For Love of the Duke (The Heart of a Duke Book 2) by Christi Caldwell

was certain I was going to die.” Her words took on a faraway quality, as though she were speaking, but to no one in particular. “My sister managed to toss a long branch out, and I grasped onto it. She pulled me to safety.”
    How very strong she’d been, even then as a small child to have battled past the terror to ultimately save herself.
    Jasper would have been a boy of fifteen years or so; he wished he’d been there, just as he’d been those five days ago. He wished he’d been there to pluck her from the river so she could have turned her fear over to him.
    “My point is this, Jasper,” she went on. “I detest water. It’s unpredictable and dangerous, and it terrifies me.” She held her palms up. “But I cannot live the rest of my life avoiding water.”
    “You nearly drowned at the Frost Fair.” He felt inclined to point out.
    She took his hand in hers and turned it over. He stiffened.
    “But I didn’t, Jasper. Life is horrible and unfair and terrifying. But those are not reasons to stop living.” Katherine touched her fingers to his gloved hand. “You didn’t die, Jasper. You lived.”
    His hand tightened reflexively around hers. He’d lived, when Lydia had perished. With his desire for his wife, and the need for an heir, Jasper had killed her with his selfish needs and ducal obligations. For more than three years, he’d punished himself for that great crime.
    Only now, with Katherine’s quietly spoken words did he confront the truth…Lydia was gone and no amount of self-flagellation would bring her back.
    And he hated Katherine, in that moment, for opening his eyes to the reality of his miserable circumstances. “You need to leave,” he ordered harshly.
    She cocked her head.
    “I said, go,” he forced out past tight lips. He needed her to leave. He wanted this woman who’d tossed his life into an upheaval to go, and let him go back to the emotionally-deadened man he’d been these past three, nearly four years.
    Katherine nodded. Twin splotches of color stained her cheeks. She dipped a curtsy. “Your Grace,” she murmured.
    He loathed the aching need to hear his name upon her lips yet again.
    Katherine made to go.
    “Your chaperone,” he called out.
    She frowned, her face calm and serene, brown eyes cool and removed— the Ice Princess returned. “You needn’t worry about me, Your Grace.”
    No, he needn’t.
    And yet, he did.
    Katherine dipped another curtsy, and then hurried off. He stared after her swiftly retreating figure, until she was nothing more than a small mark upon the snowy horizon.
    He thought of the story she’d shared, of the small, unprotected girl fighting the fast-moving river waters. With a sigh, he set out to follow the now headstrong, young lady still in desperate need of protection.

 
     
     
    ~10~
     
    After a long carriage ride through the snow-laden streets of London, Katherine at last arrived home. She climbed the steps with dreaded anticipation. Perhaps she’d not see her mother just yet…perhaps…
    Ollie opened the door. She took a hopeful breath and stepped inside with a murmur of thanks for the old servant.
    She freed the hook that held her cloak together and handed the sopping wet garment over. “Thank you,” she said as he took her cloak. She shook out her snow-dampened skirts, the flakes dissolved into small droplets of water atop the marble floor. “I…” Her words faded, as she met her mother’s scowling countenance.
    Mother stood in the foyer, arms planted atop her hips. Anne hovered at a point beyond her shoulder. Her sister stood shaking her head in a commiserative way.
    Katherine sighed. “Mother…”
    “Where have you been?” Mother launched into a stinging tirade. “First you take yourself off to the Frost Fair, unchaperoned, and nearly find yourself drowned.”
    Sorry , Anne silently mouthed.
    “Then you arrive with the Mad Duke…”
    Katherine clenched her hands into tight fists. “He is not mad.” He was hurting and