace, I can climb onto the horse myself,” I protested as he lifted me into the saddle with such ease as though I weighed no more than a feather.

My eyes unconsciously darted to his arms. He wore only a white muslin shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His muscles bulged whenever his arms flexed. How was it possible that he was so strong? High society men didn’t do any hard work to have chiseled figures like his. The only heavy lifting they did were poker cards and counting their coins.

I looked away from his arms, aware of how improperly I was behaving.

When I was safely positioned in the saddle, he gracefully hoisted himself up and sat behind me. He sneaked one of his hands around my waist, holding me firmly in place.

There was nothing inappropriate in his touch, only the need to keep me safe. Even if it was within his right to touch me whatever he liked - I was his wife after all - but he has never tried. This came as a big relief to me, but deep inside I’ve also wandered if he found me physically appealing or not. He once mentioned I looked beautiful, but was that only out of politeness or did he truly mean it?